Final answer:
The element of "Go Down, Moses" characteristic of many spirituals is a hidden or coded message about freedom and resistance, which resonated with the experiences of enslaved individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The element of "Go Down, Moses" that is characteristic of many spirituals is C) a hidden or coded message. African American spirituals like this one often included messages that spoke to the experience and longing for freedom among enslaved individuals. These songs, while literally discussing biblical stories, were also coded with meanings relevant to their lives and desires for liberation from the bondage of slavery. For example, "Go Down, Moses" while on the surface is about the Israelite's release from Egyptian enslavement, it also resonated with the enslaved Africans in America who sought their own freedom, mirroring the biblical story to their own circumstances.
In the context of spirituals, direct references to religious themes are indeed common; however, the dual nature of these songs allowed them to carry hidden meanings that were understood among the enslaved community. This form of coded language within spiritual music became an essential vehicle for hope and resistance, encapsulating the clever and subtle ways the enslaved population could communicate under the oppressive watch of slaveholders.