ABSTRACT
This essay explores in historical sequence, the development of an African American literary tradition as it was shaped by religious beliefs and practices. Organized around key themes first set forth in the Spirituals—the original literary and religious form of expression created by African Americans—the essay demonstrates how these themes continue to resonate throughout the tradition while also continuously reflecting the changing contexts and experiences of African Americans as they moved out of enslavement and towards full participation in American cultural life. The essays guides the reader through a more complex appreciation of African American religion and literature that positions the instructor to highlight the fluidity and flow of the work as an ongoing expression of the literary and religious practice of call and response.
