For virtually the first century of their lives in the United States, African-Americans had virtually no engagement with Christianity because, in part, they came from a religious word that was far different from that of their white masters and mistresses (159). While a few blacks did convert to Christianity in the seventeenth century, the vast majority of Africans of both genders were excluded from worship in the American colonies. Consequently, it would not be until the dawn of the eighteenth century that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in the Foreign Parts began to bring Christianity to slaves. It was in the middle of the eighteenth century that slaves began to convert in significant numbers during the First Great Awakening (159). Over time, Christianity among African slaves was influenced by African religions that were brought to the United States by successive waves of slaves. Unfortunately, African-American women, like white women during this era, were not able to remain within their homes and see themselves as answering God's call (160).
The reading demonstrates that both African-American and white women developed spirituality and formed maternal societies that were uniquely their own and for African-American women in particular, the period of slavery and the aftermath of the Jim Crow era proved particularly challenging with respect to practicing religion (160-161). Over time, for African-American women, a strong connection between Christianity, spirituality, and liberation emerged throughout America. Indeed, many African-American women used the black church and the so-called club movement to create faith communities and self-help organizations that assisted the former slaves in achieving personal economic and educational goals. More significantly, these organizations provided a sense of comfort, solace, and unity to a people that were victimized by racism, oppression, and all forms of discrimination (...