"I have often been utterly astonished, since I came to the north, to find persons who could speak of the singing, among slaves, as evidence of their contentment(1) and happiness. It is impossible to conceive(2) of a greater mistake. Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved(3) by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears. At least, such is my experience. I have often sung to drown my sorrow, but seldom to express my happiness. Crying for joy, and singing for joy, were alike uncommon to me while in the jaws of slavery."
Read the excerpt from Source 1's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass then write a paragraph that summarizes what Frederick Douglass is trying to explain about the reasons why slaves would sing and how their singing was correctly or incorrectly interpreted by white persons living in the North.


or btao ❤️​