Then We'll Sing a New Song: African Influences on America's Religious Landscape

As an independent scholar, Clark (Santeria) uses an unconventional approach to religious inquiry to develop a comprehensive look at African spiritual beliefs within and beyond the black church in America. Religious practices from three African kingdoms that supplied the majority of people sold during the Atlantic slave trade are described before and after America's Second Great Awakening. Clark argues that the combined effect of Africans' religious resilience and a gradual American acceptance allowed ecstatic trance possession and ritual performance to become more popular across demographics in American Christianity. Readers with interests that span the Yoruba-derived religions like Santeria, Vodou, Hoodoo, and Candomble will find respectful analyses of syncretic African religions around the world, along with a helpful glossary and timeline. Clark's main thesis is that many African-Americans converted to Christianity as slaves while simultaneously infusing Christianity with African spiritualism and divination-based beliefs. (May)