Celebrating Black History Month #6

The acceptance of Methodism by early African Americans has been described by Lewis V. Baldwin in Grant Shockley’s book, Heritage and Hope: The African American Presence in United Methodism, p.26 (see Carlton Young, Companion to The United Methodist Hymnal, p.22-23)

Several reasons account for the strong support given by African Americans to Methodism . . . First, the Methodist style and ethos of revivalism allowed for a freedom of expression that was similar to what many had experienced in African traditional religions. They were free to sing, pray, preach, testify, groan, weep, shout, and dance with an intensity of emotion that was unacceptable in many religious communions in America at that time.