Slave Songs and the Birth of African American Poetry

This Book Restores The Slaves? Songs To Their Rightful Place In American Literature For Their Intrinsic Value As Lyric Poetry, And As A Touchstone Of The American Imagination. The Slave Songs And The Lyric Poetry Traditions -- The Theology Of The Lyric Tradition In The Slave Songs -- Image And Substance In The Slave Songs -- Border Crossing With The Slave Songs. Lauri Ramey. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Preface......Page 12 Introduction......Page 20 1 Slave Songs and the Lyric Poetry Traditions......Page 36 2 Theology and Lyric Poetry in Slave Songs......Page 76 3 Slave Songs as American Poetry......Page 116 4 Border Crossing in Slave Songs......Page 142 Bibliography......Page 170 Notes......Page 186 B......Page 210 D......Page 211 H......Page 212 M......Page 213 R......Page 214 T......Page 215 Y......Page 216 In this insightful and provocative volume, Rameyreveals spirituals and slave songs to be a crucial element in American literature. This book shows slave songs'intrinsic value as lyric poetry, sheds light on their roots and originality, anddraws new conclusions on anart form long considereda touchstone of cultural imagination.