Deeann' D. Mathews A Cappella Singing On Hive, Volume 1: Negro Spirituals and Their Stories

For @sekani -- most of the time I sing in @hiveopenmic and a few other communities as well, and so here is a collection of Negro Spirituals (the songs of my enslaved African ancestors in America), with the necessary stories attached.

[//]: #1 https://peakd.com/pitchperfect/@deeanndmathews/pitchperfect-week-2-climbin-a-high-mountain-negro-spiritual
"Climbin' a High Mountain" is among my favorite spirituals to sing, and the first I posted on Hive ...

[//]: #2 https://peakd.com/hive-192806/@deeanndmathews/special-memorial-day-tribute-medley-for-the-united-states-most-unsung-veteran-heroes
The story of the United States' most hidden story of valor ... who exactly were the men that Abraham Lincoln said were the reason the Union won the Civil War? Learn the stories with their songs...

[//]: #3 https://peakd.com/hive-192806/@deeanndmathews/juneteenth-june-19-1865-the-story-and-the-song-of-the-newest-federal-holiday
The story of Juneteenth, and the continued march of African Americans toward full freedom, with the appropriate songs ...

[//]: #4 https://peakd.com/hive-192806/@deeanndmathews/meet-a-black-founding-father-of-freedom-a-special-july-4-negro-spirituals-presentation
We know about the Founding Fathers of 1776 ... but did you know the African man in America who started his people's long, long march toward freedom in 1777? Hear his story, and his people's songs...

[//]: #5 https://peakd.com/hive-105786/@deeanndmathews/hive-open-mic-98-walk-with-me-cover-of-a-negro-spiritual
A deep, deep prayer of people who had to walk alone toward freedom if they walked at all ... even if it was just the freedom to retain their sense that God loved and cared about them in the midst of situations they could not always escape...

[//]: #6 https://peakd.com/hive-105786/@deeanndmathews/hive-open-mic-101-heaven-heaven-negro-spiritual-cover
How my ancestors talked back in a Christian way to their masters, and called out their hypocrisy to their face while warning their descendants all the way down to me...

[//]: #7 https://peakd.com/hive-105786/@deeanndmathews/hive-open-mic-102-there-is-a-balm-in-gilead-cover-negro-spiritual
One of the most beloved Negro Spirituals around the world... enjoy...

[//]: #8 https://peakd.com/hive-105786/@deeanndmathews/hive-open-mic-103-i-been-in-the-storm-so-long-negro-spiritual-cover
My ancestors were enslaved for 246 long years ... that's a long time to be in the storm ...

[//]: #9 https://peakd.com/hive-105786/@deeanndmathews/hive-open-mic-104-down-by-the-riverside-negro-spiritual-cover
Ah, laying those burdens down and studying war no more ... the glory of that freedom is all through this favorite Spiritual!