Nobody Knows
Except for the arrival of the first Africans, we came to this country as no other; we were brought against our will. We were brought here into an abusive system of man’s inhumanity to man.
The Spiritual “Nobody Knows” also known as “Nobody Knows de trouble I’ve Seen” sheds light on the Africans’ insight to the troubles surrounding his plight and who it was that truly understood his condition.
The Africans’ troubles did not begin in the unfamiliar abode of the New World as many might believe; they began back in their homeland—Africa. There, Africans captured and enslaved one another. However, their system of slavery was not the cruel one they would come to experience in North America.
With demands for cheap labor in the New World, human bondage was thought to be the best solution. Europeans and Indians were first experimented with, but it was the African whose physical appearance, seemingly never-ending numbers, and station in life made him the likely choice.
Therefore, further conflict among African tribes and villages were encouraged by outsiders. And by providing tribal leaders with weapons, rum, and other goods, it guaranteed continued conflict and a never-ending stream of human labor. Those captured were made to journey to the coastline of West Africa. From the interior of Africa, some traveled 500 miles to the coastline. Upon arriving, they were held at forts while awaiting slave ships headed to the New World and the Indies.
To tell the story of the African’s journey, his troubles, and his hardships, ground breaking television epics such as Roots and more recent made for television movies such as Amistad, The Middle Passage, and HBO’s Slave Narratives have been made.
Without a doubt, the African-American story is being told on a grander scale. Scholarly research has lifted, to some degree, the veil of darkness and forced corrections and rewrites of the African-American plight. In doing so, the world has gained deeper insight into the true and significant foundational contributions of an important segment of society.
In all of this, however, I must confess, as the spiritual suggest, that I don’t really know, nor do I fully understand, the depths of the horror and hardships early Africans endured. Yes, year after year, I celebrate. And year after year, I am further enlightened, challenged, and deeply amazed.
The literary genius behind “Nobody Knows” knew full well that other men would find it hard to identify completely with his plight. As a result, the writer acknowledges the only person he knows who fully understands.
He pens, “Oh! Nobody Knows the trouble I’ve seen, Nobody knows but Jesus; Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, Glory, hallelujah! Glory, hallelujah! Verse one resounds, “Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down, Oh yes Lord! Sometimes I’m almost to the ground, Oh, yes, Lord!......Oh!
Nobody knows the true horrors of being snatched from their village, put in holding pens, and then confined to coffin size space in slave ships; ships that then made the six to ten week voyage across the Atlantic.
Nobody knows the horrors of the chains, the seemingly endless sea voyage to God knows where. And while en route being nibbled on by rats while schools of sharks followed sensing a forthcoming meal.
Nobody knows the shame of the auction block, the separation of families, and the complete termination of personhood.
Nobody knows what it means to work from sun up to sun down with no hope for the future. Nobody knows what it means to have no rights.
Nobody knows what it means not to be able to go where one pleases. Nobody knows.
The songwriter passionately declares “Nobody knows! Nobody knows! Nobody knows but Jesus.” To the slave, Jesus was the answer: the intimate friend; the One who truly understands. Nobody knows but Jesus.
But Jesus; He is hope in a hopeless situation. But Jesus; He is help in horrible conditions. But Jesus; He is our hand of protection against the perverted and polluted practices of men.
“Oh! Nobody Knows the trouble I’ve seen, Nobody knows but Jesus; Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen, Glory, hallelujah! Glory, hallelujah!”
Except for the arrival of the first Africans, we came to this country as no other; we were brought against our will. We were brought here into an abusive system of man’s inhumanity to man.
The Spiritual “Nobody Knows” also known as “Nobody Knows de trouble I’ve Seen” sheds light on the Africans’ insight to the troubles surrounding his plight and who it was that truly understood his condition.
The Africans’ troubles did not begin in the unfamiliar abode of the New World as many might believe; they began back in their homeland—Africa. There, Africans captured and enslaved one another. However, their system of slavery was not the cruel one they would come to experience in North America.
With demands for cheap labor in the New World, human bondage was thought to be the best solution. Europeans and Indians were first experimented with, but it was the African whose physical appearance, seemingly never-ending numbers, and station in life made him the likely choice.
Therefore, further conflict among African tribes and villages were encouraged by outsiders. And by providing tribal leaders with weapons, rum, and other goods, it guaranteed continued conflict and a never-ending stream of human labor. Those captured were made to journey to the coastline of West Africa. From the interior of Africa, some traveled 500 miles to the coastline. Upon arriving, they were held at forts while awaiting slave ships headed to the New World and the Indies.
To tell the story of the African’s journey, his troubles, and his hardships, ground breaking television epics such as Roots and more recent made for television movies such as Amistad, The Middle Passage, and HBO’s Slave Narratives have been made.
Without a doubt, the African-American story is being told on a grander scale. Scholarly research has lifted, to some degree, the veil of darkness and forced corrections and rewrites of the African-American plight. In doing so, the world has gained deeper insight into the true and significant foundational contributions of an important segment of society.
In all of this, however, I must confess, as the spiritual suggest, that I don’t really know, nor do I fully understand, the depths of the horror and hardships early Africans endured. Yes, year after year, I celebrate. And year after year, I am further enlightened, challenged, and deeply amazed.
The literary genius behind “Nobody Knows” knew full well that other men would find it hard to identify completely with his plight. As a result, the writer acknowledges the only person he knows who fully understands.
He pens, “Oh! Nobody Knows the trouble I’ve seen, Nobody knows but Jesus; Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, Glory, hallelujah! Glory, hallelujah! Verse one resounds, “Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down, Oh yes Lord! Sometimes I’m almost to the ground, Oh, yes, Lord!......Oh!
Nobody knows the true horrors of being snatched from their village, put in holding pens, and then confined to coffin size space in slave ships; ships that then made the six to ten week voyage across the Atlantic.
Nobody knows the horrors of the chains, the seemingly endless sea voyage to God knows where. And while en route being nibbled on by rats while schools of sharks followed sensing a forthcoming meal.
Nobody knows the shame of the auction block, the separation of families, and the complete termination of personhood.
Nobody knows what it means to work from sun up to sun down with no hope for the future. Nobody knows what it means to have no rights.
Nobody knows what it means not to be able to go where one pleases. Nobody knows.
The songwriter passionately declares “Nobody knows! Nobody knows! Nobody knows but Jesus.” To the slave, Jesus was the answer: the intimate friend; the One who truly understands. Nobody knows but Jesus.
But Jesus; He is hope in a hopeless situation. But Jesus; He is help in horrible conditions. But Jesus; He is our hand of protection against the perverted and polluted practices of men.
“Oh! Nobody Knows the trouble I’ve seen, Nobody knows but Jesus; Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen, Glory, hallelujah! Glory, hallelujah!”
Artwork by Dr. Talley: a Type-C Print taken in a small village in West Africa
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