Scribner Prompt #12

The most important takeaway from this course has been understanding how gospel and spiritual music function as both personal expressions of faith and powerful instruments of community, cultural identity, and resistance. Across history, Black sacred music has continually adapted to reflect changing social, cultural, and generational contexts while maintaining its spiritual core, whether in the spirituals of enslaved African Americans, the blues-influenced compositions of early gospel pioneers, the choral innovations, or the contemporary expressions of holy hip-hop. 

A performance that particularly resonated with me was “Roll, Jordan, Roll” from 12 Years a Slave (2013). In the film, the enslaved individuals sing the spiritual collectively, transforming a moment of brutal oppression into a powerful expression of hope, endurance, and communal solidarity. The call-and-response structure, the rhythmic drive, and the sheer emotional intensity of the performance demonstrate how music can sustain faith and resilience even in the harshest circumstances. This performance reinforced for me how spirituals and gospel music are not only artistic expressions but also vital forms of emotional and social survival, and it illuminated the deep historical roots from which contemporary gospel and Christian music continue to grow.