“Songs of Slavery and Emancipation” Screened with Film’s Director in Fusco Hall

A Marist history professor and the film’s director co-hosted the documentary screening for students.

Documentary director Mat Callahan speaking to students about his research. Photo by Mary Kirk '27.

Marist College Associate Professor of History Steven Garabedian hosted a screening of the 2022 documentary “Songs of Slavery and Emancipation” on Nov. 6, alongside Mat Callahan, the film’s director and author of the accompanying book.

After the screening, Callahan engaged in a brief question and answer session, during which students were allowed to ask him questions about his research and the topics tackled by the documentary.

Callahan directed the 50-minute documentary along with Yvonne Moore and Joe Johnson. The film, produced by Art in History & Politics, includes insights and historical recounts from musical and historical experts who specialize in studying slave rebellions. 

The film takes viewers through the inception of Callahan’s project, which was to create a CD of slave songs that he found through extensive research. These songs were sung, recorded and produced at Berea College, with the help of Dr. Kathy Bullock. Bullock assembled a chorus comprised entirely of members of her church, her students and friends from the American Spiritual Ensemble to sing these songs of slave rebellion and resistance.

In between snippets of the songs being sung, the documentary presents clips of professors and historians discussing the longstanding culture of music as a vessel for messages of Black liberation. 

The documentary sheds light on the taboo nature of discussions around slavery in America. It additionally highlights the importance of music as a means of storytelling and empowerment during one of the darkest moments in the nation’s history. 

Throughout the film, Callahan refers to the book that sparked his desire to embark on this project: “Negro Slave Revolts in the United States (1526-1860).” His research on slave rebellion and his background as a musician led him to want to uncover how songs were used to inspire and progress the emancipation movement.

Much of his work discussed in the documentary is informed by his years of conducting archival research on these songs and his extensive authentication of their sources.

In the Q&A portion of the screening, Callahan delved into the research process behind uncovering these songs, as well as the various limitations he faced.

In response to a question about finding the songs, Callahan remarked that it was “definitely a struggle not only to find things, but also to confirm that they were actually authentic.”

These songs have been written and rewritten by a multitude of sources as they’ve been transmitted throughout history. They have undergone extensive translations and transcriptions that may differ drastically from the original versions. This was a crucial consideration that Callahan had to account for in his research. 

However, he did not give up and ultimately ended up discovering 15 songs, many of which are heard being sung throughout the film. 

He stated that his goal in having these songs recorded and distributed by CD was to make them easier to find. Increasing accessibility to this form of art as a part of American history is especially important, since this aspect of national history is often denied or avoided in society. 

Callahan encouraged students to ask questions and do their own research, noting that “there’s a lot more to be found.” 

Callahan’s work is a fundamental precedent for further research on the topic. His CD, book and documentary about these songs of slavery will facilitate others in remembering, through song, the fight for freedom in this country.

“Songs of Slavery and Emancipation” speaks to the power of song in the fight against slavery. It is clear from this documentary screening and the subsequent discussion that both Callahan and Garabedian care a lot about making Marist students aware of such an important part of U.S. history.