The Talking Book: African Americans and the BibleYale University Press, 2008 M10 1 - 295 pages A striking narrative of the Bible’s central role in African-American history from the early days of slavery to the present The Talking Book casts the Bible as the central character in a vivid portrait of black America, tracing the origins of African-American culture from slavery’s secluded forest prayer meetings to the bright lights and bold style of today’s hip-hop artists. The Bible has profoundly influenced African Americans throughout history. From a variety of perspectives this wide-ranging book is the first to explore the Bible’s role in the triumph of the black experience. Using the Bible as a foundation, African Americans shared religious beliefs, created their own music, and shaped the ultimate key to their freedom—literacy. Allen Callahan highlights the intersection of biblical images with African-American music, politics, religion, art, and literature. The author tells a moving story of a biblically informed African-American culture, identifying four major biblical images—Exile, Exodus, Ethiopia, and Emmanuel. He brings these themes to life in a unique African-American history that grows from the harsh experience of slavery into a rich culture that endures as one of the most important forces of twenty-first-century America. |
From inside the book
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African Americans and the Bible Allen Dwight Callahan. To my mother, Olivia Estes — my first librarian, who taught me how to hear the books talk Above this firmament of your Scripture I believe that there.
African Americans and the Bible Allen Dwight Callahan. Above this firmament of your Scripture I believe that there are other waters, immortal and kept safe from earthly corruption. They are the peoples of your city, your angels, on high ...
... 1 2 The Poison Book 21 3 The Good Book 41 4 Exile 49 5 Exodus 83 6 Ethiopia 138 7 Emmanuel 185 Postscript 240 Notes 247 Subject Index 275 Scripture Index 284 acknowledgments MUCH OF WHAT IS GOOD in this volume devolves Contents.
... scriptural allusions . Traditional African - American folk medicine , called variously " conjure , " " roots , " or " hoodoo , " bases many of its incan- tations on biblical texts and figures . Whether as slaves absconding from ...
... scriptures that God grants victory to the unlikeliest people — people like themselves — and by the unlikeliest means . The Bible privileges those without privilege and honors those without honor . And so there is a special affinity ...
Contents
1 | |
21 | |
41 | |
49 | |
5 Exodus | 83 |
6 Ethiopia | 138 |
7 Emmanuel | 185 |
Postscript | 240 |
Notes | 247 |
Subject Index | 275 |
Scripture Index | 284 |