Briefly describe how the African American spiritual came into being

What will be an ideal response?

It followed the conversion of significant numbers of slaves to Christianity.
It represents less an adaptation of the Methodist and Baptist hymns and formal services than an African response to them.
The spirituals first belonged to the shout that took place after the services.
The shouters formed a ring in which they circled dancers and accompanied them with singing and hand clapping.
The ring has a distinctly African heritage.