African American life in the Georgia lowcountry
Book Description
This compelling collection of ten scholarly essays unveils the rich spiritual and cultural tapestry of African American communities along Georgia's coastal region from the early 1700s through the 1900s. Philip Morgan presents a nuanced exploration of how physical isolation both preserved ancient African traditions and created unique challenges for Lowcountry residents navigating their place in the broader Atlantic world.
The volume reveals fascinating intersections of faith, resistance, and identity through remarkable individual stories. Readers encounter Mustapha Shaw, whose fierce determination to claim land rights led to complex conflicts within his own community. Betty emerges as a revolutionary figure who courageously presented formal grievances to her enslaver, embodying the transformative spirit of her era. S'Quash represents the profound cultural bridges between continents, arriving as an Arabic-speaking Muslim who rose to leadership despite the brutal circumstances of his journey.
These essays illuminate the coexistence of Christianity and traditional African spiritual practices, including conjuring, demonstrating how communities maintained connections to ancestral wisdom while adapting to new realities. The work examines how the American Revolution created unprecedented opportunities for Black women to experience forms of freedom previously unimaginable.
For readers interested in understanding how spiritual resilience and cultural preservation intersect with historical forces, this collection offers profound insights into the enduring strength of communities who maintained their sacred connections across centuries of challenge and change.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)
📄 Length: 311 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore African americans, religion
- ✓ Explore Georgia, social conditions
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Georgia, social life and customs
- ✓ Explore Georgia, history
- ✓ Explore Religious life and customs
- ✓ Explore Gullahs
- ✓ Explore African americans, social conditions
