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African American Culture : Religion

African American Culture Black American culture or Black Culture is born of out the rich cultural expressions of African Americans which are distinct from traditional American (European) identity.

Religion

Religion has been a cornerstone of African American community life. Prior to 1775, there was limited evidence of organized religious practice among Black people in the Thirteen Colonies. However, the Methodist and Baptist churches became significantly more active in the 1780s, experiencing rapid growth over the next 150 years until they encompassed the majority of Black Americans.

Following Emancipation in 1863, Freedmen established their own churches, primarily Baptist, followed by Methodist congregations. Other Protestant denominations and the Catholic Church played smaller roles. In the 19th century, the Wesleyan-Holiness movement emerged within Methodism, while Holiness Pentecostalism gained prominence in the 20th century. Jehovah’s Witnesses also became a notable presence. Additionally, the Nation of Islam, along with figures such as el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X), introduced a significant Muslim influence in the 20th century. Throughout history, influential pastors have often been at the forefront of political movements, particularly through their leadership in the American civil rights movement.

The Black Church

Religion as we know it infiltrated the black community during slavery. While the objective leaned on pacifying slaves, black people rose against the negative narrative and invested in a community that would be known as the black church. Records indicate that as early as 1794, Richard Allen, a formerly enslaved black man, founded his own denomination and church. Reverend Allen, a man who purchased his own freedom, sought to abolish slavery and help other people escape, as well. As the nation continued to work through the Civil War, Jim Crow, racism, and economic disparity, the black church and its leaders mobilized its followers to speak out and stand up for injustices.