Religion in Black America
Encyclopedia
Religion in Black America refers to the religious and spiritual practices of persons of Africa
n descent in the United States of America
.
Black Americans were evangelized by the whites
who brought them to the U.S., and the religious persuasions of African Americans today largely parallel the religious persuasions of the slavemasters who owned their ancestors.
Enslaved Africans brought their religious traditions with them to the United States, which included principally traditional indigenous African religions. While this religious tradition largely died out under the regime of slavery
, some remnants do remain, especially in the area of Black religious music
, which is distinct from traditional Anglo religious music, emphasizing emotion and repetition more intensely than Anglo religious music.
Most African slaves embraced Christianity, particularly evangelical Protestantism. There are several reasons this occurred: Often, slaves were forced to adopt the religion of their owners, which accounts, for instance, for the dominance of the Baptist faith among African Americans today, as a large number of slave owners in pre-Civil War times were Baptists.
Many clergy within evangelical Protestantism actively promoted the idea that all Christians were equal in the sight of God, a message that provided hope and sustenance to oppressed slaves. Worship was also allowed in ways that many Africans found to be similar, or at least adaptable, to African worship patterns, with enthusiastic singing, clapping, and dancing.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n descent in the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Black Americans were evangelized by the whites
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
who brought them to the U.S., and the religious persuasions of African Americans today largely parallel the religious persuasions of the slavemasters who owned their ancestors.
Enslaved Africans brought their religious traditions with them to the United States, which included principally traditional indigenous African religions. While this religious tradition largely died out under the regime of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, some remnants do remain, especially in the area of Black religious music
Religious music
Religious music is music performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence.A lot of music has been composed to complement religion, and many composers have derived inspiration from their own religion. Many forms of traditional music have been adapted to fit religions'...
, which is distinct from traditional Anglo religious music, emphasizing emotion and repetition more intensely than Anglo religious music.
Most African slaves embraced Christianity, particularly evangelical Protestantism. There are several reasons this occurred: Often, slaves were forced to adopt the religion of their owners, which accounts, for instance, for the dominance of the Baptist faith among African Americans today, as a large number of slave owners in pre-Civil War times were Baptists.
Many clergy within evangelical Protestantism actively promoted the idea that all Christians were equal in the sight of God, a message that provided hope and sustenance to oppressed slaves. Worship was also allowed in ways that many Africans found to be similar, or at least adaptable, to African worship patterns, with enthusiastic singing, clapping, and dancing.