Syllabus
Introduction: introduction into the study of African American history and religion; beginnings of slavery in North American colonies; characteristics of American slavery. Slave religion: historical sources and reconstruction of slave religion; invisible church, spirituals, ring shout.
Black churches before the Civil War I.: consequences of the American Independence War for black population; second wave of religious awakening and its influence on 1) the formation of black congregations (Baptist, Methodist). Black churches before the Civil War II.: consequences of the American Independence War for black population; second wave of religious awakening and its influence on 2) mission among slaves and 3) western expansion.
Abolitionism: American abolitionist movement, American colonization society, Anti-slavery society (W. L.
Garrison), black abolitionists Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth. Black churches during segregation: growth of black churches, reorganization of denominations, development of a culturally specific form of worship, attitudes of churches towards segregation.
Pentecostal movement: Joseph W. Seymour and Azusa street revival (1906-1909).
African American Pentecostal denominations: Church of God in Christ... Symbols of Judaism and Islam among African Americans: Ethiopianism, esoteric influences, symbols of Judaism and Islam as tools to reconstruct African American identity.
Church of the Living God..., Church of God and Saints of Christ; Drew Ali and Moorish Science Temple. Nation of Islam: Wallace D.
Fard, Eliah Muhammad a Nation of Islam. Malcolm X.
Mass conversion to orthodox Islam under Wallace D. Muhammad, revival of the original Nation of Islam (Louis Farrakhan).
Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement; the myth of black church activism. Martin Luther King Jr., philosophy of non-violent protest and strategy of civic disobedience.
Black theology: J. H.
Cone, Cornel West. Womanist theology.
Imagination of Africa: Afrocentrism. Kwanzaa.
Afrocentric and esoteric traditions and their reflection in popular culture. American hoodoo: Marie Laveau and New Orleans voodoo, folk traditions of Louisiana and their modern revival (conjure, rootwork, hoodoo).
Conclusion: religious affiliation of African Americans, black churches and religions today - problems and challenges.
Annotation
The course Churches and Religions in Black America focuses on the history of African Americans from the perspective of religion, besides historically black churches and denominations, attention will be also paid to groups inspired by Judaism and Islam. The course is primarily for students of the Study of Religions; it presupposes basic knowledge concerning study of religions, cultural anthropology, sociology of religion and theology.
Students will get an overview of African American religions; they will be able to distinguish different historical periods in relation to status and civil rights of African Americans. Students should be also able to discuss impacts of slavery and racism on formation and development of black churches and religions.