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
Results 1-5 of 21
... means . The Bible privileges those without privilege and honors those without honor . And so there is a special affinity between the Bible and the rankest of its readership's rank and file . Its accounts of the exaltation of the humble ...
... mean , and abject ; a State of Servitude . No Great Things in this World can be done for them . Something then , let there be done , towards their welfare in the World to Come . ” Mather also resolved , “ A Catechism shall be got ready ...
... means . Though white women and children were among the first grammar school teachers of some slaves , more often slaves acquired literacy from other slaves.49 “ We had a nice big church just for the colored people , ” recalled former ...
... the spirit of the law they found in the inaccessible letters of the Book . “ We are by no means , as it is said of the Jews , ' people of the Book , ” ” novelist Ralph Ellison once observed . " Our expression has 18 THE TALKING BOOK.
... mean to say that there is no truth in it; certainly there is plenty of truth, if understood. Will you accept the understanding of it? The Bible charges all of its Great Prophets with evil, it makes God guilty of an act of adultery by ...
Contents
1 | |
21 | |
41 | |
49 | |
5 Exodus | 83 |
6 Ethiopia | 138 |
7 Emmanuel | 185 |
Postscript | 240 |
Notes | 247 |
Subject Index | 275 |
Scripture Index | 284 |