First published 2014
Eddie Glaude Jr. traces the development of religious life in Black America from 1818, when Philadelphia saw the establishment of the first African American denomination. His study centers on three distinct traditions: conjure practices, African American Christianity, and African American Islam. Glaude argues that religion in Black communities cannot be understood as an inherent racial characteristic but must be examined through the lens of response to oppression. He shows how churches evolved beyond spiritual guidance to become educational centers, civic institutions, and spaces where individuals could forge identity despite slavery, Jim Crow segregation, and ongoing discrimination. The book challenges conventional interpretations by focusing on historical context rather than assumed religious tendencies. Glaude presents religion as a tool African Americans used to navigate and resist systemic oppression across different eras. This examination reveals the diversity of religious experiences within Black communities and demonstrates how faith traditions adapted to changing circumstances of freedom and constraint.
Genres: history, african-american, religion, non-fiction, christianity, american-history
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, social-justice
Setting: Africa, America, Black Communities, Philadelphia
Period: 1818, 19th-century, 20th-century, 21st-century
160 pages · Paperback · Oxford University Press