Celebrating Black History Month: "Go Down, Moses" African-American spiritual

A Civil War-era African-American spiritual, Go Down, Moses, was first used as a rallying anthem for people who had escaped slavery sometime before July 1862. It could have originated from Virginia in 1853.  The sheet music was published under the title Oh! Let My People Go: The Song of the Contrabands in 1862, words and music by Rev. L. C. Lockwood, arranged by Thomas Baker and published by Horace Waters. 

The spiritual, also known as When Israel Was in Egypt's Land, describes the exodus of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. The lyrics discuss freedom to both Israelites and enslaved people.  

In an authorized biography of Harriet Tubman, she stated she used Go Down Moses as one of two code songs during her work with the Underground Railroad.  It is possible that the song predates the 1853 claim.  

Celebrating Black History Month: "Wade in the Water", African-American jubilee song

Wade in the Water is an African-American spiritual, a genre of music created and sung by African-Americans in slavery.  Wade in the Water was estimated to be written during the Civil War around 1863, but the lyrics were not published until 1901, by Frederick J. Work and his brother John Wesley. The first commercial recording was made by the Sunset Four Jubilee Singers and released by Paramount Records.

The song is associated with Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.  It is believed that Tubman, who made thirteen trips to the South and helped free more than 70 people, used this song to warn slaves to get off the main trail and into the water to prevent the slavers' dogs from finding them.

The song has been modified, updated, and recorded many times in the past one hundred years.  Billy Preston and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass have released instrumental versions of it.

Celebrating Black History Month: Harriet Tubman (spy, Civil War hero)

Harriet Tubman: American abolitionsit, humanitarian and armed scout and  spy for the US Army.

Harriet Tubman, born into slavery about 1822, became an armed scout and spy during the Civil War. She saved her family and approximately seventy more enslaved family and friends.  Tubman used the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses, making thirteen successful trips.

She is also the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War, the raid at Combahee Ferry, in which she helped liberate 700 slaves. 

Harriet Tubman  will be featured on the new $20 bill, entering circulation in 2020.