African American Religions, 1500-2000

'Not a conventional survey of African American religion, which might trace religious origins and developments, this book is a groundbreaking exploration of the conditions of possibility for thinking about African American religion. Transatlantic empires, colonial enclosures, and political engagements, as Sylvester Johnson shows, are more than historical contexts; they are forces of religious formation. The book is an important contribution to the study of African American religion and the study of religion.' David Chidester, author of Empire of Religion: Imperialism and Comparative Religion

'Sylvester Johnson, through his exploration of the economies of space, time, and discourse, reorders the materialities of the Atlantic world formation, allowing for a fresh interpretation of African Americans, religion, and modernity itself. In this work, African American diasporic religion can be seen as an epistemological probe enabling a critique of regnant notions while opening up new sources of data.' Charles H. Long, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Santa Barbara

'Sylvester Johnson's book provides a new interpretation of the beginning and formation of what has often been termed a slave religion, but in a more refreshing and in-depth manner than previous books on the subject. This is an interdisciplinary work that bridges the gap between the old African spirituality on the slave coasts of Africa and the emerging New World religions practiced by Africans across the Atlantic. By so doing, Johnson has given new meaning to what African diaspora religions should mean in the discipline. The historical context in which he places the impact of colonialism, democracy, and freedom in the formation of slave religions surpasses what is available in the literature. This work will appeal to many disciplines, including religion, history, and African American and African studies.' Jacob Olupona, Harvard University, Massachusetts

'This superb book locates African American religions in the context of the development of colonial empire in the Atlantic world. By placing religion in the conflicted network of geopolitics, economic exploitation, and ideological struggles over domination, race, and freedom, Johnson develops a fresh and sophisticated narrative of the history of black religion, freedom, and colonialism. This book will be mandatory reading for anyone interested in African American and Atlantic world history.' Albert J. Raboteau, author of Slave Religion

'In this brilliant work Johnson offers an innovative examination and interpretation of the intersection of African American religions, colonialism, democracy, and freedom. He approaches the subject chronologically, in three time periods ... A major contribution to the literature on African American religions, this book is a tour de force. Summing up: essential. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.' L. H. Mamiya, Choice

'Johnson's book provides a persuasive, i...

Sylvester A. Johnson is Associate Professor of African American Studies and Religious Studies at Northwestern University, Illinois. He is a founding co-editor of the Journal of Africana Religions, the only English-language peer-reviewed journal devoted to publishing research on religions in African and throughout the Black diaspora.

Introduction; 1. Black Atlantic religion and Afro-European commerce; 2. On religious matters; 3. Colonial governance and religious subjectivity; 4. Stateless bodies, African missions, and the Black Christian settler colony; 5. Black political theology, white redemption, and soldiers for empire; 6. Garveyism, anticolonialism, and state repression of Black religions; 7. Fundamentalism, counterintelligence, and the 'negro rebellion'; 8. Black religion, the security state, and the racialization of Islam; 9. Conclusion. Black religion, freedom, and colonialism.