The African American Church

LaKiesha Hill Professor Reynolds

September 17, 2008 Black History

The African American Church

In this country the first distinct voluntary organization of Negros was the Negro (Black) Church. The Negro church came before the Negro home, it ante-dates their social life and in every respect is stands to- day as the fullest broadest expression of organized Negro life. The Negro church is not simply and organism of propagation of religion, it is the center of social, intellectual and religious life as an organized group of individuals. Through its many years of service it has provided: social intercourse (fellowship), Education,-News-Music and Traditions that African Americans still practice today. The black church has remained the central organ of the black community. From community outreach to just plain old Sunday service, it still provides the sense of stability in unstable times.

During slavery, African Americans were not allowed to worship alone; due to fear of revolts slaves were watched. Slave owners allowed slaves to attend their services as a form of control. The teachings in white services were degrading sermons that stated that “God not hear your pray’s because your black” and “If you be a good servant to your masters God will reward you in the afterlife”. Because of this slave communities would have “secret meetings” to pray, sing and share joys, pain and hope. Fellowship was a big part of plantation life in slavery times. It allowed slaves from all different back grounds, positions (house slaves, cooks, farmers, and drivers) to come together and learn from one another. Through fellowship slaves would meet interact and get married. Marriage was a big part of the black church it provided the community with ties to one another. Because backs did not have any rights, they also could not hold positions. The black church was the first organization where both men and women held offices, positions of standing within their community, such as ministers, teachers, deacons, deaconesses and church mothers, they were well respected.

The black community found consistent refuge in the church. The church was wear things could be shared, troubles could be prayed for and strength could be found. Music was an outlet for the words that could not be spoken without persecution which introduced the birth of the “Negro Spiritual”. The lyrics of Negro spirituals were tightly linked with the lives of their authors: slaves. While work songs dealt only with their daily life, spirituals were inspired by the message of Jesus Christ and his Good News (Gospel) of the Bible, “You can be saved”. They are different from hymns and psalms, because they were a way of sharing the hard condition of being