The Negro Church in America/The Black Church Since Frazier

by E. Franklin Frazier

Frazier's study of the black church and an essay by Lincoln arguing that the civil rights movement saw the splintering of the traditional black church and the creation of new roles for religion.

Genres: History, Religion, Race, Theology, Christianity, Sociology

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Edward Franklin Frazier was a pioneering African-American sociologist. Frazier received his B.A. from Howard University, his M.A. from Clark University, and his doctorate from the University of Chicago, with which he is most famously affiliated. He was a member of the first Chicago School of sociology, focusing on urban sociology, as well as the intersection of social structures and physical environments in shaping the lives of individuals.

Frazier is best known for his study of African-American family structure in the United States. He argued that the Black family was severely fractured by slavery, a condition which persisted to the present. Frazier also criticized the ways in which middle class African-Americans, as well as the institutions they supported, internalized and emulated mainstream ideas about social structures, class and achievement, while resisting identification with the majority of African-Americans.

Reviews

[Jamall Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don't always have to agree with E. Franklin Frazier but there is a certain rigor in his thinking that I deeply admire. I am troubled by his narrow definition of religion and overly broad category of cults which wrongfully includes black Pentecostalism but he shows that he engaged in the historians of his day in a way that is very informative. C. Eric Lincoln is also thorough. He is also a good thinker. And, as many already know, his focus on non-Christian dimensions of black religion, especially Black Muslims, is always helpful.

[Mitchell Traver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think, in many cases, what people say and do are often received in isolation from a wider context. Talking past one another while feeling justifiably unheard seems to be a remarkably common phenomenon. Frazier wrote largely in the early 20th century, and Lincoln in the late 20th. They both were engaging a history prior to their own, and they did so with a mixture of scholarship and readability that’s very difficult to carry out. In sum, Frazier and Lincoln offer a crucial context for events and conversations that are happening right now, specifically along the lines of racism, social justice, ethnocentrism, nationalism, and more. There’s primary source material here, too, which serves as a stark notice that these conversations are far from new, and that makes these pages somewhat haunting for me. Haunting because there are real problems that need to be addressed - there’s a legitimate history that’s been long buried and blatantly ignored, and it needs to be brought to light. Who is sufficient for these things? To do so requires great humility, piercing insight, and a kind of love that’s far from common. It’s easy to paint the picture of a world where there are only villains and victims, with no shades of grey between the two. (That’s arguably the way in which racist-histories are written!) Much harder is the messy, difficult work of telling the truth from a variety of perspectives, all for the sake of flourishing. This was not the job of Frazier of Lincoln, but their short account here is a needed piece for any who want to better understand, and hopefully engage, the troubles of our times. May the Lord have mercy and help us do so.

[Shenard Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read and journey through the history of how the Negro Church became a thriving institution lifting millions of blacks through the years above the vitriolic effects of racism. Yet, the book provides a glimpse into a future where parity becomes colorless and aspirational. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and will make it an annual understanding.

[Tyson Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a class at Tougaloo titled Black Religion taught by Chaplain Johnson (Chap) this is one of the books we had to read for the class. This book is a foundational read for anyone who wants to know the story of Black America from the times of slavery until modern times. E. Franklin Frazier, legendary historian gives an account of the events of faith and religion that set the mold for the progression of the African American community. C. Eric Lincoln picks up where Franklin left off, reporting the current role of the church in the Black community as well as setting the readers mind to imagine the future of the church in the lives of African Americans.