James L. Wilson
Date 2/14/12
AFAS 160D1
Dr. Yuxuf Abana
Essay # 1 The value of language The Norton anthology of African American literature book, does a great

job in describing the uniqueness of the early African American language, as the roots for

the spiritual and the secular forms of the African American vernacular. But for one to

understand the African American vernacular, one must understand how the language was

created. The language of the early Africans that occupied north America was unique to

only this ethical group, because they where the only forms of Africans in that time that

spoke a kind of language that was broken English or formally called “Pidgin” which is

known as the language of the slaves. Lets take a look at the active definition for pidgin, so we can come to a clear understanding of the word before we progress further in the paper: “A simplified form of speech that is usually a mixture of two or more languages, has a rudimentary grammar and vocabulary, is used for communication between groups speaking different languages, and is not spoken as a first or native language. Also called contact language.”(pidgin online) so contact language is the language first spoken or developed when the Africans where first In America. The language was created due to the direct result of the times being that Africans by law where not allowed to be educated or to be treated like anything other then a slave, no social interactions revolving relations, only a master, slave relationship. So these are all some factors that lead into why the language was not learned traditionally through the use of public institutions usually accustomed to their white counterparts.

Looking at this isolation from societies rules and polices, this is the key variable
In the African developing their uniqueness of the language which they will soon use as a major form of communication, and especially helps teach new slaves that enter the working force to learn the single language of the Africans in America. Once after time had pass and Africans began to grasp the language, they began to practice forms of spiritual uplifting, which mirrored many of the prior slaves backgrounds, this was known as the spiritual vernacular. This type of spiritual upbringing was always usually with coded meaning and done with low discretion to there masters knowledge. For the sole purpose of an unwillingness to allow mass communication to allow revolts, riots and so one. Rather then a single unit, the white slave masters prefer a scattered unit with no cohesion. Later on as the vernacular developed more intensity and words developed substance and meaning to these phrases they would hear on there everyday encounters with their white slave masters. Something that became more common was the African
American Spiritual, which eventually became the most important form of spiritual bridging and communication through the common slave. Music was already a deep aspect of the pre-American African culture traditionally done with no instrument, hand clapping, foot tapping, which was easy to produce since all that was required was your individual participation . The first of two spiritual vernaculars that will be discussed is the piece “ Go
Down, Moses. Which is one of the more traditionally known African American spiritual, which contributes to the entire vernacular experience. Lets take a look at the first stanza of the song and lets see what we can find: “Go down, Moses, Way down in Eyptland , tell old Pharaoh to let my people go.”(Norton,13§5) from reading this from the song it is clearly evident that there is a parrelism with song and Biblicism. All songs in the spiritual side of the African American vernacular included deep reference to text in the bible, coded meaning, repetition, clapping, call and response and most important a base rhythm, which all of these elements are in song. Many early Africans that created these type of spiritual songs often found themselves comparing themselves to the early Israelites who where enslaved by the Egyptians. Which their story is told of a savior leading them out of bondage and work, which the Africans always seem to be asking for in many of the songs of the spiritual side, the overall message in these songs are just an outward expression of freedom. The songs of the African American vernacular are a direct result of their societal issues. So when one comes to think of the style the way the lyrics are written and expressed are still unique to the African peoples because the expression is parallel with the environment. But the theme of this song would be freedom. A sense of hoping that there will be freedom in the near future to help with this sad oppressive state that they are accustomed to at the time. Another way to interpret the this song is the hegemonic south is what stands for Egypt, and the Moses would be viewed as there savior from this enslavement. So the reader can learn from this piece that early Africans showed the ability to attain and apply new and foreign information, and the ability to adapt to environment, no matter its condition. The second example of the spiritual vernacular that will be discussed is another very common traditional African American song which is : “This little light of mine” this song is much different from the previous song discussed before. It shows a different view of the spiritual vernacular, as too not all songs where about oppression, slavery, and the norms but also with uplifting songs that brought about good moral. Lets take a look at the first stanza: “ Oh, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, shine, let it shine.”( Norton,21§5) from this the reader can come to an understanding of the use of repetition and its important in the music, it helps the rhythm and the self teaching of language. The song also is teaching a great lesson sense it is easy to learn since the use of repetition is well formulated, but it also shows that the message in the song is no matter what the circumstances is. The circumstances will never be able to put out their joy. So this was a song of encouragement, which theme sticks out here. Spiritual uplifting was their primary escape from there current circumstances. Next is the secular vernacular, which in later times have become even more popular then the spiritual forms in today’s world. The secular does not contain any forms of spiritual. Lets take a look at our first example from the secular which will be:” Run,
Nigger, Run.” From the title alone we can see that the content of the secular is more deep, explicit, and complicated meaning. Lets take a look at the first stanza and analyze:” Run, nigger run, de patter-roller catch you: run nigger, run, it’s almost day. Run nigger, run: de patter-roller catch you: run, nigger, run, and try to get away.”(Norton,29§5) from this piece we see that the message in the song has changed from asking to be delivered as to now the slave taken matters into his own hands, of escape. The repetition of words occurs in the front and back, with words rhyme and connecting to the next. The song shows an increased vocabulary functioning system, where they are now able to have better use of vocab. There has been slight mobility in increased language integration, as the language develops the vernacular will also develop. We have come to our last example of the African American vernacular, where we are still discussing the secular. Our last example of the secular is :” Strange fruit” which is a song that possess a strong coded meaning. Lets take a look :” southern trees bear strange fruit, blood on the leaves and blood at the root, black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, strange fruit hanging from poplar trees”(Norton,45§1) this example of the secular shows that there is changing times in the African population in America where now blacks are being lynched in the south. It explains that these are evil times where blacks are being hung, for there color. Using the metaphor of the black bodies being fruit with blood on them hanging from the tree like an actual fruit. So use of coded meaning is well used in this piece.

The African American vernacular is a direct result of the use of language tools they received in America. Since the use of reading and writing was outlawed to early
Africans, so it was impossible to write down some of their daily experiences, so it was expressed through the form of music, which served as the historical timeline for early
African life. African’s possess such a rich heritage, which is unique to the African
American community, as the language served as the bridge.

Bibliography
The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. New York [u.a.: Norton, 2004. Print.

"Pidgin: Definition from Answers.com." Answers.com: Wiki Q&A Combined with Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Encyclopedias. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://www.answers.com/topic/pidgin>.