bwaber reviewed The Black Church by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
A Fascinating Tour through the History and Influence of the Black Church
3 stars
This book traces the history of Black religion in the US from its earliest colonial beginnings to modern form. Along the way Gates introduces the different factors that led to the centrality of churches in the Black community and what influenced these churches to adopt forms very different than other US churches. Most interesting to me was the examination of the tight relationship between Black churches and broader Black cultural innovations - from music to political movements.