Why did the slaves do to cope with life

Music, fear of separation and the hope to be let free or escape

A prominent way that slaves would cope with their inhumane situations was turning to faith. Slaves would be allowed to sing spirituals since their owners were Christians as well. Singing spirituals were emotionally liberating as they sang scriptures about Moses's people being free to go to the promised land. Spirituals were also used to encourage others to go north for freedom, using analogies from spiritual texts: "going up the wander to be with my Lord."