Remix: A Message for Hope

If someone were to look throughout history they would find countless examples of people building upon and repurposing already existing material.  One such remix in history can be found in the coded songs that were used in the Underground Railroad.

 Different songs, like “Sweet Chariot,” relayed different coded messages and instructions.  This particular piece is significant, because when slaves heard the song it meant that they had to be ready to flee.  The fleeing slaves would often be filled with both anxiety and hope for a better future when they heard this song (Songs of the Underground Railroad).  These songs were remixed later into songs used during the Civil Rights movement such as in the famous song “Oh Freedom.” The African American population repurposed and remixed this material by expressing the same idea of freedom but through different musical styles.

 Both “Sweet Chariot” and “Oh Freedom” express the value and desire for freedom.   “Sweet Chariot” is more of a spiritual style whereas “Oh Freedom” is soulful and a little more complex.   The musical simplicity of the piece “Sweet Chariot” is tied to the basic physical freedom that the slaves were fighting for.  Whereas the song “Oh Freedom,” is more complex and mirrors the complexity of the societal and social freedoms that the Civil Rights population fought for and faced. 

This is only one of the numerous examples of remixes found throughout history.  Both generations were willing to risk death in order to obtain and fight for their right for freedom.  Remix is a vital ingredient for progress allowing others to build off of previous people’s struggles and ideas.  This creates improvements for society as a whole.    Remixes occur every day in different settings and situations which push forward progress.  Whether the struggle is as momentous as the Civil Rights movement or as small as an idea taken away from a classroom discussion, they all are examples of remix and are essential to progress.