sentences:  A number of artists have recorded notable versions of it, and it was used as one of the main themes in the critically praised documentary "The Civil War".African American slaves in the United States created a vibrant culture of resistance and dissent, despite attempts by white slaveowners to indoctrinate them into passivity using a variant of Christianity.Slaves were not permitted to speak while working in the fields, but were permitted to sing and chant in order to alleviate tedium and to impose a rhythm on repetitive motions.