Thursday, May 28, 2009

Follow the Drinking Gourd

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I'm not actually the amazingly organized planner that this would imply, it's really more coincidental, that right when DH is doing his Summer Field School at Kingsley Plantation, Blaze's American history lessons have reached the point where we can discuss plantation life and the anti-slavery movement.



The Kingsley House/ The Big House
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The back of the Kingsley House:
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The Kitchen House/Anna Kingsley's house and well:
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The backside of the barn:
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The Cabins/The Quarters:
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The overseer's cabin:
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The cabins in 1870, post-emancipation, but still occupied:
1870 Kingsley Cabins





Our book list for this week's history lessons:

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For music this week, we are learning to sing the song, "Follow the Drinking Gourd".

Here is a sample of Taj Mahal singing the song. I think his deep gravely voice is perfect for this map song that gave the directions to freedom. The song instructed runaway slaves to go North by following the "drinking gourd", the Big Dipper pointing to the North Star.

http://www.followthedrinkinggourd.org/Music/14-TajMahal.InProgress.FollowTheDrinkingGourd.mp3


Follow the Drinking Gourd (Lyrics)

When the sun comes back,
and the first Quail calls,
Follow the drinking gourd,
For the old man is waiting
for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd.

Chorus:
Follow the drinking gourd,
Follow the drinking gourd,
For the old man is waiting
for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd.

The riverbank will make a very good road,
The dead trees show you the way.
Left foot, peg foot traveling on,
Following the drinking gourd.

The river ends between two hills,
Follow the drinking gourd,
There's another river on the other side,
Follow the drinking gourd.

When the great big river meets the little river,
Follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is waiting
for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd.

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6 comments:

Tammy said...

I remember singing this song somewhere along the way in school.

It's nice that Blaze's learning coincides with your husband's work at the plantation!

Is there a story about where your drinking gourd came from?

dawn klinge said...

I imagine that being at the plantation really brings this unit to life. Blaze is getting such a great education!

Crescent Moon said...

Our drinking gourd actually just came from the Habitat for Humanity resale shop. When I saw it, I just had to buy it, but surprisingly DH did not understand the significance of it. He went to school here in Florida and I think they must teach things a little differently in the public schools here.

Unknown said...

As a family - we all love the story of the drinking gourd and of the freedom quilt. Thank you for sharing all the richness and detail of the history of it :)

Joy said...

I hadn't heard that song so thanks for the introduction. What a cool house to visit. I grew up near Charleston SC, and it reminds me of the big plantation houses down there. Great visual lesson for Blaze's current unit. :)

jane said...

i also remember this! have a great weekend! besos!

Crafty Crow