This widely-heralded collection of remarkable documents offers a view of African American religious history from Africa and early America through Reconstruction to the rise of black nationalism, civil rights, and black theology of today. The documents—many of them rare, out-of-print, or difficult to find—include personal narratives, sermons, letters, protest pamphlets, early denominational histories, journalistic accounts, and theological statements. In this volume Olaudah Equiano describes Ibo religion. Lemuel Haynes gives a black Puritan’s farewell. Nat Turner confesses. Jarena Lee becomes a female preacher among the African Methodists. Frederick Douglass discusses Christianity and slavery. Isaac Lane preaches among the freedmen. Nannie Helen Burroughs reports on the work of Baptist women. African Methodist bishops deliberate on the Great Migration. Bishop C. H. Mason tells of the Pentecostal experience. Mahalia Jackson recalls the glory of singing at the 1963 March on Washington. Martin Luther King, Jr. writes from the Birmingham jail. Originally published in 1985, this expanded second edition includes new sources on women, African missions, and the Great Migration. Milton C. Sernett provides a general introduction as well as historical context and comment for each document. "[A]n effective tool for the study and introduction to many of the ideas, issues, and people in African American religious history. . . . [T]he . . . accessible primary source material in a concise form as an introduction to particular topics is invaluable. Those who use the text with knowledge of African American history will find it an interesting springboard for article and research topics. Others assigned to read excerpts from the text as part of course requirements will find it accessible and entertaining. In short, this is a text that has legs, so to speak, and will serve a variety of tasks quite well. . . ." --Anthea Butler, "H-Net Reviews" "[E]ven more useful and consonant with recent themes in the scholarly literature [than the first edition]. . . . Essential for students of American religious history." --Paul Harvey, "Religious Studies Review" "Sernett's book provides a masterfully 'wrapped around' selection of insights that should lead to greater appreciation of the impact of African American religious tradition on American culture as a whole." --Nan Sumner-Mack, "Providence" "This book remains one of the premier choices for a collection of documentary histories on African American religion. This second edition is greatly improved over the first. . . . [A]n excellent documentary collection . . . . Highly recommended for all levels. . ." --L. H. Mamiya, "Choice" From reviews of the first edition: Anyone interested in America's religioius past, and, specifically the black religious experience will be rewarded by reading and urging others to read this fine anthology."--Robert Michael Franklin, Journal of the American Academy of Religion "Sernett deserves the highest marks for this collection."--Stephen J. Stein, Religious Studies Review "From reviews of the first edition": Anyone interested in America's religioius past, and, specifically the black religious experience will be rewarded by reading and urging others to read this fine anthology."--Robert Michael Franklin, "Journal of the American Academy of Religion ""Sernett deserves the highest marks for this collection."--Stephen J. Stein, "Religious Studies Review" Milton C. Sernett is Professor of African-American studies at Syracuse University. He is the author of several books, including Bound for the Promised Land , also published by Duke University Press. African American Religious History A Documentary Witness By Milton C. Sernett Duke University Press Copyright © 1999 Duke University Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8223-2426-3 Contents Preface to the Second Edition, Introduction, I From Africa Through Early America, 1 Traditional Ibo Religion and Culture, 2 African Religions in Colonial Jamaica, 3 Slave Conversion on the Carolina Frontier, 4 "Address to the Negroes in the State of New York", 5 Letters from Pioneer Black Baptists, 6 A Black Puritan's Farewell, II Slave Religion in the Antebellum South, 7 Plantation Churches: Visible and Invisible, 8 "Proud of that 'Ole Time' Religion", 9 Conjuration and Witchcraft, 10 "Great Moral Dilemma", 11 Religion and Slave Insurrection, 12 Slaveholding Religion and the Christianity of Christ, 13 Slave Songs and Spirituals, III Black Churches North of Slavery and the Freedom Struggle, 14 "Life Experience and Gospel Labors", 15 Rise of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 16 A Female Preacher Among the African Methodists, 17 African Baptists Celebrate Emancipation in New York State, 18 "Our Wretchedness in Consequence of the Preachers of Religion", 19 "Mrs. Stewart's Farewell Address to Her Friends in the City of Boston", 20 "To the Citizens of New York", 21 Black C