African American Religion Essay

Throughout the readings and class discussions thus far, I have noticed that religion has played a key role in the enslavement and the liberation of African Americans. In fact, the story of African-American religion is a long and complex tale that spans over centuries. Before colonization and slavery, Africans had their own beliefs and religious practices. These enslaved Africans that were transported to the New World at the start of the fifteenth century, brought with them a bevy of local religious beliefs and practices. The diversity of customs and practices they brought with them elucidated the many cultures and languages from which they had come. During this time period the majority of the mass slave transports were from the West Coast of

To this day, Christianity is the biggest religion in the world. It has served as a tool of enslavement and liberation of blacks in America. Like most things, Christianity has its beauty while also having a darker side. However, I find it hard to condemn a whole religion based on how some individuals make use of it. I agree with King’s view on using Christianity to obtain liberation. I believe that overall Christianity has done more good than harm. Instances where Christianity was being used as a tool by the slave drivers and masters to break the slave’s traditions and communities gives Christianity a bad name. I think it’s seminal to look at the religion separately from the people who practice it. If Christianity is implemented in the purest form, it teaches to love all. The slave drivers and masters clearly did not follow Christianity as it was meant to be. When this doctrine is practiced in such a way like King did, it has the power to liberate people from the grandest of struggles. However, it is an arduous task to decide whether blacks should practice Christianity or not because it is not always implemented in the best form. At the end of it all it is not a question of whether Christianity is good or bad but rather it is a look into the way people practice the religion. Nevertheless, it is an interesting