The Importance of Religion to American Slaves
opinionated Essay
2129 words
The Importance of Religion to American Slaves
Whether one notices or not, each person has the right to make choices concerning
his or her life. Being able to make these decisions is a God-given right that
vibrates in the heart of every human being who claims possession and mastery
over his or her own self. However, for slaves, this concept did not exist, and
they became the property of someone else with no place to call their own. For
this reason, many slaves turned to religion to comfort them in their darkest
hour, to help them gain the strength to continue in their struggles, and to hope
that a day would come when they would rise above their condition to a better
place. For slave-owners, the Bible became a place where the institution of
slavery was justified, but for the slaves, Christianity became a symbol of
redemption in which they envisioned a future free from bondage, and if earthly
escape was not possible, their faith would be rewarded in the afterlife,
securing them a home of their own in a free heaven.
While many white slave owners discouraged slaves from learning the Bible for
fear it would encourage slaves to seek freedom, slaves, nevertheless, felt the
Bible was their source for obtaining earthly freedom; thus "their persistent
hope for the future was tied to their faith in God." (Stammering Tongue, 57).
Their convictions gave them the ounce of hope they needed to believe that there
was a better life awaiting them. "The Spirit of the Lord allowed black slaves to
transcend the horizon of their immediate experiences and to hope for a future in
which they would be free." (Stammering Tongue, 60). In Frederick Douglass’
"Narrati...
... middle of paper ...
...ome of his own in a free heaven.
WORKS CITED
Cut Loose Your Stammering Tongue: Black Theology in the Slave Narratives. Ed. D.
Hopkins and G. Cummings. New York: Orbis Books, 1991.
Douglass, Frederick. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American
Slave." The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter. 3rd ed.
Vol. 1. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1998. 1762-1813.
Escott, Paul D. Slavery Remembered. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina
Press, 1979.
Raboteau, Albert J. Slave Religion. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978.
Stowe, Harriet B. Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The Heath Anthology of American Literature.
Ed. Paul Lauter. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998.
2310-2356.
Wilmore, Gayraud S. Black Religion and Black Radicalism. Garden City:
Doubleday and Co., Inc., 1972.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that being able to make these decisions is a god-given right.
- Opines that the spirit of the lord allowed black slaves to live a better life.
- Opines that his side helps secure the notion that the possibility of a future could be sought.
- Opines that they are confined in bands of iron! o that i were free!
- Describes the hottest hell of unending slavery. o god, save me!
- Analyzes how he rebels against mr. covey in an attempt to loosen his chains.
- Describes the resurrection as a glorious resurrection, from the tomb of jesus.
- Describes the depths of the grave to the highest glory of heaven, with his faith restored.
- Opines that god's path is always available even when they're not in his hands.
- Opines that even as he is threatened with a torturous death, for "he felt strong in god to
- Opines that death will only bring him closer to the afterlife.
- Explains that tom depends on his faith in god to save his soul and the souls of others.
- Analyzes how jesus continues to spread the word of jesus to sambo, who is on the verge of death.
- Narrates how he saves a house from despair and attempts to save it.
- Opines that he hasn't done me any real harm, but has opened the gate of kingdom for them.
- Explains that tom's faith sustains him and arms him with the will.
- Analyzes how tom gains his vigor because he feels god is next to him.
- Opines that tom, too, believes this to be the case.
- Opines that to many slaves, true freedom remained to be that which could be.
- Opines that his spirit remains intact as his soul throbbed, and his home was in sight.
- Describes god's glory, not death, but life, one that he could see and feel.
- Analyzes how tom insists that he is connected with god, and that jesus has stood by him.
- Opines that seeing visions or only believing he is seeing heaven does not change the fact that one sees heaven.
- Explains that slaves became the property of someone else with no place to call their own.
- Narrates how they hoped that one day they would rise above their condition to a better life.
- Opines that the exciting vision of what was to come released the power of the future into those bound to slavery.
- Describes tom's faith in god, which he believes will earn him freedom in heaven. he carries his bible which "seemed to him all of his life that remained, as well as the promise of a future one."
- Explains that tom knows that god will save him, not in body, but in spirit. without something to believe in or to strive for, the prospect of a better life.
- Narrates how the poor man's body vibrated to those words, as if touched by the finger of god. he felt the strength of a thousand souls in one.
- Analyzes how tom's true test of faith is as he is dying, and his vision of heaven intensifies his commitment.
- Analyzes how tom sacrifices his body in the same manner as his savior, and is going home to his new master.
- Analyzes how kintuck's response to freedom is too late. the lord has bought him and is going to take him home, and he longs to go.
- Describes the glory of the lord jesus to mas'r george.
- Analyzes how tom's creed cannot be taken from him by any earthly act. in the end tom gets to make his own decision as to how he will meet the lord.
Related
- analytical
- explanatory
- comparative
- Christianity in the Midst of Slaveryanalytical essayChristianity in the context of American slavery took on many faces and characteristics. As a religion, it was used as a tool of manipulation for slave masters to further justify the institution, and particularly assert authority over their slaves. In the slave community, Christianity was adapted in the slave community as a means to shape an identity and create a sense of dignity for an oppressed people. Christianity in the context of the slave community was a means to uplift and encourage the slaves, a way in which to advance the interests of slave-holders, and in some cases, a means used to justify freedom.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how christianity in the context of american slavery took on many faces and characteristics. it was used as a tool of manipulation for slave masters to further justify the institution, and assert authority over their slaves.
- Explains that black slaves held to a different form of christianity that was unbeknownst to traditional orthodox christianity. the perversion of christian teachings from slave master and their erroneous catechisms encouraged and comforted them.
- Analyzes how christianity was used as a meaningful and helpful outlet to reaffirm the humanity of slaves.
- Explains that christianity would be a principal influence in conquering the fear of slaves, for their overseers and masters.
- Explains that christian worship allowed for the slaves to feel engaged in community interaction, and this fit perfectly in the context of slave society.
- Explains that religious services and recreational activities provided the slave with welcome rest from anxious toils, and hope for the better life.
- Analyzes how the slaves created and signed hymns and spirituals, based on biblical lore, to express themselves in a hostile environment.
- Explains that slaves would have to gather in secret places in order to worship, due to the desire of certain masters/ overseers wanting to keep them from worshipping.
- Recounts how katherine and her maw and paw took them to another place to pray and sing. they sang lord i give myself away, tis all that i can do, and they nailed him to the cross.
- Analyzes how mary reynolds was born to a slave mother and free black father. she was nursed alongside her master's daughter (sarah), was sexually abused by him, and was brought back to her family and plantation home.
- Explains that religious hymns and spirituals reflected the reality that there was no separation from the religious and the secular in the slave community.
- Explains that many of the slaves had no formal christian education, but still talked in regard to god and used references to him in their daily language.
- Analyzes how rose williams was a woman born into slavery and gave her account of her time in slavery. she loved her family and was almost sold away until her father asked mr. hawkins to purchase her.
1282 wordsRead More - Religious and Spiritual Practices of Enslaved African Americansanalytical essayThe Community of Enslaved Africans and their Religious & Spiritual Practices. During a most dark and dismal time in our nations history, we find that the Africans who endured horrible circumstances during slavery, found ways of peace and hope in their religious beliefs. During slavery, Africans where able to survive unbearable conditions by focusing on their spirituality. Christianity was amongst the slave community.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how africans who endured slavery found ways of peace and hope in their religious beliefs during a dark and dismal time in our nations history.
- Explains how slaves converted to christianity, and how they were able to sing and pray in their own gatherings.
- Explains that voodoo was a combination of catholicism with various west african traditions. negro spirituals were an important factor to enduring slavery.
- Explains that before christianity, africans had their own sense of spirituality and religion.
- Explains that the spirituals were communal songs performed in a call-response pattern reminiscent of west african traditional religions. slaves used the characters of the bible, particularly the old testament, to tell their stories.
- Explains that the spiritual journey toward freedom dominates the songs, but the concern for physical freedom is there as well. the flexibility and multiplicity of meanings allowed slaves to use the sacred songs as secret communication.
- Analyzes how spirituals anchored the enslaved persons to a reality that allowed them to transcend the harsh limits of slavery.
- Explains that african americans have taken their own spiritual, religious journey, using religion and spirituality as a way of overcoming the mental anguish of slavery.
1736 wordsRead More - Frederick Douglass: The Psychological Approaches Used to Maintain the Institution of Slaveryanalytical essaySlave-owners forced a perverse form of Christianity, one that condoned slavery, upon slaves. According to this false Christianity the enslavement of “black Africans is justified because they are the descendants of Ham, one of Noah's sons; in one Biblical story, Noah cursed Ham's descendants to be slaves” (Tolson 272). Slavery was further validated by the numerous examples of it within the bible. It was reasoned that these examples were confirmation that God condoned slavery. Douglass’s master...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how douglass discusses the deplorable conditions in which he and his fellow slaves suffered from while on colonel lloyd’s plantation.
- Analyzes how slave owners forced a perverse form of christianity, one that condoned slavery, upon slaves. douglass's master, captain thomas auld, epitomizes the christian southern slaveholder.
- Analyzes how douglass describes a great deal of violence committed by slaveholders.
- Analyzes how douglass' paranoia and lack of trust among slaves is reinforced by the cutting of family ties. slaves from different plantations would argue over whose master was better.
- Explains that slaves' powerlessness causes them to depend on their masters for food, clothing, and shelter. this dependence on them was integral to the preservation of the master's power and the sustaining of slave society.
- Analyzes how slaves were encouraged to drink whisky during christmas and new year's holidays to ensure they remained dependent.
- Analyzes how douglass realized the true meaning of freedom when he started learning to read. his mistress, sofia auld, taught him the a, b, and c's.
- Analyzes how the disillusioned slave recognized that the success of the institution of slavery is based on the slave's illiteracy. slaveholders were adamant about withholding any knowledge from slaves.
- Analyzes how douglass unveiled every kink in the well-oiled machine known as slavery. he revealed the false christianity of the south, the nonsensical dependence of slaves upon their masters, and the lack of understanding of freedom.
- Cites gale encyclopedia of american law, donna batten's 3rd ed. vol. 13, detroit, 2011. the slave experience: living conditions.
- Cites tolson, claudette l., "white supremacy." encyclopedia of race and racism.
1326 wordsRead More - the development of slavery in Americaexplanatory essaySlavery was the main resource used in the Chesapeake tobacco plantations. The conditions in the Chesapeake region were difficult, which lead to malnutrition, disease, and even death. Slaves were a cheap and an abundant resource, which could be easily replaced at any time. The Chesapeake region’s tobacco industries grew and flourished on the intolerable and inhumane acts of slavery.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that slavery was the main resource used in the chesapeake region's tobacco plantations. slaves were a cheap and abundant resource, which could be easily replaced at any time.
- Describes how the colonies of virginia and maryland were settled in the early 17th century. they had limited labor and were constantly raided by native americans.
- Explains that colonists imported slaves from south america in hopes that they would live longer and be more manageable to control.
- Explains that indentured servants helped the colonies progress their population. they helped ward off native americans from attacking settlers.
- Explains that in the late 17th century, the supply of indentured servants from europe started to decrease. the labor crisis brought a lot of tension between the plantation owners
- Analyzes how the tensions between the two conflicting sides led to the bacon's rebellion in 1676. the rebellion marched to jamestown and captured it.
- Explains that africans were savages because of their rituals, religion, and skin color. virginia made a series of laws to separate themselves from their heathenness acts.
- Explains that virginia assembly ruled that if the master of a slave were to kill his slave, he would not be charged of murder. the ideals of slavery were merged into the chesapeake region in 1710.
- Explains that slavery is a direct result of the need for labor in plantations and large farms. when they turned to indenture servants the supply was low and they became rebellious after their terms were up.
1202 wordsRead More - Religion's Influence on the Slavery Debatesexplanatory essaySlavery was a dominant part of the political and social arenas of 1800’s America. However, it was not homogenous as it divided America into two distinct groups: those who supported it and those who did not. Traditionally, the states in the north had been anti-slavery while the states in the south had been pro-slavery. Southern life and economy depended on slavery and therefore staunchly supported the continued legal status of slavery. The northern states on the other hand recognized the inhumane nature of slavery and campaigned to establish equality for all citizens. In order to establish solid reasoning for their stance, both pro-slave and anti-slave groups turned to theological inspiration for their actions. The Bible inspired both pro-slavery advocates and anti-slavery abolitionists alike. Religion was used in order to justify slavery and also to condemn it.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that slavery was a dominant part of the political and social arenas of 1800’s america, but it was not homogenous as it divided america into two distinct groups.
- Explains that senator steward, an anti-slavery supporter, viewed all of man as equals. this equality came from the "higher law" that is the bible.
- Explains that abolitionists understood that each man represented one of god's creations and that men were part of his plan. if slavery was allowed to exist, then man was interrupting god’s desire and plan for his creation.
- Opines that there is a higher law than the constitution, which regulates over authority over the domain, and devotes it to the same noble purposes.
- Explains that according to abolitionists, god endowed man with equality and common heritage. this equality granted by god overrides the law established by the united states government.
- Explains that steward and all abolitionists were dismayed that supposedly christian and good nation that hinges its existence on the claim that all men are created equal, and they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, would allow some to live in bondage and squalor that is slavery.
- Explains that the abolitionists believed that without every citizen being treated as god's natural equals then unnatural order and chaos would occur.
- Argues that the south, contradictorily to the north, believed the future of the nation depended on slavery. pro-slavery southerners balked at the northerners claim that slavery was a sin.
- Explains thomas dew's argument that holding slaves was not a sin as long as it was done with generosity and without malicious intent. pro-slavery supporters argued that modern slavery was exponentially more cruel than ancient slavery.
- Explains that southerners believed they were upholding a long-held tradition of master and slave as put forth by god. since god had allowed his followers to keep and hold slaves for all of biblical history, modern history could not have been any different.
- Explains that slavery used religion to keep african americans subordinate. pro-slavery advocates argued that christianity appeals to slaves because it fosters hope to both the slave and the master.
- Explains that both supporters of slavery and those who wished to abolish slavery turned to god as their justification. the christian equality of the north won over the hard-nosed old testament south.
1362 wordsRead More - Slavery in the United Statesexplanatory essaySlavery in the United States In the history of the United States nothing has brought more shame to the face of America than the cold, premeditated method of keeping black people in captivity. People from England who migrated to America used many different methods to enslave black people and passed them down through the children. These methods were quite effective, so effective that these “slaves” were kept in captivity for over two hundred years in this country. It was the rain of terror that kept black people in fear of their lives for so long. The invention of the gun back in the fifth-teenth century was the main reason that these people were able to go to another continent and enslave so many people.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that slavery in the united states brought shame to the face of america. people from england who migrated to america used many different methods to enslave black people.
- Explains that the invention of the gun back in the fifth-teenth century was the main reason that black people were kept in captivity for over two hundred years.
- Explains that africans were enslaved on another continent and were mistreated mentally and physically. they were tightly packed on ships for months at a time.
- Explains that as the population increased in the colonies during the 1600’s, so did the demand for slavery especially in southern colonies where the big plantations were.
- Opines that the slaves were barbaric and not smart enough to be civilized. they owned huge houses and thought of themselves as noblemen.
- Explains that the europeans who owned slaves thought that they were not smart enough because they could not speak english and they did not have a written language.
- Explains that the slaves started having children, and the demand for them dropped while the market for selling them and their children went up. if a person was born to one, they were automatically born into slavery.
- Opines that colonists believed that every man is born with the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- Opines that their ignorance to this fact is not what kept them in slavery for so though. they knew they would be made an example of if they tried to escape.
- Opines that slaves who rebelled or acted up would be beaten badly with whips, punished by starving in the basement, or just shot.
- Explains that they started learning that not all black people in the country were enslaved. by word of mouth or by reading, they began to learn that slavery did not exist up north.
- Explains that the underground railroad was a dangerous plan. white people would help some slaves escape, but nobody could trust anybody back then.
- Explains that white people would hide runaway slaves for the day so they could continue to head towards the northern states during the night for their freedom. one slave that had escaped was fredrick douglas.
- Narrates how a well-spoken black man, who was brave, prepared an audience of white people and told them what was going on down south.
- Opines that greed for money through free labor, supply and demand, and gun power is what created slavery.
- Explains that fear in the eyes of the slaves kept them working under such poor conditions everyday, while their friends and family could be sold away at any place or place.
- Opines that slavery is the number one event in our country's history that has led to the civil war.
1039 wordsRead More - Slavery in the United Statesanalytical essayA historian once wrote that the rise of liberty and equality in America was accompanied by slavery. There is truth in that statement to great effect. The rise of America in general was accompanied by slavery and the settlers learned early on that slavery would be an effective way to build a country and create free labor. There was a definite accompaniment of slavery with the rising of liberty and equality in America.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the south threatened disunion immediately should the slave trade in the atlantic be banned because of the high amount of native-born slaves in new england and virginia.
- Explains that the constitution provides a good example of the accompaniment of slavery with liberty and equality.
- Analyzes how thomas jefferson's "notes on the state of virginia" is a great example of slavery accompanying the rise of liberty and equality.
- Explains that free black men didn't exist before the mid-twentieth century, while partially free men barely exist. the rise of liberty and equality are accompanied by slavery.
- Explains that the rise of liberty and equality in america was accompanied by slavery. the fugitive slave law and the three fifths clause were developed in light of the constitution.
1042 wordsRead More - Frederick Douglass: Christianity's Justification For Slaveryanalytical essayIn his narrative, Frederick Douglass shows how Christianity was used as a major justification for slavery and for the actions of slave masters, but he also shows how the religion provided hope for slaves themselves. In an appendix added at the end of the narrative, he draws a distinction between “the Christianity of this land” and “the Christianity of Christ,” saying that there is the “widest possible difference” between them. As he puts it, “I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land.” In other words, Douglass thinks that Christianity has been corrupted in America, where people hypocritically use it to justify their injustices.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how frederick douglass' narrative shows how christianity was used as a major justification for slavery and for the actions of slave masters, but also provided hope for slaves themselves.
- Analyzes how douglass hopes that becoming religious will make his master kinder or even emancipate his slaves. the "christianity of this land" had a negative effect.
- Compares voltaire's take on christianity to that of frederick douglass, who thinks there is a "real" christianity that is good and corrupted by the slave masters.
544 wordsRead More - The Life of a Slave during American Historycomparative essayThe cause of slavery is very important to the history of America for some. Many think that capitalism started slavery. With this form of civilization, religion and economy were involved, making church and state ruled together when they should be ruled separately. Most slavery was based on the racial differences, another part of capitalism, but it also said that blacks, or otherwise known as “Negroes,” were impersonal. Capitalism started as evil was spreading in the South and soon made its way to the New England and Middle colonies. This lifestyle didn’t work as most of the people were of the gentry class, and were sybarites, wanting people to do the work for them. There were first indentured servants to do the jobs, but they wouldn’t stay forever to work on the farms and plantations. The indentured servants would only stay until they had payed of what they owed when the upper class paid for their trip to America. Mostly farmers and plantation owners wanted slaves because they would be people who would work for them until their death. They didn’t want those who would end up leaving after a while, so slavery ended up starting. People were importing blacks from Africa and imported them by using the Middle Passage. Slavery soon became a big importance in America, and the slaves were given certain occupations instead of becoming free like everyone else who came to America from Europe.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that slavery was based on racial differences, but blacks, or otherwise known as "negroes," were impersonal. capitalism spread in the south and soon made its way to the new england and middle colonies.
- Explains that the punishment of the wrongdoing of slaves was critical. whipping and branding, a roman practice, appeared early with vicious audacity.
- Compares the living quarters of plantation and farm slaves with those of urban and household ones.
- Compares how urban and rural slaves differed from the living quarters. urban, household, plantation, and farm, had hardly any clothes, but the owners didn't care about their health.
- Explains that slave trade was one of the most important things during colonial america. bidders from all over would swarm in to buy slaves.
- Explains that slave auctions were a big deal, as they were known everywhere. they were taken off the ship and bathed in grease or tar to make them look healthier.
- Explains that as america was a new nation, colonial safety was already plummeting. people were getting killed or punished by the slaves.
- Explains how abraham lincoln, the sixteenth president of the united states, started to look into the arising problem of slave revolts and lowered safety. lincoln tried to gain support by having slave-owners give up their slaves.
- Explains that slave occupations were difficult in the colonial era, but most of the difficulty depended on the slaves' location. the most widely contributed occupation was the plantation slave.
1803 wordsRead More - Slavery in Southern Americaexplanatory essaySlavery in the American South became stronger in the early to mid-nineteenth century. As the cotton crop grew, the population moved south and southwest, increasing the slave population. The laws in the south, such as slaves not being able to testify against a white person, increased the white man’s power over slaves. These laws affirmed the white slave owners’ attitude towards slavery and they fought to keep this way of life in the South. The slave trade also strengthened slavery in the South by smuggling in new slaves, demoralizing and dehumanizing the black population. Many white men profited greatly from the use of slavery and did not want to see it abolished.
In this essay, the author
- Explains how slavery in the american south became stronger in early to mid-nineteenth century. the slave trade strengthened slavery by smuggling in new slaves, demoralizing and dehumanizing the black population.
- Explains that short-staple cotton was profitable to small farmers and plantation owners alike, and the need for more slaves to work the fields and in the main house.
- Explains that the laws in the south strengthened the white man's power over slaves and reinforced to the black population that they had no rights.
- Explains that slave trade increased the slave population in the south. importing slaves became illegal in 1808, but smuggling slavery into the united states still happened until the 1850's.
- Explains that slavery increased in the south between 1800 through 1860 because the agriculture flourished and farmers needed more slaves. the laws of the south and the way the white southern men enjoyed their lifestyle also strengthened slavery.
656 wordsRead More