Slave Religion: the "Invisible Institution" in Antebellum South (Updated)

Slave Religion remains the preeminent sythesis of the religious life of slaves in the United States. This new edition will consider the developments in the study of slavery, the religious encounter, religious culture, and reactions to the books over the past twenty five years, as well as the ways the author would write it differently today. Twenty-five years after its original publication, Slave Religion remains a classic in the study of African American history and religion. In a new chapter in this anniversary edition, author Albert J. Raboteau reflects upon the origins of the book, the reactions to it over the past twenty-five years, and how he would write it differently today. Using a variety of first and second-hand sources-- some objective, some personal, all riveting-- Raboteau analyzes the transformation of the African religions into evangelical Christianity. He presents the narratives of the slaves themselves, as well as missionary reports, travel accounts, folklore, black autobiographies, and the journals of white observers to describe the day-to-day religious life in the slave communities. Slave Religion is a must-read for anyone wanting a full picture of this "invisible institution."