Frederick Douglass, the Blues, and Superstition



 
 
 
 
 

Frederick Douglass

"I was chosen from among them all, and was the first, lasy, and the only choice. i may be deemed superstitious, and even egotistical, in regarding this event as a special interpostion of divine Providence in my favor."
 
Robert Johnson		 Robert Johnson is one of the most celebrated figures in blues history.
He died at age twenty-seven ,but this didn't keep him from influenceing the world for a half a century after he was gone. If Robert Johnson had never been born, the blues might have seen to make him up, since he was so influencing. Johnson sang alot about the crossroads a superstitous topic.Most blues singers try to stay away from superstition in there songs he was more daring when it came to his songs. 

 
 

                       THEME OF SUPERSTITION

Frederick Douglass  could have been considered superstitous because he was chosen out of all the slave children as the only one to move . He was choosen to move to Balitmore to live in an improved environment. Douglass's eyes and hopes were open to his life was important and was starting to look up for him. Big life-changing events were taking place, but only for him . No other slaves got the chance to have a better life and not work on a plantation. Douglass was superstitous because he got chances and choices about how he wanted his life. He made a stand trying to reach for a freedom, education, and equal rights. In the blues African Americans are singing or sending a message about equal rights, the education they didn't receive along with freedom. Blues singers sing about superstition when they sing about going or meeting at the crossroads. 

                         BLUES  LYRICS
 "Standin, at the crossroads, risin' sun oin' down
I believe to my soul now, po' Bob is sinkin down."
                                   -Robert Johnson, "Crossroads Blues"
 

 "She say you don't see why, oo, that I will dog her 'round.
It must-a be that old evil spirit so deep down in the ground."
                            -Robert Johnson, "Me and the Devil Blues"
 

 


                                    A. Coon
 
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