Social Gospel Flashcards
(36 cards)
1
Q
R R Wright Jr primary theological and intellectual influences
A
W E B Du Bois
Shailer Mathews: foremost theologian of social gospel
both study in Germany
2
Q
Wright at Trinity Mission Church
A
- carried out study of neighbourhood
- concluded most poor were recent southern migrants
- established day nursery, evening Bible study, and other educational classes
3
Q
University of Chicago: Wright
A
- learned theological foundations of social gospel, influenced by Shailer Williams (one of foremost theologians of social gospel)
4
Q
Wright editor for which AfAm periodical?
A
- The Christian Recorder
- primary literary voice for AME Church
- focused on social welfare
- became leading advocate on migrant rights during Great Migration
5
Q
Wright, “Social Work and Influence of Negro Churches”
A
- social work of general church: outlines successes
- rural church / small town church / large city church (greater competition and distractions)
- need for social work: teach spiritual ideas and put them into practice, warns against danger of church becoming proportionately weaker
6
Q
H L Mencken
A
outspoken opponent of religion, populism, representative democracy, and racist and antisemite
7
Q
Criticisms of Black Church by white intellectuals
A
- white intellectuals offered some of the harshest criticisms of black churches during this period, many of whom were critical of religion in general and black religion in particular
- AfAm intellectuals and religious leaders who themselves were critical of some aspects of black religion, nonetheless vigorously defended the black church against such attacks
8
Q
“R R Wright Scores Mencken’s Attacks” (1937)
A
- defends Black Church in point-by-point rebuttal
- asserts continued importance and centrality of Black Church
- defence of black ministry
- Mencken’s accusations as “unfair and untrue”
9
Q
George E Haynes federal position
A
- 1918-21
- Director of Negro Economics, special assistant to Secretary of Labour
- along with Emmett Scott, highest ranking AfAm federal employees and first to have influence at Cabinet level
- conducted surveys and provided analysis and recommendations to US gov on most effective way to utilise new N black industrial workers
10
Q
Context: Haynes, “The Church and the Negro Spirit” (1925)
A
- published in Survey Graphic, focused on sociological and political research
- “Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro,” special addition devoted to AfAm literary and artistic movement later known as Harlem Renaissance
11
Q
Haynes, “The Church and the Negro Spirit”
A
- growing population in Harlem
- main problems of Black Church: adequate resources, offering fellowship to newcomers
- new urges in turmoil of urban life
- rural church (Negro Revival), small town church, large church (emergence of “house-front” churches)
- Harlem illuminates independent character of Black Church
12
Q
Haynes, “The Church and Negro Progress” (1928)
A
- Black Church central to AfAm progress
- extensive influence of Black Church
- rural / small town / metropolitan
- majority fail to embrace social programmes to aid black migrants
- growth of group consciousness although difficult to measure
13
Q
Bio Reverdy Ransom
A
- Oberlin University: ended when his objections to segregated dining became too vocal and college revoked his scholarship
- Wilberforce University: disenchanted with authoritarian atmosphere and conservative theology, favoured more liberal interpretation of theology
14
Q
Social Darwinism
A
- belief in particular peoples and nations genetically endowed with social characteristics and traits
- black race had special mission in life that was connected to its deep spiritual nature
15
Q
Ransom, “The Race Problem in a Christian State” (1906)
A
- Christian state founded upon teachings of Jesus, Am right to call itself Christian state but race problem needs to be settled
- AfAms on margins on society, Chr state should be willing to give its people basic opportunities
- importance of vote
- although Am calls itself Christian state, appears acquiescence in racial violence and persecution
16
Q
Charles Sumner
A
- leader of anti-slavery forces in Massachusetts
- leader of Radical Republicans in US Senate during Civil War
- special champion of blacks throughout Civil War and during Reconstruction
- nearly killed by Democrat Preston Brooks on Senate floor
17
Q
Ransom, “Charles Sumner…” (1911)
A
- calls audience to stand firm in order to preserve the priceless and inviolate heritage bequeathed to AfAms (liberty)
- significance of right to vote
- equality is not found in equivalence but only in equality
- denial of rights: nullifying Constitution, making sham of Christianity, increasing race hostility
18
Q
Ransom, “Lynching and American Public Opinion” (1926)
A
- appeal for supremacy of civilisation over barbarism
- concerns of Christianity, democracy, and civilisation
- main cause of lynching: desire for former slaveholding states to repress blacks
- South blackening character of blacks in order to justify barbarities
- blacks should use their political power to stir national government against lynching
19
Q
Ransom, “The Negro, the Hope, or Despair of Christianity” (1935)
A
- AfAms stand politically, socially, and economically disinherited by white Christians
- if reassembled representatives of human race in US, speaking same language, and dominated by common faith, cannot achieve brotherhood then case for Christianity is hopeless
20
Q
Progressive Era
A
- 1890s to 1920s
- period of widespread social activism and political reform across US
- main objectives aimed to eliminate problems caused by industrialisation, urbanisation, immigration, and political corruption
21
Q
Gary Dorrien
A
- previously the historian on white social gospel
- however later uncovered the vibrant work of black social gospel
- emphasises the centrality of Du Bois in the development of black social gospel: inspired revolution of black consciousness that defined problem of the 20th century (double-consciousness), encouraged richer and full-bodied struggle for black liberation that helped to radicalise black social gospel through his influences on the likes of Ransom and Wright
22
Q
Bio Lacy Kirk Williams
A
- born in Alabama, migrated to Texas, settled in Chicago
- extremely popular pastor of Mt Olivet Baptist Church
- President of NBC (1922-40)
23
Q
Williams, “Effects of Urbanisation on Religious Life” (1923)
A
- reasons for black urban migration
- situation for new migrants
- reasons for proportionately smaller increase in church membership
- duty and neglect of church: “passionately human but no less divine”
- suggested remedies
24
Q
Wallace Best
A
- duality of black religion: both human and divine
2. influx of black southern migrants transformed churches in Chicago
25
Chicago Tribune
biggest AfAm newspaper in US, read by all church ministers
26
US media on black migration
1. white press warned of potential dangers
| 2. black press tended to herald it as mass protest movement
27
Message of "Effects of Urbanisation on Religious Life"
1. AIM: to clarify the relationship between black urban migration and religious change, and to make it a matter of wider public discourse
28
Mt Olivet Baptist Church
1. congregation grew rapidly during 1920s and influx of southern migrants
2. served as community centre, maintained 40 different organisations
3. LKW oversaw active recruitment of black southerners
4. The Messenger printed four-paged layout of Church
5. women especially active in Olivet's multiple ministries
29
Bio S Mattie Fisher & Jessie Mapp
1. Fisher: first trained black social workers in US
| 2. daughter of Reverend Elijah J Fisher
30
Fisher & Mapp, "Social Work at Olivet Baptist Church: (1919)
1. conducted extensive neighbourhood survey to find out how Olivet could best assist migrants
2. material collected formed basis of all activities in centre
3. Mapp asserts importance of trained ministry to teach congregations ("more teaching than preaching")
31
Context: "AME Bishops Address the Great Migration" (1917)
1. addressed clergy and membership of AME Church at Wilberforce University (second independent black church sponsored by wh Methodist Episcopal)
2. Great Migration
3. AME Church: among first denominations to be founded on racial rather than theological distinctions; persistently advocated AfAm civil rights through social improvement, religious autonomy, and political engagement
32
Great Migration
1. transformed religious landscape of Am: southern congregations depleted, northern congregations swelled
2. migrants: (a) joined northern church congregations (b) established their own church (c) abandoned church in favour of culture of streets
3. some preachers hailed exodus as providential, others urged southern blacks to remain and work with progressive southerners to improve social condition
33
"AME Bishops Address the Great Migration"
1. WW1: defence of God and Christianity, religious standards can still be relied upon despite adverse conditions
2. Exodus: advises those who remain to discover causes of unrest and find remedy, advises those who migrate to seek wisest council
3. Divine Aspect: urges prayer and reconsecration, and to remain faithful to God
34
Sept 1925: Sweet Trial
1. white mob in Detroit attempted to drive out black family who had recently purchased house in white neighbourhood, white man killed in struggle
2. 11 black men arrested and charged with murder
3. Clarence Darrow's defended men, argued to all-white jury "I insist there is nothing but prejudice in this case..."
4. mistrial, men tried individually, found not guilty on grounds of self-defence
35
"Darrow's Speech Divides Harlem" (1925)
1. 2 camps: (a) support Darrow no matter what on basis of defence in Sweet Case (b) condemn Darrow as infidel and criticise his anti-religious utterances
2. Darrow asserted blacks "too blooming pious"
3. Darrow as hero in minds of blacks due to Sweet Trial, however difficult for blacks to quit religion immediately
36
Rate of lynching 1892-1900
1. from Maine to New Orleans over 1700 African Americans lynched
2. 1899: lynching of Sam Hose, mob of 2000 white women men and children fought over pieces of his flesh four souvenirs
