Question

the black church
adapted from pbs: american experience
for 200 years, enslaved africans in americas south were forced to provide the manual labor that supported the souths economy. some white ministers attempted to teach christianity to the enslaved, but these sermons tended to stress obedience and duty, and the message of the apostle paul: \slaves, obey your masters.\ during the 1770s and 1780s, black ministers began to preach to their own people, drawing on the stories of the old and new testaments.
in the years leading up to the civil war, black churches spoke out against slavery and warned that any nation that condoned slavery would suffer gods punishment. frederick douglass, a formerly enslaved man, challenged christians to confront an institution that violated¹ the central beliefs of the christian faith, including the idea of equality before god.
after the civil war, in the north, black churches organized missions to the south to help newly freed persons find the skills and develop the talents that would allow them to lead independent lives. education was vital. african american missionaries established schools and educational institutions.
between 1890 and 1930, 2.5 million black people, mostly poor and working class, left their homes in the south and relocated in cities of the north, a period known as the \great migration.\ in rural areas of the south, churches struggled to cope with the weakening social structure that had once sustained them. church socials, sunday picnics, bible study, revivals², and praise meetings encouraged social cohesion³, heightened a sense of community and nurtured hope in the face of discrimination and violence.
¹violated: broke or went against
²revivals: church services held over several nights to inspire the congregation and gain new converts
³cohesion: unity, a state of sticking together
recall mamas explanation to cassie on p. 128:
but they didnt teach us christianity to save our souls, but to teach us obedience. they were afraid of slave revolts and they wanted us to learn the bibles teachings about slaves being loyal to their masters.

1. according to mama and the article above, why might some white ministers have \attempted to teach christianity to the enslaved\?
2. what do you notice about the role of the black church in rural southern communities?

Explanation:

1. The article and Mama's explanation both suggest that white ministers taught Christianity to enslaved Africans to enforce obedience. The text mentions that sermons stressed "obedience and duty" and quoted the apostle Paul's instruction for slaves to "obey your masters." Mama explicitly states that they taught Christianity "to teach us obedience" and to make slaves loyal to their masters, fearing slave revolts.
2. In rural Southern communities, the Black church played a crucial role in maintaining social cohesion and hope. Despite the weakening social structure due to the Great Migration, church activities like socials, picnics, Bible study, revivals, and praise meetings "encouraged social cohesion, heightened a sense of community and nurtured hope in the face of discrimination and violence."

Answer:

1. To enforce obedience and loyalty among enslaved Africans, as feared slave revolts.
2. It maintained social cohesion and nurtured hope amidst discrimination and a weakening social structure.