Lecture 3 Flashcards
The Great Awakenings
A religious revival that impacted the English colonies in America during the 1730s and 1740s
1st awakening occurred during mid-18th century (1730s and 1740s)
- In early Virginia, court declaring Christians could not be enslaved for life prompting great number of Africans and their descendants to converting to Christianity
- ruling in Virginia court in 1667 that Christian Africans could be permanently enslaved
The 2nd awakening: early 19th century
Discrimination: radicalized american Christianity showcasing Jesus and the Virgin Mary as white even though the Bible shows no specificationof race or skin color
Black Religion/Church
- secret meetings at praise houses; served as places where Black people can nurture their faith that better days are coming
-Black religion served many purposes: purchase freedom for each other, to plan for liberation, support one another, etc.
- the African church was for the people. it was a focal point of community
Praise homes
- served as secret meeting places where black people celebrate and serve their god
- the African slaves reclaim their own bodies through these celebrations
Slavery conditions
A. Racism
B.dehumanization: inhumane conditions and treatments
C. Despair, cultural (and literal) genocide
D. Political disenfranchisement (can’t vote)
E. Discrimination and segregation
F. Jim Crow de jure and de facto segregation
G. Humiliation, lynching and bodily harm on account of their race
Denmark Vesey (slaves rebellion)
- slave who began to organize the blacks to save the slaves
- thought of the blacks based on old testament exodus
- slave George Wilson informed his master about the plan. The latter and five men were arrested and hung
Isabella
Sold to John Drummonds who used her for chores and sexual satisfaction
= mama Beth becoming sojourner truth, went to the woods to talk about fate to god
“Everyday resistance”
- against chattel slavery, dehumanization, despair, cultural and literate genocide, political disenfranchisement
- slow down work; pretending to be sick, committing acts of arson (burning downbarns or buildings), and sabotage; breaking tools
- escape, maronage running away and living in a maroon society
- Armed insurrection
-Religion: God is a god of justice
Religion as a form of oppression
Religion was the binding force.it was not just a physical place but also the social. A place of collective pooling of resources.
Differentiation
- religion was differentiated from other parts of the social life but this was not situation with Black people and their religion
- the ring shout and the burial songs/ the spirituals
- the use of religion as the means of social control
The slave insurrections
-Use of Christianity to docile slaves/black people
- the focus on the Old Testament- blacks saw themselves as the modern Israelites; the identification of the old testaments exodus scripture
- slaves obey your masters come from the olde testament
- indentured servitude lasted for 7 years
“Syncretic religion”
- composed of a mixture of different traditions;
- not centralized through powerful formally educated bishops; drawn upon the wisdom of Africa and overlapping traditions of native Americans and Europeans
The Harlem Renaissance
An intellectual and cultural revival of African American music, dance,art, fashion, literature, theater and politics centered in Harlem, Manhattan, NYC, spanning the 1920s and 1930s
Contributors
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