Reviving the Spirit: A Generation of African Americans Goes Home to Church

Citing a trend among African-American baby-boomers who are becoming increasingly interested in spirituality, a cultural examination considers what the church represents to African Americans and predicts widespread social change. 25,000 first printing. Tour.

The historical role of the church during slavery and the civil rights movement has always kept this institution at the center of the African American community, even when attendance has been sparse. The current resurgence of African Americans' interest and participation in the nation's 65,000 black churches is indeed a trend worth noting. The social and political changes that affect middle-class blacks have refocused the church as a power base and an outpost. Lawrence interviews members of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, one of the oldest and largest churches in the country, and discovers that there are several reasons for their return to the church: making a pro-black statement, reviving the church as an instrument for change, developing an institution still controlled by blacks, and seeking solace from a hostile world. Lawrence reveals much about the cultural and spiritual lives of middle-class blacks today by translating her personal experiences and conversations into a tell-all about her generation. Lillian Lewis

Newspaper editor Lawrence traces her own journey home to church through the lens of the broader movement of African Americans back to the church. Observing the rapid growth of her own church in Baltimore, Lawrence collects here the testimonies of her fellow church members about their reasons for returning. These stories show clearly that the African American church is the primary agent for social change and community education in the lives of the African American community. Thus, the revival of the spirit in this community is a return home to the institution that fosters personal and social renewal. Lawrence's memoir-cum-social analysis is a lyrically written Habits of the Heart (LJ 3/1/85) for the African American community. An important addition to all collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.