This Far by Faith: Stories from the African American Religious Experience

by Juan Williams, Quinton Hosford Dixie

This Far by Faith is the story of how religious faith inspired the greatest social movement in American history -- the U.S. Civil Rights movement. America's struggle, rise, and triumph from slavery to equal rights for all is a living testament to the power of deep, personal faith for Americans of all colors. The black experience in America, even black music, is defined by a steady, burning religious faith and the power it offered to people who were viewed as powerless, even less than human, until the flame of faith showed them that they were equal members of God's family. That everlasting faith in God and trust in God's justice, as well as the power of prayer and its appeals to conscience, remains central to the concept of democracy and one nation under God that all Americans value. Arriving on ships named Brotherhood and John the Baptist, slaves who had previously embraced tribal religions in their home countries faced the Christianity of their captors. Africans did not simply adopt the religion of the European colonists; they used the power, principles, and practices of Christianity to blaze a path to freedom and deliverance. In the process, the moral fabric of the nation was tested and took on a new texture and strength unique to America. In the early to mid-twentieth century, black people used organized faith to meet, finance, and plan their struggle for freedom. The church was a living well of strength and comfort for black Americans; the one place where they maintained their public dignity. It was the black church that produced civil rights leaders from Martin Luther King Jr. to Malcolm X. And the white churches and synagogues provided key allies that were necessary to boost the Civil Rights movement to success. Juan Williams, author of Eyes on the Prize, the landmark book on the history of the Civil Rights movement, and Quinton Dixie, a professor of religious studies and African American studies at Indiana University, bring to life the pivotal moments facing men and women of faith in this monumental history. The stories begin with ministers leading rebellions against slavery and towering men and women who used faith in God to rise above the brutality of being demeaned as slaves. Here are stories of politics, tent revivals, and the importance of black churches as touchstones for every step of the faith journey that became the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Using archival and contemporary photography, historical research, and modern-day interviews, and featuring messages from some of today's foremost clergymen and women, This Far by Faith is the first in-depth treatment of this social history and a companion to a major public television series.

Genres: Religion, History

Hardcover

First published January 7, 2003

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good survey of religion in the African American community in the US over the past few centuries. Much of it surveys the Christian experience, because most of the religious experience in the African American community has been Christian. And yet, the book covers other religious traditions as well. So, it is not written to convince the reader of the Christian experience... If anything, perhaps the opposite.

Some of our countries saddest days were endured by these Christian African American brothers and sisters. Those historical facts are cringeworthy and difficult to read, but important not to forget as a contemporary Christian.

Chapter 6 gave a very helpful background to the Pentecostal movement. The founder (Seymoure), was raised by parents whose "religious practices reflected the syncretistic experience of religion in slave quarters. The emphasis of Haitian Voodoo was strong in the region, so even as a child Seymour was comfortable with supernatural encounters with the divine." Although the Holiness and Pentecostal groups found life at the Azusa street meeting, so did "Father Divine" who claimed the same "filling of the Spirit" and went a much different direction.

The book is a companion to the PBS television series.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about religion through the black experience.

[Kevin Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a history of African Americans describing lives, struggles, and faith.

[Ruth Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Had a lot of information.

[Regis Saxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave a great overview of the religious experience in Black America. It helped me alot in understanding the subject, and has led me to other books as well.

What I have gathered this book is this: the Christian faith in the Black experience has been far from a negative influence, rather it has given depth, meaning, and pride to many Black Americans, including myself. I yearn for the days when the Black Church was a wellspring of social justice, identity, empowerment, and community.

Another thing I have learned is that the downfall of the Black community post-Civil Rights Movement was the loss of great leadership, and the replacing of the love ethic, (exemplified through MLK and his Christian-centered message)with that of Black Power. This movement has, in my view, has been nothing but a hinderance at least and a destructive force at most.

When we replaced love with force and peace with power, we created ties of antagonism with our White brothers and sisters (and yes that is what they are) and forced an engagement not on level ground, but based on victimhood and anger.

This and further books I will read/research will pursue a "regrasping" of the love ethic that is at the core of the Christian gospel message, and a tearing down of power and separation.

[Mark Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting collection of short biographies of blacks during the slavery era, post-slavery, and civil rights period up to the present. In each biography Williams explores the effect faith had on the person's ability to hold up under staggering hardships. Often these were descriptions of theological trainwrecks such as Father Devine and Elijah Muhamad who mislead people with cultish practices. But there were shining examples of Christianity at its best such as Martin Luther King Jr.

[Mary Newcomb]

This is the story of religious faith and its relationship with the US Civil Rights movement. It is fascinating and informative reading. The historical discussion of various faith communities as related to African-Americans was new to me.

[Ferrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good overview of the subject -- basically an introduction. I was a little miffed at first when quotations were not footnoted, but then I realized the notes in the back of book made it pretty easy to figure out the sources of information, if not the page numbers.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was informative but dry. It read like a history book.

[Doris Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Is. A. Great. Book.