African-American Spirituality

1 credits · Divinity School

Spirituality has figured prominently in the shaping of African American identity. As such, traces of the religious can be discerned in nearly every aspect of African American social and cultural life. Primarily focusing on the Black Church in North America, through the lenses of mysticism, materiality, musicality, mourning and embodied ritual practices, this course seeks to unearth indigenous religious meanings that shed light on a distinctively, African American spiritual tradition. Special attention will be given to a variety of Black religious forms, such as prayers, sermons, spiritual writings, testimonies, autobiographies, call narratives, letters, poetry and other artistic expressions. The African religious past and the question of African retentions in New World, African spiritual practices will also be considered.