Rituals of Resistance: African Atlantic Religion in Kongo and the Lowcountry South in the Era of Slavery

This is one of those books that should be required reading but it isn't because it dispels the common myths and misconceptions that early African Americans just accepted their lot as slaves. The truth is, our ancestors fought against slavery in every way possible. Being outnumbered by Euro-Americans, in a foreign land, surrounded by Protestants made it impossible for early African Americans to resist slavery as their kin had done in the Caribbean and South America. They were however able to create and develop their own unique religion and tradition due to living in a segregated society. This unique influence was derived from the Kongo society of West-Central Africa.As several authors are beginning to understand, contrary to popular belief not every African brought to the Americas were forced or unfamiliar with Christianity. When the Portuguese first encountered the Kongo people (before the Transatlantic Slave Trade had begun), the Kongo people became interested in Christianity. They weren't forced into it. They adopted it because it was similar to their own traditional religious beliefs. A number of years later, after the Portuguese entered into the international trade of slaves, is when the Kongo people begin to resist the European religion. But, by that time it was too late, because most of the Kongo people had already been exposed to it and their human resources were depleting. So when they were brought to North America, they were able to modify the religion to fit their purpose and make it into a tool of resistance.The subject is a very fascinating one and this is a very compelling and well researched book, which served as a very good references for my own research and writing,  MAA AANKH: Finding God the Afro-American Spiritual Way, by Honoring the Ancestors and Guardian Spirits . I highly recommend this work for those who want a better understanding of religious experience of early African Americans.

This was a fascinating look at the connections and understanding of people from the Kongo towards Christianity and the persistence and adjustments of these beliefs among the slaves in the Americas. Well researched, "Rituals of Resistance" offers another perspective on the impact of religion on slaves attitudes towards slavery, the environment they inhabited and the continuity between Africa and the Atlantic states on the East coast of America. I recommend it.

Lots of good information here. Some sections read like a dissertation, but invaluable source for anyone interested in the trans-atlantic slave trade.

Well researched. Exactly what I was looking for when i read it 2 years ago. Full of descriptions of African continuities well explained. Lots of tables and facts as well.

Learning so much by using this book in my class from Starr King School for the Ministry - most excellent source of information.

Great book to begin understanding African and African American religion. It is a little repetitive but excellent overall.

Books are my passion and you are the go to guys for what I need. Thanks.

An excellent scholarly work!

Conteúdo muito rico !