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"Exorcism-Baptism of the Negroes," a drawing of slave baptism (1757)

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"Exorcism-Baptism of the Negroes," a drawing of slave baptism (1757)

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In this drawing, a Moravian congregation baptizes a group of slaves in Pennsylvania in 1757.

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Slaves baptized in a Moravian congregation, African American Christianity, Pt. I: To the Civil War, The Nineteenth Century, Divining America: Religion in American History, TeacherServe, National Humanities Center

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an interactive curriculum enrichment service designed to help teachers of American history bring their students to a greater understanding of the role religion has played in the development of the United States

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"Ezekiel's Wheel," Christianity and African spirituality mix in wheel-shaped artifact

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"Ezekiel's Wheel," Christianity and African spirituality mix in wheel-shaped artifact

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Archaeologists found religious remnants on a former Maryland plantation that link the spiritual African cosmogram with the Christian representation of Ezekiel's Wheel -- both of which interpreted the cycle of the universe.

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In the late 18th century, Methodist Episcopal and later African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) preachers carried the Christian message to the plantations on Maryland's Eastern Shore. They seemed to have been successful converting slaves, in part by giving new meaning to traditional symbols. For example, a powerful symbol from the BaKongo belief system in West Central Africa, where many of the slaves came from, was the cosmogram, a circle with an X inside.

African-Americans repurposed these materials because they had symbolic value as well in the form of Ezekiel's blazing chariot wheel, Dr. Pruitt said.

The wheel imagery is described in the Book of Ezekiel 10:9-10:

"And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub and the appearance of the wheels was as the color of aberyl stone. And as for their appearances, the four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel."

The wheel-like image in the Book of Ezekiel and the cosmogram, Dr. Pruitt suggested, "represented the universe, and the path we travel through this world and the afterlife" and "it stands for the enduring connections between this world and the next, the power from above and below."

For the first time, the two circle images had been found together virtually side by side. It seems that the Christian preachers had discovered the powerful resonance the wheel image held for African-Americans. One of the most popular spirituals among people in A.M.E. churches and camp meetings on the Eastern Shore is "'Zekiel Saw the Wheel."

'Zekiel saw de wheel, way up in the middle of the air
'Zekiel saw de wheel, way up in the middle of the air
De big wheel run by faith, little wheel by the grace of God
Wheel in a wheel, way in de middle of de air.'

An A.M.E. bishop in the 19th century, Daniel Payne, wrote that the circle and wheel imagery extended the "Ring Shout," in which participants move counterclockwise singing and dancing at camp meetings. This motion is in the same direction as the cycle of life in the cosmogram. It was said that "sinners won't get converted unless there is a ring here, a ring there, a ring over yonder, or sinners will not get converted."

The artifacts gathered by Dr. Leone's team are on display at a new exhibition at the University of Maryland's Hornbake Library. The display, "Frederick Douglass & Wye House: Archaeology and African American Culture in Maryland" runs through July 2017, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Ezekiel's Wheel Ties African Spiritual Traditions to Christianity

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In the late 18th century, Methodist Episcopal and later African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) preachers carried the Christian message to the plantations on Maryland's Eastern Shore. They seemed to have been successful converting slaves, in part by giving new meaning to traditional symbols.

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"Go Down Moses," an African American spiritual

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"Go Down Moses," an African American spiritual

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On this recording, the Tuskegee Institute Singers perform a traditional spiritual called "Go Down Moses."

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More Resources

About this Item

Title

Go down Moses

Other Title

Old Negro spiritual (Title descriptor)

Alternate Title

Old Negro spiritual (Title descriptor)

Contributor Names

Tuskegee Institute Singers (vocal_group)

Leroy Brown (tenor_vocal)

Charles Edward Clayton (tenor_vocal)

Alvin J. Neely (tenor_vocal)

William J. Williams (tenor_vocal)

William P. Smith (baritone_vocal)

Alfred Taylor (bass_vocal)

William Wiley (bass_vocal)

Created / Published

Victor, Camden, New Jersey [unconfirmed].

Genre

Religious

Notes

- Vocal (category)

- Male vocal double quartet, unaccompanied (description)

- Dixon/Godrich/Rye notes the 8/31/1914 and 9/20/1915 sessions as taking place in New York City. Victor ledgers do not list a specific location.

- Digitized at the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation.

- This recording is protected by state copyright laws in the United States. The Library of Congress has obtained a license from rights holders to offer it as streamed audio only. Downloading is not permitted. The authorization of rights holders of the recording is required in order to obtain a copy of the recording. Contact [email protected] for more information. (Copyright Notice)

- Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment and the National Jukebox Project. (Copyright Notice)

- Victor 17688 (issue number)

- B-15167/1 (matrix number)

Form

sound recording

Extent

1 10" disc recording.

Duration: 03:30

Access Condition

Source of original recording: Recorded Sound Section, Library of Congress. Inclusion of the recording in the National Jukebox, courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment.

Online Format

audio

image

Description

Religious. sound recording | 1 10" disc recording. | Duration: 03:30 | Vocal (Category). Male vocal double quartet, unaccompanied (Description). Dixon/Godrich/Rye notes the 8/31/1914 and 9/20/1915 sessions as taking place in New York City. Victor ledgers do not list a specific location. Digitized at the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation. This recording is protected by state copyright laws in the United States. The Library of Congress has obtained a license from rights holders to offer it as streamed audio only. Downloading is not permitted. The authorization of rights holders of the recording is required in order to obtain a copy of the recording. Contact [email protected] for more information. (Copyright Notice). Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment and the National Jukebox Project. (Copyright Notice). Sound Recording (Form).

Additional Metadata Formats

METSXML Record

Articles and Essays with this item:

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In some cases, the Library was unable to identify a possible rights holder and has elected to place some of those items online as an exercise of fair use for strictly non-commercial educational uses. The Library of Congress would like to learn more about these materials and would like to hear from individuals or institutions that have any additional information or know of their history. Please contact: Performing Arts Reading Room.

Suggested credit line: Library of Congress.

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Tuskegee Institute Singers, Leroy Brown, Charles Edward Clayton, Alvin J. Neely, William J. Williams, William P. Smith, Alfred Taylor, and William Wiley. Go down Moses. [Victor, Camden, New Jersey unconfirmed, 1914] Audio. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox.78/. (Accessed September 04, 2017.)

APA citation style:

Tuskegee Institute Singers, Leroy Brown, Charles Edward Clayton, Alvin J. Neely, William J. Williams, William P. Smith [...] William Wiley. (1914) Go down Moses. [Victor, Camden, New Jersey unconfirmed] [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox.78/.

MLA citation style:

Tuskegee Institute Singers, et al. Go down Moses. [Victor, Camden, New Jersey unconfirmed, 1914] Audio. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox.78/>.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Religious. sound recording | 1 10" disc recording. | Duration: 03:30 | Vocal (Category). Male vocal double quartet, unaccompanied (Description). Dixon/Godrich/Rye notes the 8/31/1914 and 9/20/1915 sessions as taking place in New York City. Victor ledgers do not list a specific location. Digitized at the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation.

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Tombstone of "Voodoo Queen" Marie Laveau (1801-1888)

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Tombstone of "Voodoo Queen" Marie Laveau (1801-1888)

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As displayed by her tombstone, Marie Laveau led Voodoo spirituality, a religion attributed to "African origin," in New Orleans (Webster).

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Robert S. Duncanson, Landscape with Sheep

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Robert S. Duncanson, Landscape with Sheep

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African American artist Duncanson depicts an idyllic scene of the countryside in this 19th century oil painting.

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Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery

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"Wooden prayer beads owned by Suliaman El-Hadi," an Islamic prayer artifact

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"Wooden prayer beads owned by Suliaman El-Hadi," an Islamic prayer artifact

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These Islamic prayer beads belonged to Suliaman El-Hadi, an African American poet, who lived from 1936 to 1995 ("Wooden Prayer Beads Owned by Suliaman El-Hadi").

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December 1961 cartoon from a newspaper published by the Nation of Islam

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December 1961 cartoon from a newspaper published by the Nation of Islam

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In their newspaper, Muhammad Speaks, the Nation of Islam produced a comic strip that depicted a white master forcing his slave to practice Christianity(Gregory).

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"The Way of Life of the Northern Negro: Untitled," a photograph of African American children praying (1946-48)

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"The Way of Life of the Northern Negro: Untitled," a photograph of African American children praying (1946-48)

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Led by a Christian nun (seen on the right side of the photograph), African American children sit and pray together.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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The Way of Life of the Northern Negro: Untitled

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A museum that seeks to understand American history through the lens of the African American experience.

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Sammy Davis Jr. performance on the Chabad Telethon in 1986 

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Sammy Davis Jr. performance on the Chabad Telethon in 1986 

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A Jewish African American, Sammy Davis Jr. participated in the Chabad Telethon, a fundraising event for a Jewish organization.

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Sammy Davis Jr on the Chabad Telethon in 1986

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The Chabad "To Life" Telethon is a joyful celebration of life and a reminder of the power of good deeds. The program is broadcast live from Hollywood California. See the live show on Sunday September 14th, 2008!