If some Democratic lawmakers have their way, the African-American spiritual -- soulful rhythms born of African slaves -- may soon be officially recognized as a "national treasure" in the U.S. Congress.

Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn) has offered a resolution calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to formally acknowledge the African American spiritual, songs with deep historical roots that are staples in many of the nation's black churches. 

DeLauro was encouraged to sponsor the bill by Calvin Earl, a renowned black musician and educator who was personally inspired by the music of enslaved African people.

Along with its companion bill in the U.S. Senate, which was sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the resolution acknowledges the African-American spiritual as a national treasure and expresses "the deepest gratitude, recognition, and honor to the former enslaved Africans in the United States for their gifts to our Nation."

The congressional measure, according to aides for DeLauro and Menendez, would be the first such honor for the African-American spiritual.

"African-American spirituals chronicle one of the darkest times in our nation's history -- a time when African slaves were prohibited from speaking their native languages and from learning to read and write English," DeLauro told BlackAmericaWeb.com last week.

DeLauro said spirituals and oral history became were to only means of expressing their desires for freedom.

"By blending rhythms and tones from their native lands with the language of the New World and the Christian faith, African slaves forged the uniquely American art form of the African-American spiritual," DeLauro said in a statement. "For that reason, the African-American spiritual is perhaps the most important musical tradition in American history. Congress must recognize its significance."

Kate Cyrul, an aide to DeLauro, told BlackAmericaWeb.com the bill has been referred to the House Education Committee's Subcommittee on Select Education.

One of Earl’s popular spirituals, "Free at Last," was "created by the slaves most likely during the time of the Civil War," according to his website.

"This song speaks directly about their commitment and unrelenting pursuit of freedom for all people," Earl wrote. "As Harriet Tubman was quoted as saying ‘There was one of two things I had a right to -- liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other, for no man should take me alive.’

"Most people in the world recognize the title of this African-American Spiritual because of the reference Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. makes to the song in his famous speech," Earl wrote. "However, sadly today most people have never heard the song."

According to "American Folklore: An Encyclopedia," the African-American spiritual oftentimes took many forms, and the lyrics appealed to a variety of emotions and sentiment, including "sorrow, alienation and desolation;" "consolation and faith;" "resistance and defiance;" "deliverance;" "jubilation and triumph;" "judgment and reckoning;" "regeneration;" "spiritual progress" and "transcendence."

Menendez has called on the Senate to recognize the historical significance of African-American spirituals.

"African-American spirituals are more than just songs and are about more than just lyrics," Menendez said in a statement. "For an entire people, these songs simultaneously represented hope, dissent, courage and, ultimately, an abiding faith in a promised land free from the ravages of slavery and oppression."

"Our challenge today and every day," he added, "is to not only remember the songs and lyrics, but to also commemorate the moral courage that inspired these anthems of freedom and deliverance."

In part, the resolution reads:

"Therefore, be it Resolved that Congress--

1. recognizes that the African American spiritual is a poignant and powerful genre of American music that has become one of the most significant in existence.

2 expresses deepest gratitude, recognition and honor to the former enslaved Africans in America for their gifts to our nation including their original music & oral history.

3. requests that the President issue a proclamation commenting on the important contribution of African American spirituals to American history, and naming the African American spiritual a "national treasure."

Earl said the Christian lyrics became a metaphor for freedom from slavery, a secret way for slaves to "communicate with each other, teach their children, record their history and heal their pain."