Lynch Prompt 6

One of the biggest takeaways for me so far is seeing how American religious music came from European traditions and African survivals and created something brand new. Psalms, hymns, and shape note singing show the European influence, while call-and-response, rhythm, improvisation, and the ring shout show African roots. When combined, these traditions were seen in settings like camp meetings and enslaved communities. This created music that was not just about worship but also about survival, identity, and resilience. It really shows how religious music in America has always been both spiritual and cultural.