The Fundamentals, Principles and Practices of African American Spirituality

By Dr. Phyllis Baker

This book, The Fundamentals, Principles and Practices of African American Spirituality, traces the evolution, development, and practices of a large segment of African American Spiritual life, found within the Black Church. It seeks to provide a road map and link to traditions that made for highly evolved Spiritual Beings, while at the s

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Vine Press
• Release date: Feb 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781960063366

Dr. Phyllis Baker

Dr. Phyllis Baker is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Miami Dade College and teaches at Florida International University and Nova University in South Florida. She is the recipient of the Innovator of the Year Award, offered by the League of Innovation, and the Leadership Award presented by the National Association of Community Colleges.

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INTRODUCTION

The Fundamental Principles and Practices of African American Spirituality is a topic that is near and dear to my heart, experience, and research interest. Growing up in the African-American Pentecostal and Baptist churches has provided me with a host of tremendously rich and fulfilling experiences. The bedrock of the African American church experience is steeped in a deep spirituality and one that provides an amazing energy and excitement, to say the least. It has historical elements blended into its manifestations that are absolutely amazing I feel this is a story that must told and shared, for within this tradition lies codes, keys, and secrets that are powerful and central to the lives of so many people. Additionally, this profound and impactful cultural legacy should be recognized and preserved for future generations, for the African-American church certainly provides the space and forum for this type of cultural and spiritual incubation.

This study finds its academic genesis in anthropology—more specifically, cultural anthropology.

Anthropology is the study of humankind. It is also defined as the study of the human species, along with their immediate ancestors. It is an all-encompassing discipline that includes the past, present, and future. Cultural anthropology, the largest subfield of anthropology, is concerned with the cross-cultural and comparative analysis of human culture and human society. It helps to describe, analyze, interpret, and explain cultural and social phenomena. Culture is the study of human traditions and its customs.

Additionally, this work is linked to the humanities; religion, theology, and folklore to name a few. Religion is the study of how men and women find meaning and purpose in life, it is the study of the beliefs and rituals that are linked within a supernatural context. Theology is a related discipline, as it is the study of God. Understanding how humans develop a framework and interact with the ‘spiritual realm’ is amazing and fascinating, and potentially empowering. It causes one to pause and ponder the interconnectedness of humanity to the ultimate source of reality.

This is an attempt to record aspects of African American Spirituality and Religious Traditions to aid in understanding the roots and cultural traditions of a people. To put the African American Church in perspective, the African linkage is foundational to this formulation and discourse, for there is no African-American Church without it. African Retentions are prevalent and integrated throughout the African American Church experience, for it provides the stimulus and setting for a deep level of engagement with Spirit.

The preaching styles, musical selections and interpretations, worship services, programming, and methodologies for tapping into spirit are stamped with an X factor, and the X factor is in need of exploration, for it speaks to the African American soul, in a way that very few experiences can or do.

The transformational nature of the African American Church, which is anchored in the African cultural experience deserves reflection and understanding as well. For the church is one of only a few places that African Americans go for deliverance, peace, solace, and a purely mind-blowing spiritual experience. What is it about the African American Church Experience that has this type of impact on the individual? As a professor of anthropology and sociology, I am curious about the various manifestations and cultural links that this type of research provides. I want to know more about this phenomena and to share it with others so we can, as a result, understand each other better.

The African American Church in turn has a tremendous responsibility to stay relevant, but at the same time maintain these power traditions that give the church its fuel and uniqueness. Additionally, because many people come to this venue with their hearts and souls open, the church must not be exploitive or abusive of their power in any way, for to do so would be extremely crippling to the souls of those they touch. To violate the sheep is to put them in a vulnerable position, and in many cases will leave them worse off than before they touched the hem of the garment of praise, for this is very strong medicine, and misuse of the tremendous power leaves side effects.

As we embark upon this exploration, let us keep in mind that this is a journey of spirit and culture. So we respectfully and earnestly submit to the power and force in the universe that is beyond all that we can think, ask, say, or do.

Religion and spirituality appear to be fundamental to human cultures, for they give meaning and purpose to life. Without clarity of these aspects, people are disjointed, weak, fragmented, and confused about who they are and where their help really comes from. This type of understanding provides one with the proper framework whereby to live their lives with meaning and purpose. It is with extreme pleasure that I add my voice to this conversation, for the saints, elders, and those who have gone on must be heard. Their labor in providing us with this legacy and path home must not be in vain.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to acknowledge my parents, Abner and Zenovious Stripling, for taking me to church and introducing me to God. I would like to thank my father’s parents, Abner Sr. and Stella Striping, for taking my father to church and for introducing him to God. I would like to thank my mother’s parents, Johnny and Eliza Sermons, for taking her to church and introducing her to God. I would also like to express my appreciation to Pastor A. Jackson and the Antioch Baptist Church, for helping to providing the spiritual environment, that this book could come forth.

contents

INTRODUCTION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

QUEEN ESTHER HOPKINS (In Her Own Words)

RECALLING AND REMEMBERING

ZORA NEALE HURSTON

HEALING

ENGAGING THE HOLY SPIRIT: OTHER VOICES

PRAYER

DREAMS

THE CALL TO MINISTRY

REVIVALS

PREACHING AND SERMONS

THE MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE OF PROPHECIES

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC AND MOVEMENT

THE HELPING TRADITIONS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN AND EVANGELISM

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE BLACK CHURCH

THE WORLD WAS MADE OF GOD’S SUBSTANCE AND ENERGY

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

CHAPTER 1

QUEEN ESTHER HOPKINS

(In Her Own Words)

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sister Queen Esther Hopkins to obtain information about her life and her knowledge of African-American Spirituality and the African American Church experience over the past sixty years. She is a woman who has worked with me and inspired me in so many ways. Sister Hopkins is a minister who is filled with many spiritual gifts and works. What she shared with me during this oral history shed tremendous light on the topic of African-American Spirituality and its church experience. I am grateful for this precious opportunity to record and share this information.

Sister Hopkins, as she is affectionately called, was born August 3, 1924, in Gilford, Florida. She was first affiliated with Saint Peter’s Baptist Church. I was rather casual about religion in my early days. Sometimes I would go to church, and sometimes I would not. She moved to Panama City, Florida, as a young adult in the 1940s, and was invited by her neighbor, Olivia, to attend a church revival. Sister Hopkins said that in those days it was customary to invite someone to a church revival, so she consented to go with Olivia. On the evening that Olivia came to pick her up, Sister Hopkins told her that she would come later because she was waiting for her uncle to come by. Olivia said, I knew you not were coming in the first place. Sister Hopkins said, I did intend to go, and I did. The church was right down the street. When she arrived at the church, however, Sister Hopkins did not see anyone. A few minutes later a lady came into the church, and Sister Hopkins said, Where is everybody? The lady informed her that everyone was in the Upper Room, and to follow her. The Upper Room was located in a space upstairs. Sister Hopkins indicated that when she got up there, she experienced something like she never had before: the atmosphere was light and holy, and it was serene like a holy temple, so majestic, authentic, and pure. It was like the room had been changed and charged by all the godly prayers, people, and intentions that had occupied this space. She heard sounds and utterances like she had never heard.

What attracted me the most to this church experience were