Previously this week, I posted a link to an interview held by a former slave that dealt with slave religion, one of the aspects of slave life that seems to get quite a bit of interest. Today, when looking at "This Week in Christian History" I found another nugget of historical information regarding the early African American Church.
It was actually on this date in 1801 (February 16) that the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church officially got its start. African members of the New York City John's Street Methodist Episcopal Zion Church left five years prior because of Racism. Francis Asbury, the famous Methodist Bishop, allowed their organization.
One of the leading figures in AME was Richard Allen, himself a former slave. Allen grew up with his family in bondage to a man named Stokely Sturgis. After Sturgis sold some of Allen's family, Sturgis converted to Methodism and became convinced of the evils of slavery. Richard Allen and his siblings were permitted to buy their freedom (an interesting concept considering Sturgis' apparent change of heart--why not just let them go free without compensation?). Allen became a Methodist preacher after coming into contact with Francis Asbury, who was the founder of American Methodism. Allen founded the African Methodist Church and was an outspoken critic of slavery.
One of the interesting things that Gordon Wood points out in his work on the early national period, Empire of Liberty, is the fact that in their early days in America, both Methodists and Baptists condemned slavery. He points out that 1 in 3 Methodists in 1800 were black. Integrated churches were not uncommon at the time. (Wood, 2009, p. 599-600) The sad point that can be made about this later assertion is that both the Methodists and Baptists took a huge step back in regard to race relations in the early 19th century. By the time of the Civil War, both groups split over the issue of slavery, as the nation itself would. Today, sadly, in parts of the country, integrated churches are still a bit of an anomaly. This is definitely one of the more unique situations in American church history.
Now, it's time for a shameless plug. If you enjoy reading the blog from time to time, please share it on Facebook, twitter, StumbleUpon, or any other site that your friends might be likely to check out.
Showing posts with label Black History Month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black History Month. Show all posts
16 February 2012
12 February 2012
Black History Month--Church History from the Voice of a Former Slave
For the last several years, February has been designated Black History Month. One very negative aspect of American history that still evokes strong emotions was the era of slavery. In relation to many segments of society, the memories of slaves are fairly rare. Slave narratives nevertheless provide a window into the past from the viewpoint of those who were held in bondage against their will with little hope of obtaining freedom.
Some people want to forget this era in American history. I personally don't think that would be a good idea. I think it's important to use history as a tool to educate people regarding themselves. In my opinion, human nature seems to be very static. People will exploit others for their own material benefit, regardless of the moral ramifications. Slavery still exists today, although it's not based upon race. The reason? Money and greed. Racism definitely played an important role in the slavery of African Americans in the American South. I would ask the question if it would've been prevalent if people had not thought the institution would materially enrich them. I seriously doubt it. As George Santayana once stated, "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it."
That brings me to the point of this post. My next lecture is on slavery in America. That may not seem to have much to do with American church history, but in one way it does. One of the really cool things about modern technology is the ability to record things that were impossible to save in earlier years. Beginning in 1932, twenty-three former slaves contributed oral interviews that recounted their reminiscences of their time in slavery. This oral history is interesting to say the least. I am planning to utilize a video of one of these interviews in class to give students the opportunity to hear first-hand what former slaves thought of the institution. One of the more famous of the interviewees was 101-year-old Fountain Hughes. One of the topics, near the middle of the clip below, that Hughes discussed was the worship of the slaves. This is an abridged version of the interview, but I would encourage any readers to check out these very interesting interviews that provide a look into the lives of former slaves many years after their emancipation. Unsurprisingly, they did not view slavery in a positive light. Hughes' comment at the end of the clip gives a good example of his opinion of slavery. Here is a link to the video:
Some people want to forget this era in American history. I personally don't think that would be a good idea. I think it's important to use history as a tool to educate people regarding themselves. In my opinion, human nature seems to be very static. People will exploit others for their own material benefit, regardless of the moral ramifications. Slavery still exists today, although it's not based upon race. The reason? Money and greed. Racism definitely played an important role in the slavery of African Americans in the American South. I would ask the question if it would've been prevalent if people had not thought the institution would materially enrich them. I seriously doubt it. As George Santayana once stated, "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it."
That brings me to the point of this post. My next lecture is on slavery in America. That may not seem to have much to do with American church history, but in one way it does. One of the really cool things about modern technology is the ability to record things that were impossible to save in earlier years. Beginning in 1932, twenty-three former slaves contributed oral interviews that recounted their reminiscences of their time in slavery. This oral history is interesting to say the least. I am planning to utilize a video of one of these interviews in class to give students the opportunity to hear first-hand what former slaves thought of the institution. One of the more famous of the interviewees was 101-year-old Fountain Hughes. One of the topics, near the middle of the clip below, that Hughes discussed was the worship of the slaves. This is an abridged version of the interview, but I would encourage any readers to check out these very interesting interviews that provide a look into the lives of former slaves many years after their emancipation. Unsurprisingly, they did not view slavery in a positive light. Hughes' comment at the end of the clip gives a good example of his opinion of slavery. Here is a link to the video:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)