W.E.B. Du Bois: “Human advancement is not a mere question of almsgiving, but rather of sympathy and cooperation among classes who would…”

Some, like “Near the lake where drooped the willow,” passed into current airs and their source was forgotten; others were caricatured on the “minstrel” stage and their memory died away.

Hear my cry, O God the Reader; vouchsafe that this my book fall not still-born into the world wilderness.

Over the inner thoughts of the slaves and their relations one with another the shadow of fear ever hung, so that we get but glimpses here and there, and also with them, eloquent omissions and silences.

I know little of music and can say nothing in technical phrase, but I know something of men, and knowing them, I know that these songs are the articulate message of the slave to the world.