The Changing Religious Practices Of African American Culture

The religious experience of African Americans has been a series of changing practices in order to adapt to American culture and religion. These changing practices are rooted in their attempt to honor and incorporate some key elements from their African heritage, while at the same time, slowly reconfiguring Christianity to fit their needs in American culture.
The first ship of African slaves arrived in Jamestown, VA in August of 1619. From the moment, Africans arrived on American soil as slaves, all of their various religious values and practices were stripped from them. These traditions included, but were not limited to folklore, music, language, diverse religions as well as the practice of African magic. These traditions, whether religious
European Americans used this conversion as a justification for enslaving the African Americans (Class lecture 5). However, even converted slaves still experienced religious oppression. Although they were now “Christians,” they were unable to participate in certain rites or rituals and had rules placed on them that restricted their ability to freely worship. For example, it was illegal for African American to hold church meetings in slave cabins during weekdays (Class lecture 5). I assume this rule was placed for multiple reasons. One reason in particular is that stated above, fear that the slaves would use this meeting to plan to overpower the European Americans. Another right that they were deprived of as Christians was the right to baptism. Slave owners feared that baptism could lead the slaves to view themselves as equal Christians to their slave owners (Class lecture 5). The Colonials even went as far as creating legislation that states baptism does not affect slave
“Joyner reminds us that the slaves did not simply become Christians. Instead, the imaginatively fashioned that faith from the available cultural resources (Class Lecture 12).” This new religion was neither African nor Christian, but a unique blend of both of them. The reason for this blend of religions was predominately to adapt to American Christianity while, at the same time, honoring their African heritage. African American Christianity consisted of shouting, fragmentation, and spirituals. Slave worship was also often hidden from white slave owners at secret religious meetings. At these meetings, the major slave rebellions of Gabriel Prosser, Nate Turner, and Denmark Vesey were planned under the cover of such religious associations (Class Lecture 12). Predominately in the northern United States, there were Black churches that promoted black autonomy and white prejudice. There were also black Baptist churches in the south, but it was not as common. These churches were formed by the Free African Society, a foundation started by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones in 1787. This movement shaped the destiny of African American