Customs


 * Customs**

Slaves were forced to do large amounts of work, and they did not have much time to relax. But, when they had breaks, they did develop customs and culture of their own. One popular activity was storytelling. This became very important and related many aspects of slaves' lives. With the use of stories, history and tales were passed on from generation to generation. In this way, they were remembered. Some stories told of the history of tribes in Africa. Another activity that played an important role was singing. Sometimes, slaves sang just to help pass the time while they were working. Other times, songs carried hidden messages, such as hints about the underground railroad to help slaves escape to freedom. Some songs also had religious meanings, and some songs were just for fun. If they had time, slaves would gather together to sing songs, tell stories, and sometimes elders would teach children about wild foods, medical care, and hunting. Even through hard times and toil, slaves were able to relax and continue their customs through activities like singing and storytelling.