Smitherman states, “Black discourse…all comes from the same source: the African-American experience and the oral tradition embedded in that experience” (1). During slavery, the vast majority of African Americans were illiterate, as it was illegal to be a literate slave. Only free blacks could express their opinions through words on a page. This was certainly an intentional form of cultural suppression unfairly perpetrated against the African American community. As a result, orality has been the primary force used to transmit cultural sensitivity to the next generation. A strong oral tradition has led to the development of many things, including folklore, ebonics, and a variety of different musical genres. Slaves in the fields who worked for hours sang "work songs" to boost morale. In their limited free time, slaves often listened to and danced to religious and recreational songs accompanied by foot and hand stomping. This held for years because slaves lived in groups large enough to create a sense of collectivity and were isolated from urban areas, where traditional socialization was likely to take place. I certainly don't know to what extent these songs helped me, but I still remember the lyrics to "Wade in the Water" that I learned when I was in fifth grade. I had never heard anything like the rhythmic, serene pace of this era. Indeed, orality has played an important role in the