This course explores the history of African American religious communities from the colonial times to the present. It explores the organization and politics of these institutions and how the
various historical forces and major events of slavery, emancipation, migration, urbanization, racism, race consciousness, gender and class have shaped black religious communities across the centuries. It uses a diverse grouping of primary and secondary sources and experiential learning activities to further these aims. Course materials include scholarly monographs, chapters and articles, primary accounts of religious life and records of religious organizations. Students will come away from the course with an enhanced sense of the complexities of black religious life and the evolution of black religions as central social and political agents in black life and the black freedom struggle.
This syllabus was created for the Young Scholars in American Religion program.
Nicole Myers TurnerAuthor
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityInstitution
Public College or University Institution Type
Syllabus Resource Type
Undergraduate Course Class Type
2017 Date Published
Religious Studies, History Discipline
General Comparative Traditions Religous Tradition
Class/Power, Gender/Women/ Sexuality, Politics/Law/Government, Race/Ethnicity Topics