Slave Songs and the Birth of African American Poetry - Hardcoverby L. Ramey (Author) In this insightful and provocative volume, Rameyreveals spirituals and slave songs to be a crucial element in American literature. This book shows slave songs'intrinsic value as lyric poetry, sheds light on their roots and originality, anddraws new conclusions on anart form long considereda touchstone of cultural imagination. Author Biography LAURI RAMEY is Director of the Center for Contemporary Poetry and Poetics, and is