Slave Religion: The "Invisible Institution" in the Antebellum South

by Albert J. Raboteau

Twenty-five years after its original publication, Slave Religion remains a classic in the study of African American history and religion. In a new chapter in this anniversary edition, author Albert J. Raboteau reflects upon the origins of the book, the reactions to it over the past twenty-five years, and how he would write it differently today. Using a variety of first and second-hand sources-- some objective, some personal, all riveting-- Raboteau analyzes the transformation of the African religions into evangelical Christianity. He presents the narratives of the slaves themselves, as well as missionary reports, travel accounts, folklore, black autobiographies, and the journals of white observers to describe the day-to-day religious life in the slave communities. Slave Religion is a must-read for anyone wanting a full picture of this "invisible institution."

Genres: History, Religion, Nonfiction, American History, African American, Race, Christianity

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Albert J. Raboteau (PhD, Yale) was the Henry W. Putnam Professor of Religion at Princeton University. Dr. Raboteau came to Princeton in 1982, and is a specialist in American religious history. His research and teaching have focused on American Catholic history, African-American religious movements and currently he is working on the place of beauty in the history of Eastern and Western Christian Spirituality.

He was the first recipient of the J.W.C. Pennington Award from the University of Heidelberg and in 2012 delivered the Stone Lectures at Princeton Theological Seminary. He retired in June, 2013.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Widely considered a classic in the field of American slave history, this book should also be considered a classic in our understanding of American religious history. In the context of widespread (if not near universal) hypocrisy of the white church and its participation in slavery, the faithfulness of Christian slaves seems to be the only redeeming aspect of American Christianity in the era of slavery. It might even be more accurate to say that Christian slaves WERE the true Church which stood in opposition to the false church that so severely marred the Gospel by its complicit participation in slavery. The legacy of Christian slaves is a story about heroes of the Christian faith - saints who endured unspeakable suffering to preserve the purity of the Gospel. Even as the American church is still coming to terms with our history and reckoning with racism, we have to ask - How much further might we have fallen were it not for the faithful perseverance of Christian slaves?

Albert Raboteau says in his afterword, "Despite severe persecution and suffering, slave Christians bore witness to the Christian gospel, whose truth they perceived and maintained in contradiction to the debasement of that very gospel by those who held power over their bodies and their external actions, but not their souls. The suffering witness of slave Christians constitutes a major spiritual legacy not only for their descendants but also for any who would take the time to heed the testimony of their words and of their lives."

[Jamie Howison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is something of a classic in the literature on the slave church. It started out as a doctoral thesis, but unlike some books that have that provenance, this one really engages. Sure, there is an incredible amount of detail - and a huge number of footnotes, reflecting Raboteau's careful research - but it still reads like a great piece of social history. He's clearly taken by the back-story of the black church, but certainly not in an overly romanticized way. Essential reading for me, as I continue to trace the tradition that in time would give rise to the blues and to jazz.

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic.

When it first came out, James Cone said this: "Slave Religion is the best volume on the subject, and no seminary or university library should be without it. There is little doubt that it will become the standard work on the religion of Black slaves in the U.S."

This book originated out of Raboteau's PhD dissertation at Yale, and was originally published in 1978. I read the 2004 updated edition, which contains an excellent "Afterward" by Raboteau reflecting on the time of his original study, and the decades of work that have transpired since then. It's excellent, and I recommend the updated edition if only for that reason -- great historiographical reflections there.

The book itself is a classic, an absolute "must read" on the topic of Black Christianity (though the book does explore other religious traditions as well -- the bulk of its focus is on Christianity). Starting with the question of "how much of the original African religious beliefs and practices survived the middle passage, and in what form," the book moves on to the ways that Christianity was preached to, received by, subverted and appropriated to address the situation of enslaved African peoples.

Raboteau is a first-rate historian, and his book swims in primary source material. It's a delight to read on many levels -- for it's excellent history, for it's religious insights, for its inspiring stories.

Did I say this is a classic, yet? It's a classic. You really ought to read this one.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

well aware of its shortcomings, as is Raboteau. deeply human, that’s about all i got.

[Seth Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

While providing an excellent overview of the religious practices of American slaves, I thought the author repeated himself a lot. I would have liked more emphasis on the folk religion of Africa and more details on how those elements were adapted into slave religion. I did find the general description of Christian life intersting and disturbing--particularly the hypocrisy of plantation owners. There are many inspirational stories included in the book as well.

[Christopher Gow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it’s not an easy read, this is a great resource, full of primary sources that provide a heart-breaking and challenging confrontation of oppressive white Christianity while also shedding light on some of the most encouraging and beautiful expressions of Christianity I’ve ever heard of in America. It’s inexcusable that this wasn’t a part of of the American religion classes I took in college.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a very interesting read although dense in some places. Especially useful are the copious quotes from slaves, former slaves, and free blacks.

[Drick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is based on Albert Raboteau's doctoral dissertation in the 1970's and updated. Using actual transcripts of former slaves' description of their religious experience, he shows how the Africanisms came over and were incorporated into the religious practices of the slaves,. While most of his writing focuses on the Christianity of slaves, he also discusses hoodoo, conjuring and Islam as other alternatives used by slaves. The book has extensive quotes from documents recording the actual words and experiences of slaves, which grounds the work in authentic sources, but at times also made it difficult to read.

In the Afterword to the updated version Raboteau points out that one can not understand American history without a full understanding of the slave experience and the impact of slave culture on the wider American culture. For people interested in the influence of religion on the slaves this is an essential book to read, however difficulty at times it it to plow thru.

[lalo🌸 lover of books]

Only ended up reading like 12 percent of this book. Read for my US History Paper, 2022.

[Karis · Rating 4 out of 5]

rereading for exams; still an important text

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albert J. Raboteau, retired Princeton University Professor of Religion, wrote an exceptional book on the religious lives of African American slaves before the Civil War. Slave Religion: The "Invisible Institution" in the Antebellum South is a remarkable piece of work that examines how the faith of African Americans functioned under the institution of slavery in the Antebellum South. The subject of African American religion during this period was vastly understudied, leading Raboteau to shed light on the African American religious experience. This reveals the meaning behind the book’s subtitle, the “invisible institution” of the South, signaling the religion of slaves. The implications of this neglected field of research has created myths about African Americans and their past. This has led to distorted American history, because when African American history is ignored or underrepresented then American history is not accurate. Raboteau responded to questions about ways slave culture, as it relates particularly to religion, developed and changed during the antebellum period in the South. How did slaves live out their religion under the yoke of white control? The book focuses primarily on Protestantism as the dominant religious force during this time, while giving little attention to the impact of Catholicism, Islam, and even the folk religion of the slaves’ ancestral lands.

Raboteau structures his book in two sections. In the first section, he writes about first-hand accounts of how Africans practiced their “danced religions” and how the worship of African gods was appropriated through the saints leading to a syncretistic faith with Christianity at times. Raboteau then makes the claim that, “In the United States the gods of Africa died.” (P. 86) This is because black religion in the Caribbean and South America developed and grew but not in North America. Raboteau does not give an answer as to why this happened but states more research needs to be done in this area. In the last section of the book, Raboteau shows how the religious views and actions of blacks and whites played out in this antebellum period. He illustrates how the initial approach of catechizing slaves to conversion took a lot of time, and there were not a lot of conversions recorded in this period as opposed to the Great Awakening, where many slaves came to be baptized from these revivals. This led to the idea of plantation missions where missionaries were willing to work within the system of slavery as long as they could come to the plantations and disciple the slaves with the master’s approval. As the Civil War loomed closer and closer, Christianity had penetrated the slave community because most slaves had been American born at this time and there were not as many linguistic and cultural barriers to accepting the death and resurrection of Jesus for the salvation of their souls. It should be noted here that not all slaves accepted this belief or even considered Christianity as a viable religion. As some noted, “They said their masters and families were Bible Christians, and they did not want to be like them” (243). The book closes by asking if Christianity either encouraged docility under slave masters or promoted egalitarianism between the master and slave? While some have argued that the Bible teaches that slavery is a good thing, Raboteau offers another view that Christianity when practiced correctly, actually led to slaves and masters having “moments of genuine religious mutuality, whereby blacks and whites preached to, prayed for, and converted each other in situations where the status of master and slave was, at least for the moment, suspended” (314). In the conclusion of the book, the slave’s experience is compared to the Israelites as a chosen, peculiar people that God will eventually deliver from slavery.

This book gives a realistic picture of what slaves experienced. It demonstrated many different aspects of antebellum faith practiced by slaves. For example, Portuguese kidnappers are recorded as saying the slaves received “the greater benefit” of being subjected because they can die as Christians and not pagans, thereby receiving “eternal life” (95). This book establishes how slave religion shaped America and how American Protestantism shaped slave religion in the South. As noted earlier, Slave Religion should have engaged the faith of other religions on the slaves. Also missing was the representation of the experience of the African American slave women and how they found comfort in Christianity.

[Derek Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched (obviously) and important as part of the, at the time, burgeoning African studies movement. Perhaps ahead of its time in its treatment of the role of the oppressed in the history of the oppressors, and in its treatment of the encounter between groups as a place of innovation. Unfortunately, Raboteau's argument (and I think there is a good one: religious adaptation does not imply acquiescence or a "forgetting" of history) sometimes gets lost in the overwhelming detail provided (which is maybe what he intended, actually).

Raboteau addresses (and corrects for) most of my other concerns in the new afterword.

[Josiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did religious life among slaves develop, and against what obstacles? What was the nature of this religious life? What type of effect did it have on their character, views of slavery, desire for freedom, and views of themselves? Originally published in 1978 as a revised version of his dissertation, Yale historian Dr. Albert J. Raboteau answers these questions through inspiring first-hand accounts of black Christians persevering in their faith despite persecution at the hands of white slaveowners, many of whom where professing Christians.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic study and history of the religion, mostly Christianity, of black slaves in America. I had not previously thought of enslaved Christians in terms of persecution, but I think Raboteau has changed my perspective. I don't think there's a better way to describe what happened to black Christians in the South than to call it persecution.

Overall, a great way to become acquainted with our brothers and sisters in Christ from the past, brothers and sisters who suffered much from those who should have been their brothers and sisters back then.

[Daniel Silliman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book and essential reading for anyone interested in the history of Christianity in America. Some of Raboteau's findings (first published in 78) have been common knowledge in the intervening years, but that doesn't diminish the power of the sources he has excavated, or the incredible detail with which he renders the complicated spiritual lives of people who learned the Gospel in the hypocrisy of their oppressors.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is fantastic and it is clear why it’s considered a classic. it’s a brilliant reclaiming of archives that were largely unexplored before this book was written. these archives produce a really rich and diverse perspective on the religion(s) of slaves. i especially like how raboteau begins his study in africa, situating these slaves as marked by their homeland.

[David Doel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fine work of history and of religion. It amazes me how dispassionate this author is able to be regarding a subject (slavery) which had to have affected his ancestors. There is much to learn about Christianity from the American slaves who "adopted" it as their faith and did their best to restore Jesus' authentic teachings to the American church.

[Maxine Bolden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful and inspirational writing

Inspiring stories and testimonies, not just theory and intellect but heart and soul stories that lend credence to our historical understanding of slave religion and the people who practiced it.

[Bethany Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly skimmed over this book for a class I am taking, but it is a very interesting book with numerous testimonials. The power of religion in the slave’s life should not be understated. This book is great at presenting logical arguments and giving evidence in support fro my hw slaves themselves.

[Peg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched, fascinating history.

[CEGatling · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important and classic work on the spiritual and religious life of enslaved Africans in North America.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book for class— not something I would necessarily choose to read or recommend to others, but really solid content.

[Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic work and very readable. This landmark study of the religious beliefs and practices of slaves in the Antebellum United States of America is a must-read for students of American History.

[Nate Rubright · Rating 5 out of 5]

changed the game away from the survey. people are still catching up to this one.

[Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite fascinating, but kind of dense at points, and certainly felt like it was showing it ages at points. Still worth the read though.

[Michael Fuhrman · Rating 5 out of 5]

enlightening!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough and interesting

[Heather D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first half is hard to read and a lot of facts. Not a fun to read part. The second half has interesting facts and space & master recollections but so wordy.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, riveting.

[Melissa]

Wikipedia - great awakening