What Impact Did the Black Church Provide for Reconstruction
During Reconstruction What Impact Did The Black Church Have On Black Communities?
By
Caryn Norwood
History 41
Sec 3445
30 November 2012
Professor Wanda Powell
What Impact Did The Black Church Have On Black Communities? Historically, the black church is the most valuable institution that made a major impact of the growth and development of the black community during Reconstruction. According to Hines, the religious revival known as the Great Awakening that occurred during the mid to late eighteenth century had a great influence on people of African decent in relations to conversion of Christianity. This Great Awakening represented rebirth, singing, dancing and expressing one’s emotions. Blacks connected messages of spirituality along with equality with hope of anticipated freedoms and equalities here on earth. This evangelical movement in which blacks participated in helped cultivate American society. In the late eighteenth century black men became ordained as ministers and priests, some were still enslaved however, and they had a strong impact on how white people’s impression of how church services should be rendered. Some ministers preached to white congregations during this period of time. The Great Awakening was the genesis of the black church coming into existence.
However, the Reconstruction was a time for rebirth, freedom, liberty and autonomy in the black church. This new found spirituality helped foster a sense of pride that motivated blacks to endure the emotional and physical abuse that they experienced during slavery. The black church was the first public organization fully controlled by black men in America according to Foner.
The black church promoted moral values and it was the place of refuge. “The spiritual needs of the people were met, it offered inspirational music, provided charity and compassion and counsel to those in need, developed community and political leaders and was
By
Caryn Norwood
History 41
Sec 3445
30 November 2012
Professor Wanda Powell
What Impact Did The Black Church Have On Black Communities? Historically, the black church is the most valuable institution that made a major impact of the growth and development of the black community during Reconstruction. According to Hines, the religious revival known as the Great Awakening that occurred during the mid to late eighteenth century had a great influence on people of African decent in relations to conversion of Christianity. This Great Awakening represented rebirth, singing, dancing and expressing one’s emotions. Blacks connected messages of spirituality along with equality with hope of anticipated freedoms and equalities here on earth. This evangelical movement in which blacks participated in helped cultivate American society. In the late eighteenth century black men became ordained as ministers and priests, some were still enslaved however, and they had a strong impact on how white people’s impression of how church services should be rendered. Some ministers preached to white congregations during this period of time. The Great Awakening was the genesis of the black church coming into existence.
However, the Reconstruction was a time for rebirth, freedom, liberty and autonomy in the black church. This new found spirituality helped foster a sense of pride that motivated blacks to endure the emotional and physical abuse that they experienced during slavery. The black church was the first public organization fully controlled by black men in America according to Foner.
The black church promoted moral values and it was the place of refuge. “The spiritual needs of the people were met, it offered inspirational music, provided charity and compassion and counsel to those in need, developed community and political leaders and was
Bibliography: Foner, Eric. Reconstruction America’s Unfinished Revolution 1863-1877. 2nd ed. New York, New York: Perennial Classics, 2002. 88-102. Print Hine, Darlene, William C. Hine, and Stanley Harrold. African Americans A Concise History. 3rd. Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2010. Print. "Sweet Chariot: The Story of Spirituals." . The University of Denver, n.d. Web. 2 Dec 2012. .