--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a slave were to raise his voice to his…" description: "\"If a slave were to raise his voice to his master, he risked all manner of punishment. Yet what was possible in many circumstances was to lift one's voi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/henry-rollins-170_been_if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-hi_2678997.png" --- # If a slave were to raise his voice to his master, he… ![“If a slave were to raise his voice to his master, he risked all manner of punishment. Yet what was possible in many circumstances was to lift one's voice in song. This was a major ingredient in what is now known as blues and gospel. Slaves may have been regarded as subhuman by their cruel captors…” quote by Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/henry-rollins-170_been_if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-hi_2678997.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/henry-rollins-170_been_if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-hi_2678997.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/henry-rollins-170_been_if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-hi_2678997.png) > “If a slave were to raise his voice to his master, he risked all manner of punishment. Yet what was possible in many circumstances was to lift one's voice in song. This was a major ingredient in what is now known as blues and gospel. Slaves may have been regarded as subhuman by their cruel captors, but through music, they were proud and dignified.” [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music gave enslaved people a voice and dignity, turning oppression into artistic expression. **In simple terms:** Song as resistance. Key Takeaway Use art to empower. Themes freedom music resistance Mood hopeful reflective Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - education - activism - creative therapy Key Concepts cultural history psychology of music Questions to Reflect On - How can art today challenge oppression? - What role does music play in healing? A Different Perspective May romanticize suffering without addressing systemic injustice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Dignified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignified/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [As I grew up, I began to discover a little bit about the situation of black people in America and experienced an immediate empathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-ertegun/as-i-grew-up-i-began-to-discover-a-little-bit-about-the-situation-of/) [Ahmet Ertegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-ertegun/) > [The major ingredient of any recipe for fear is the unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/the-major-ingredient-of-any-recipe-for-fear-is-the-unknown/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I no longer prepare food or drink with more than one ingredient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyra-mcfadden/i-no-longer-prepare-food-or-drink-with-more-than-one-ingredient/) Cyra McFadden > [I always kind of think if The Beatles were still around now, people would've lost interest quite a long time ago. Seven years of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-always-kind-of-think-if-the-beatles-were-still-around-now-people/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [The most important thing for me is to really buy the best ingredient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-puck/the-most-important-thing-for-me-is-to-really-buy-the-best-ingredient/) [Wolfgang Puck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-puck/) > [The simpler the food, the harder it is to prepare it well. You want to truly taste what it is you're eating. So that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-robuchon/the-simpler-the-food-the-harder-it-is-to-prepare-it-well-you-want-to/) [Joel Robuchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-robuchon/) > [We're going to move from a commodity economy where you basically grow the same kind of crops - where a kernel of corn is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/we-re-going-to-move-from-a-commodity-economy-where-you-basically-grow/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [Elegance is eternal and I add my pinch of that ingredient to what I wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-kakkar/elegance-is-eternal-and-i-add-my-pinch-of-that-ingredient-to-what-i/) [Sonu Kakkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-kakkar/) > [The main ingredient of the first quantum revolution, wave-particle duality, has led to inventions such as the transistor and the laser that are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-aspect/the-main-ingredient-of-the-first-quantum-revolution-wave-particle/) Alain Aspect > [I don't believe I dislike any ingredient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranveer-brar/i-don-t-believe-i-dislike-any-ingredient/) [Ranveer Brar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranveer-brar/) > [Populism has had as many incarnations as it has had provocations, but its constant ingredient has been resentment, and hence whininess. Populism does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/populism-has-had-as-many-incarnations-as-it-has-had-provocations-but/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Debt, we've learned, is the match that lights the fire of every crisis. Every crisis has its own set of villains - pick your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/debt-we-ve-learned-is-the-match-that-lights-the-fire-of-every-crisis/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [When it comes to salt, what was really staggering to me is that the industry itself is totally hooked on salt. It is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moss/when-it-comes-to-salt-what-was-really-staggering-to-me-is-that-the/) [Michael Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moss/) > [Logic is the last scientific ingredient of Philosophy; its extraction leaves behind only a confusion of non-scientific, pseudo problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-carnap/logic-is-the-last-scientific-ingredient-of-philosophy-its-extraction/) [Rudolf Carnap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-carnap/) > [In the hands of food manufacturers, cheese has become an 'ingredient.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moss/in-the-hands-of-food-manufacturers-cheese-has-become-an-ingredient/) [Michael Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moss/) ## More by Henry Rollins > [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In the summer of '84, you just couldn't escape the Born in the USA record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/in-the-summer-of-84-you-just-couldn-t-escape-the-born-in-the-usa/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [We spend millions of dollars to remove pain from our lives. It's why so many people get hooked on painkillers. The body becomes addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/we-spend-millions-of-dollars-to-remove-pain-from-our-lives-it-s-why/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Sleep is for squares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/sleep-is-for-squares/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's a lot of mountain climbers trapped inside of bodies of people behind the counter at Kinko's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-a-lot-of-mountain-climbers-trapped-inside-of-bodies-of-people/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-i-lose-the-light-of-the-sun-i-will-write-by-candlelight-moonlight/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was raised in Washington, DC, very violent place. I grew up with violence. My introduction to music was violent. The years I've spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-raised-in-washington-dc-very-violent-place-i-grew-up-with/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel pain everyday of my life. When you see me perform, it's that pain you're seeing coming out. I put all my emotions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-pain-everyday-of-my-life-when-you-see-me-perform-it-s-that/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I feel close to people like Jimi Hendrix because I connect with his music. Not the man but what he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-close-to-people-like-jimi-hendrix-because-i-connect-with-his/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe in various degrees of hatred, paranoia, and abandonment. However much of that gets heaped upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-or-destiny-i-believe-in-various-degrees-of/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Young, gay and stuck in Arkansas? Sounds like a horror flick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/young-gay-and-stuck-in-arkansas-sounds-like-a-horror-flick/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was never told to "Get up, get out there, get a job." It was never a thing either parent ever said I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-never-told-to-get-up-get-out-there-get-a-job-it-was-never-a/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's no retirement, there's just a few years of non-work by the fire with someone bringing you some tea and relative peace and playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-no-retirement-there-s-just-a-few-years-of-non-work-by-the/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I love being a storyteller. I love telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-love-being-a-storyteller-i-love-telling-stories/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) [Explore all 1,006 Henry Rollins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a slave were to raise his voice to his master, he risked all manner of punishment. Yet what was possible in many circumstances was to lift one's voice in song. This was a major ingredient in what is now known as blues and gospel. Slaves may have been regarded as subhuman by their cruel captors, but through music, they were proud and dignified.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Rollins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-his-master-he-risked-all-manner/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Been" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-his-master-he-risked-all-manner/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/henry-rollins-170_been_if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-hi_2678997.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/henry-rollins-170_been_if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-hi_2678997.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/henry-rollins-170_been_if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-hi_2678997.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a slave were to raise his voice to his master, he risked all manner of punishment. Yet what was possible…” — Henry Rollins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Rollins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If a slave were to raise...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-his-master-he-risked-all-manner/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-a-slave-were-to-raise-his-voice-to-his-master-he-risked-all-manner/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```