Introduction
You are an enslaved African in 1832 America. You work day in and day out in the fields down south. Your master is a 35 year old white man. He rapes the women who work inside the house and punishes those in the field who work too slow. Punishments include lashes on the back, flogging, or even murder. You live in harsh conditions. Your clothes are hand-me-downs and worn out. You are fed daily, but your food consists of porage, salted meats, stale toast, and water. You are kept away from your family and friends, so you're forced to build relations with strangers for a sense of belonging. At a sense, you are only given the minimal to ensure your survival. However, thanks to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, you were able to escape the unpleasent conditions of slavery.
Task
"Wade in the water, wade in the water, children", and "Swing Low Sweet Chariot, comin' for to carry me home,"are negro spirituals that were used for the slaves to reach freedom. In this exercise you will be put into groups which have already been selected. Within the each group each student will be designated a state. Each state has a cash crop that was harvested by the slaves. Navigate through each state to reach Canada using the cash crops in that state that will be given to you to reach freedom. Each person in the group must find a cash crop from a state and encode the message in a negro spirtitual. Take some time to research historical negro spirtiuals to receive ideas on your own project. You will be given the next three class periods in order to complete the project. Be creative and use your imagination because they use.
Process
In the process of writing your own coded negro spiritual there are three main components that your group will need to keeep in mind.
1. Historical content
2. Originality
3. Lyrics Vernacular
You must also be aware of the songs duration, your song must not exceed more than 2 minutes. Have fun with this assignment but most importantly be creative! This assignment will allow each member of the group to contribute something, whether if it's research or lyrics. Also below there are some helpful links that will allow you and your group to execute this group exercise. Good Luck!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRGSgiTc7Jk > Follow the Drinking Gourd
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/12/10/opinion/20101210_Disunion_SlaveryMap.html?_r=0 > Map of American Slave States.
http://mappinghistory.uoregon.edu/english/US/map16.html > Slave Crops in American South 1860
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/Bhistory/underground_railroad/index.htm > The Underground Railroad
Evaluation
Research Report : Under Ground Railroad
- Teacher Name:
Williams
- Student Name: ________________________________________
| CATEGORY | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Participation | All topics are addressed and all questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each. | All topics are addressed and most questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each. | All topics are addressed, and most questions answered with 1 sentence about each. | One or more topics were not addressed. |
| Demonstration | Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples. | Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples. | Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given. | Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic. |
| historical content | All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented in the desired format. | All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but a few are not in the desired format. | All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but many are not in the desired format. | Some sources are not accurately documented. |
| creativity | Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings. | Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs. | Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed. | The information appears to be disorganized. 8) |
Conclusion
Congradulations! Your group has made it to the promise land. Through the years of blood, sweat, toil and sacrifice. All the bad days in the fields, are now good days in the north. Your coded songs were genious enough to trick and confuse the oposition. The group with the most whitty and disguised songs, will now recieve the mystery prize!!!
Credits
Jade Martin- Introduction
Symonne N. Gillison- Tasks
DeWayne Johnson- Process
Alfred Williams- evaluation
Joel Potts- Conclusion