African American religions, 1500-2000

By Sylvester A. Johnson

Book Description

This comprehensive exploration traces the complex evolution of African American spiritual traditions across five centuries, revealing how religious experience and political freedom have intertwined throughout history. Sylvester A. Johnson presents a nuanced examination of how Black religious movements emerged within the context of colonial empires, particularly focusing on the paradoxical relationship between oppression and liberation.

Rather than viewing freedom and domination as simple opposites, Johnson demonstrates how Atlantic empires simultaneously fostered unique forms of spiritual expression while perpetuating systems of control. The narrative begins with indigenous African theories of matter and spirit that influenced early religious movements, then follows the development of distinctly Black political religion as communities responded to American racial structures.

The book illuminates pivotal moments including the establishment of Liberia and the twentieth-century FBI surveillance of Black religious organizations. Through this historical lens, readers discover how spiritual communities navigated the tensions between seeking transcendence and confronting earthly injustices.

Johnson combines rigorous historical research with theoretical insights to explain the apparent contradictions that have shaped Black religious experience in the modern world. This scholarly yet accessible work offers valuable perspectives for anyone seeking to understand how spirituality and social justice movements have influenced each other throughout American history.

For readers interested in the intersection of faith, politics, and social transformation, this book provides essential context for understanding contemporary spiritual and social movements.