E-Book Overview
Throughout African-American history, religion has been indelibly intertwined with the fight against intolerance and racial prejudice. Martin Luther King, Jr.-America's best-known champion of civil liberties-was a Baptist minister. Father Divine, a fiery preacher who established a large following in the 1920s and 1930s, convinced his disciples that he could cure not only disease and infirmity, but also poverty and racism.An in-depth examination of African-American history and religion, this comprehensive and lively book provides panoramic coverage of the black religious and social experience in America. Renowned historian Albert J. Raboteau traces the subtle blending of African tribal customs with the powerful Christian establishment, the migration to cities, the growth of Islam, and the 200-year fight for freedom and identity which was so often centered around African-American churches. From the African Methodist Episcopal Church to the Nation of Islam and from the first African slaves to Louis Farrakhan, this far-reaching book chronicles the evolution of an important and influential component of our religious and historical heritage. African American Religion combines meticulously researched historical facts with a fast-paced, engaging narrative that will appeal to readers of any age. Religion in American Life explores the evolution, character, and dynamics of organized religion in America from 1500 to the present day. Written by distinguished religious historians, these books weave together the varying stories that compose the religious fabric of the United States, from Puritanism to alternative religious practices. Primary source material coupled with handsome illustrations and lucid text make these books essential in any exploration of America's diverse nature. Each book includes a chronology, suggestions for further reading, and index.
E-Book Content
African-American Religion
Albert J. Raboteau
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
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AfricanAmerican Religion
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Religion in American Life JON BUTLER & HARRY S. STOUT
GENERAL EDITORS
AfricanAmerican Religion
Albert J. Raboteau
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS New York • Oxford
To my children—Albert Jordy Raboteau III, Emily Ishem Raboteau, Charles David Raboteau, and Martin John Raboteau Oxford University Press Oxford New York Athens Auckland Bangkok Bogotá Buenos Aires Calcutta Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Florence Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi Paris São Paulo Singapore Taipei Tokyo Toronto Warsaw and associated companies in Berlin Ibadan Copyright © 1999 by Albert J. Raboteau Published by Oxford University Press, Inc. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 Website: www.oup-usa.org Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Raboteau, Albert J. African-American religion/Albert J. Raboteau. p. cm. — (Religion in American life) Includes bibliographical references and index. Summary: Examines the history of religious practice by African Americans and the development of religious institutions, regional movements, and important personalities from the time of slavery up to the twentieth century. ISBN 0-19-510680-6 1. Afro-Americans—Religion—Juvenile literature. [1. Afro-Americans— Religion.] I. Title. II. Series. BR563.N4R235 1999 98-33669 277.3'0089'96073—dc21 987654321
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper Design and layout: Loraine Machlin Picture research: L