Hush

An abbreviated version of "Hush" was performed by the Chalice Choir as an introit on January 15, 2023.

During the period prior to Emancipation, slaves often stole away to places where they could sing and worship that were referred to as “Hush Harbors” -- thickly forested areas where they could remain private and undetected by their owners.  Here, they would create their own sacred spaces and rituals, which combined modern Christianity with their own African and Caribbean traditions.  Slaves also utilized Hush Harbors as meeting spots where they hatched plans for freedom.  So, it was probably not unusual for “Hush” to be code for when a meeting might take place.

Additional resources:

• https://advocatesc.org/articles/the-message-of-the-hush-harbor-history-and-theology-of-african-descent-traditions