Slave triangle

The spirituals were used to send a message to help the slaves escape without the English knowing they also used it for motivation to keep working. They were a way for slaves to express there feeling as they we also passed down from generations . 

Wade in the water. Wade in the water was used as a message telling the slaves to wade in the water so the dogs couldn't track them.

Wade in the water  
Wade in the water
Children wade, in the water
God's gonna trouble the water
Who's that young girl dressed in red
Wade in the water
Must be the children that Moses led
God's gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water, wade in the water children
Wade in the water,
God's gonna trouble the water

Who's that young girl dressed in white
Wade in the water
Must be the children of the Israelite
Oh, God's gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water is another way of saying walk on the water indicating getting off the ship into the water  because as stated earlier going through the water make it so the dogs can't track them. 

Harriet Tubman was a slave that escaped only to find that her husband had left her for another woman. Harriet help may other slaves escape, she conducted underground railroads from south american to Canada. It was her who told the slaves to wade in the water