The Work Song is perhaps the most indigenous of the African Diaspora. Historically, they were created by slaves who incorporated rhythm, body movement and song into their daily tasks. Heavy accents on alternating beats helped to synchronize the labor at hand.
These songs often contained codified messages, stories from the Bible, and words of encouragement to one another. From the fervent cries heard in the fields, or improvised rhythmic chants from workers on the docks, and the voices heard from victims of peonage, America was built from their labor and its history hidden in a Song.
