Musical Practices of Early Black Americans

Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell (1774-1781), 36

no

enslaved

group

voice / instr

Banjo

unspecified "a Ball"

dancing

n/a

Nanjemoy, Maryland

droll, satirical, rude, uncultivated, violent, irregular, grotesque

Mr. Bayley and I went to see a Negro Ball, Sundays being the only days these poor Creatures have to themselves, they generally meet together and amuse themselves with Dancing to the Banjor. This Musical instrument (if it may be so called) is made of a Gourd something in immitation of a Guitar with only four strings and play’d with the fingers in the same manner. Some of them sing to it which is very droll musick indeed, In their songs they generally relate the usage they have received from their Masters or Mistresses, in a very Satirical stile and manner. Their poetry is like the Music Rude and uncultivated. Their Dancing is most violent exercise, but so irregular and Grotesque, I am not able to describe it. They all appear to be exceedingly happy at these merry makings and seem as if they had forgot or were not sensible of their misserable condition.

In this section of his journal, Cresswell is describing the town of Nanjemoy, its agriculture and industries, and the role of the enslaved workers in them.

Cresswell was an English man visiting America with the goal of acquiring land to live in the future, as stated in the first entry of his journal. His text is often concerned with agriculture and the possibilities of improving the land and farming methods in the US. His writing is usually condescending, pointing out what he sees as the "immorality" or "backwardness" of the territories he visits. This is particularly true in descriptions of enslaved African Americans or Native American people.