Are Negro Spirituals useful in our society today?
Should there be an effort to preserve these beautiful and historic songs?

The spirituals are not only useful, but I believe the most important contriubtion made in America to Classical Music. That's why Antonin Dvorak thought that they should be the basis for a "great and noble school of American composition", and himself attempted to establish a National Conservatory of Music in New York over 100 years ago.

As a African American Music Educator, I feel that the Basics of all my instruction should be centered around the Negro Spirituals as well as African Music. Negro Spirituals are very important. In the same token, I believe that African American choral Directors should go back to the roots (African Roots). Sometimes we avoid teaching the music of Africa, simply because we are not familiar enough in this area ourselves. I was fortunate to study African Music at William Paterson University.

I feel spirituals are an important way to show the history of what African Americans have been through. It shows how they have struggled and how some have hope even though at the time it may not have seemed like it.

I believe that the Negro Spirituals must be preserved to capture the significant history of African Americans in the US. Also, the spirituals were important in the early development of many American song forms, e.g. blues, jazz, r&b, gospel. Spirituals were also studied and used by 20th century composers (Antonin Dvorak and Michael Tippett) for orchestral and operatic works.