Final answer:
Slaves sang because they were unhappy, and the singing served as a means to express sorrow and seek relief, contrary to the claims of slave advocates who considered it a sign of contentment. Frederick Douglass's experiences affirm that the songs reflected deep anguish and longing for freedom rather than happiness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Advocates of slavery would say that slaves singing is an indication that they are happy and content, but Frederick Douglass indicates that slaves really sing because they are unhappy. Douglass explains that the songs of the slave represent the sorrows of their hearts, much like tears relieve an aching heart.
He further clarifies that this singing is a way to drown sorrow, not to express joy. Despite the fact that some slaves would sing while carrying out tasks or traveling to the Great House Farm for their monthly allowance, these songs often contained dual meanings — projecting both the joy of communal solidarity and the sadness of their condition.
Additionally, slaves used the singing of hymns and psalms, taught by slaveholders to instill submissiveness, as a means to learn literacy and create a unique African American cultural expression that would influence future musical genres.
The narrative of slaves singing songs of joy only underlines the deception of the institution and the complex layers of meaning in slave culture. These songs were a testament against the oppression of slavery and a form of emotional release and communication both among themselves, and as an outcry to others about the injustices they faced daily.