The tradition that came to be recognized as Black American gospel music emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries alongside ragtime, blues, and jazz. The progenitors of the tradition, however, lie in both Black and white musics of the 19th century, including, most notably, Black spirituals, songs of enslaved people, and white hymnody.

Gospel music was sung by africans during the slave era. It was a spiritual song of hope that they would be free.