Final answer:
Hymn lyrics were altered by incorporating communal narratives and shared experiences, fostering an African American musical culture that reinforced community bonds and resisted the oppressive system of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lyrics of existing spirituals and hymns were altered to foster a sense of community by incorporating communal narratives and shared experiences. African American spirituals and hymns created during the period of slavery wove together West African cultural elements with Christian beliefs and European American tunes. These spirituals often highlighted themes of hope, freedom, and communal endurance in the face of adversity. Examples such as "Roll, Jordan, Roll," allowed individuals to connect over a common experience of struggle and the aspiration for liberation. The adoption and adaptation of lined-out hymn singing, which involved the creation of unique melodies and patterns, effectively "blackened" a European tradition, fostering a distinct African American musical culture that solidified community bonds among the enslaved.
Hymns and spirituals, which emphasized biblical stories such as the Exodus, were instrumental in strengthening community ties by linking personal sufferings to collective historical narratives of liberation. In this shared musical practice, not only was literacy encouraged among slaves, but their unique cultural identity was asserted against the oppressive backdrop of slavery. These changes in spiritual and hymn lyricism acted as a cultural resistance, promoting unity and the stronger communities that served as sanctuaries against the outside world's hostility.