Swing Low Sweet Chariot Analysis

History behind the appropriation of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”

“Swing Low, Sweet chariot,” is an American Negro Spiritual originally sung by black slaves during their time working of the fields. Although performers in the 20th century acknowledged the historic significance of this piece, it has also been used as an instrument of cultural appropriation by white Americans and Europeans. The meaning of this song radiates in the words and exposes its purpose to those who study the music of slaves and its transformation into the Gospel and Jazz genres. The origin of the spiritual was likely one-hundred years prior the conclusion of slavery in the United States, but its peak use was about 1830 to 1865.(SVI) During this time slaves we beginning to,

This arrangement consisted of a quartet of black men from the HBCU (Historically Black College or University) Fisk University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, who performed it in places such as churches or small concert halls, and categorized the song as an early form of Gospel music, a popular sacred-genre amongst African Americans. (PII) The Fisk Jubilee Singers originated as fundraising entertainment that displayed black performers.(SIV) The few black concert performers before the plight of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, such as Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield (The Black Swan), had emphasized only white repertoire. In the time of their creation, there was a significant amount of theater companies that performed minstrel shows in black-face, making this group of actual black students significant in spreading black culture beyond

Its use in Britain is rumored to date back to the 1960s and was sung during a drinking game. Oddly enough, they do not actually seem to acknowledge the actual text in their chanting, the emotional text of death and despair. It is also thought provoking to think of how slavery in the United States started with Britain who ruled the land and brought slaves to the new world. Their influence in this topic with this revelation comes back as a car returns home. The Brit Award winning artist, Ella Eyre, released a cover of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” in support of the English Rugby team. Eyre is a mixed race, britain native born to a Jamaican father and a British Mother. She sing the song for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the proceeds were donated to local schools. Does this count as appropriation? Well, yes and no. She is of Arican descent and most likely knows the origin of the song, but has a complete disregard for it not being a song for rugby. This song is not about hopefully scoring the winning goal or beating a rival team, it is about people experiencing torture and suffering hoping that heaven is better than their lives on earth. The proceeds were used in a manner reflective to that of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, so this appropriation could be still for a good cause.