The Talking Book: African Americans and the BibleA 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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... hope on this , as argued by St. Paul ? " 40 The concluding rhetorical question is telling . Lee alludes to Paul's synopsis of the Gospel proclamation in 1 Corinthians 15 : 1–11 , a resume of witnesses to the Resurrection into which he ...
... hope : “ And if Christ be not raised , your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your sins . Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished . If in this life only we have hope in Christ , we are of all men most miserable ” ( 15 ...
... hope. The retribution he looked forward to was figured in the Bible. The hypocrisy that provoked astonishment in some slaves provoked atheism in others. African Methodist Episcopal (AME) bishop Daniel Alex- ander Paine observed in the ...
... hope, and prayer concerning our liberty led us to search for, and which might indicate the desirable end- ing of the great War.”17 The Bible, according to these slaves' clandestine reckoning, promised a Northern victory. the eternal ...
... hope of vindication , symbol of both the frustration and fulfillment of their destiny . These four images share several key features . They appear in different genres and in different periods throughout American history . They have ...
Contents
1 | |
21 | |
41 | |
49 | |
5 Exodus | 83 |
6 Ethiopia | 138 |
7 Emmanuel | 185 |
Postscript | 240 |
Notes | 247 |
Subject Index | 275 |
Scripture Index | 284 |