Honoring the Ancestors : An African Cultural Interpretation of Black Religion and Literature

Donald Matthews affirms once and for all the African foundation of African-American religious practice. His analysis of the methods employed by historians, social scientists, and literary critics in the study of African-American religion and the Negro spiritual leads him to develop a methodology that encompasses contemporary scholarship without compromising the integrity of African-American religion and culture. Because the Negro spiritual is the earliest extant body of African-American folk religious narration, Matthews believes that it holds the key to understanding African-American religion. He explores the works of such seminal black scholars as W. E. B. DuBois, Melville Herskovits, and Zora Neale Hurston, tracing the early development of the African-centered approach to the interpretation of African-American religion. This approach involves ''cultural/structuralism'', the author's term for the method used by DuBois, Herskovits, and Hurston that emphasizes the thick reading of narrative expressions. Such a reading allows the scholar to identify the cultural significance of particular oral and written texts and serves as a point of identification and a cultural link between African and African-American religion. Matthews' close analysis of the spiritual employs a dialectical and postmodernist reading and reveals a religious philosophy that addresses the deepest concerns and desires of Africans in America. These concerns are cultural, political, and psychological, but are ultimately related to African religious structures of meaning. This book poses a challenge to end the battle between Afrocentrists and multiculturalists by acknowledging their common intellectual heritage in the works of DuBois, Herskovits, and Hurston. It will be of great interest to students and scholars of African-American religion and culture and those interested in Afrocentric literature. Donald Matthews Affirms Once And For All The African Foundation Of African-american Religious Practice. Because The Negro Spiritual Is The Earliest Extant Body Of African-american Folk Religious Narration, Matthews Believes That It Holds The Key To Understanding African-american Religion. He Explores The Works Of Such Seminal Black Scholars As W.e.b. Dubois, Melville Herskovits, And Zora Neale Hurston, Tracing The Early Development Of The African-centered Approach To The Interpretation Of African-american Religion. This Book Poses A Challenge To End The Battle Between Afrocentrists And Multiculturalists By Acknowledging Their Common Intellectual Heritage In The Works Of Dubois, Herskovits, And Hurston. It Will Be Of Great Interest To Students And Scholars Of African-american Religion And Culture And Those Interested In Afrocentric Literature. Interpretation And The African American Situation -- Cultural Contact And Cultural Space: The Dialectics Of Negation And Resistance -- A Theology Of The Spirituals: The Spirituals As Postmodern Discourse -- Black Literary Criticism And Narrative Hermeneutics -- An Analysis Of All God's Dangers Based On The Spirituals -- The Spirituals: An African Cultural Narrative Theology. Donald H. Matthews. Originally Presented As The Author's Thesis (doctoral)--university Of Chicago. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 16 ONE: Interpretation and the African American Situation......Page 20 TWO: Cultural Contact and Cultural Space: The Dialectics of Negation and Resistance......Page 41 THREE: A Theology of the Spirituals: The Spirituals as Postmodern Discourse......Page 64 FOUR: Black Literary Criticism and Narrative Hermeneutics......Page 88 FIVE: An Analysis of All God's Dangers Based on the Spirituals......Page 116 SIX: The Spirituals: An African Cultural Narrative Theology......Page 152 Postscript......Page 162 Notes......Page 166 Bibliography......Page 178 E......Page 186 S......Page 187 W......Page 188 Using "The Negro Spiritual" as a source material, this volume analyzes the methods employed by social scientists, historians and literary critics in studying African-American religion, and makes its own theological statement regarding African-American religion