Canaan Land, Book Review Example

Bibliographical Entry

Raboteau, Albert J. Canaan Land: A Religious History of African Americans (Religion in American Life). Oxford University Press, 1^st ed.

Author Information

Albert Jordy Raboteau was born in 1943, when racism was a conventional thing, and had to suffer all the effects of such a state of affairs. His father was killed shortly before his birth, and the murderer never bore the burden of punishment for what he had done. His mother gave up her career of a teacher to provide her children with care and attention. Raboteau found pleasure in educating himself and attending church. Love of God was cherished in him by his stepfather, who appeared to be among the first African-American Roman-Catholic priests. This man produced a profound influence on the writer, teaching him classic languages since early childhood and giving him the opportunity to enroll in a college. Raboteau developed a set of religious principles that he called “religious grammar” defining his own life and the lives of his followers. Being one of the nation’s most respected authorities on African-American religious studies, Raboteau holds a position at Princeton University, where he has been working since 1983. He was Head of the Department of Religion from 1987 to 1992 and occupied the post of Dean of the Graduate School in 1992–93. Currently he is Henry W. Putnam Professor of Religion. Raboteau has published a number of books, among them Slave Religion: The ‘Invisible Institution’ in the Antebellum South, and A Sorrowful Joy, an autobiographical work describing the abominable manifestations of racism that he has faced in his own life, including his father’s murder.

Conforming to the image of a virtuous Christian, he inspired his students changing their views of life and relations between people. His studies were revolutionary in 1970s. In many ways, they shaped subsequent cultural and religion studies.

Content Summary

The book by Raboteau presents a chronological review of social, domestic and religious issues affecting the faith of African-American population of the United States. The author feels this community s often neglected in social studies of this kind. His major aim is to make readers acquainted with the history of these people and impress on them the dramatic power of their continuous struggle against the social injustice (p. x). The author chooses the beginning of colonization of Africa as a starting point for the historical outline of religion of the community. He describes the horrors of Africans’ early encounters with sea explorers from Portugal (pp. 3-4). Raboteau presents the list of African beliefs and religions that existed before the colonization period. Slave trade carries the population along with their cultural and religious traditions to America, resulting in a unique religious context characteristic of African Americans. Church framework is used for expansion of basic education among the population, resulting in their conversion to Christianity, especially among former slaves before the Civil War. The author studies opinions of white people on baptizing slaves and possible reasons for such views.

The next remarkable shift in the religious life of African Americans is conditioned by their mass migration from the South, which is lying in ruins after the devastating Civil War, to the cities in the North of the country. Raboteau carefully traces evidence of the increase in the number of churches for African Americans established at this period.

The post-war period is the time of frustration and depression in the South, which results in growing dissatisfaction and hostility of the white population against their former slaves, now free people. That is the rise of the Jim Crow policy and Ku Klux Klan. The opposition between the two communities adopts new forms – discrimination and segregation. Raboteau studies the growth of these hostile attitudes in the society tracing their connection with the religious, social and political subjects.

The African American community starts to claim their rights on the political arena through various political movements, among them Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association. The dawn of the 20^th century is marked by the activity of the Nation of Islam, an explicitly religious association. The author accents a close connection between the religious affiliation of these groups and their social and political mission. 1960s witness the development of the Civil Rights and Black Nationalist movement. The social conflict becomes intensified reflecting on the religious life of the African American community. Apart from Christianity, there are less common faiths, such as Voodoo in the Caribbean district, Nation of Islam and original African spiritualism, yet they present the minority.

Raboteau presents a comprehensive review of historical facts finding a response in the African American culture and, specifically, in their religious traditions. The author indicates the roots of modern faiths, accounts for their developments and shifts, and outlines the points where social and religious issues converge and exert mutual influence. The author emphasizes the relevance of his study, as this connection has never been investigated within the African American community (p. x).

Evaluation

Religion being the central topic of the book, the author explores a new sphere of social relations that has not been studied before. One can recollect dozens of literary works or motion pictures where the social standing and status of the African American community have been discussed in great detail. However, the role of religion has been mostly overlooked.

Albert Raboteau has set a decent and noble goal before himself deciding to write a book about the history of African American faith. It is hard to imagine the grievances of other people without experiencing them. However, by giving an insight into the significant events of the community’s history, the author manages to convey the strength they have had to fight for the right to equal treatment. The reader receives detailed accounts of events that exerted influence on the faith of African Americans linking them to social and political issues. The author thereby suggests that religion is a powerful basis for a personality that gives the energy to withstand difficulties and failures. This seems to be an effective approach, as facts are convincing: religion has always been a mirror reflecting the atmosphere in the society, and it also has shaped the principles and guidelines selected by community leaders for their activities.

What strikes as an unusual yet useful strategy, is the list of milestones presented after the body of the book. It makes the information specific, less abstract for the person who has never participated in such events. After reading the book the way the author structured it, the reader inevitably arrives at the conclusion that religion is inseparable from the social life. This outcome looks valid in terms of the African American community, as they often had nothing else to hold on to but their faith in the supernatural kindness and justice, which is God.

However, one can see that the author concentrates mostly on Christianity. Other religions are also mentioned, as well as their role and outstanding activists. Meanwhile, Christianity remains in the center of the study, leaving other religions on the periphery. The reader might just as well feel curious about the stage-by-stage development of other trends in the spiritual life of the community. That makes this book slightly biased, which, nevertheless, does not spoil the overall positive impression of the book as a thorough, well-structured and absorbing work.

Raboteau’s book is instrumental for any religion or culture student, a person who takes an interest in the history of US society, or anyone who wants to promote understanding and tolerance in the society. It teaches the readers to treat each other respectfully and show deference for history and traditions. It stresses the mistakes that humanity has made and admonishes against repeating them. The book also gives the reader a new perspective on the role of faith in the society, providing them with abundant information from sociological, anthropological, historical and political spheres.