Spirituals constitute the foundational American literary tradition

Evidence

The spirituals are one of the most original musical and literary contributions made by any American group. They are essentially the first ‘American’ literature — preceding all the formal English-language American literary traditions in age and depth. What does it mean that the foundational American art form was produced by people who were legally property? — , A Year of World Stories, 5146

Categorization

• XREF: Resonates with the claim that the most famous American folktale is African in origin — both overturn Eurocentric origin stories for American culture. — connects to: American culture’s forward orientation is the pioneering ethos made into art. — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 678; Cultural Studies’ founding texts were acts of recovery of prior traditions
• SEED: Essay angle: a revised canon of American literature that puts enslaved-created forms at the foundation rather than the margins.

Broader Connections

• Cultural Studies’ founding texts were acts of recovery of prior traditions #corroborates (0.45)
• American culture’s forward orientation is the pioneering ethos made into art. #complicates (0.40) — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 678