The Negro Church: Report of a Social Study Made under the Direction of Atlanta University; Together with the Proceedings of the Eighth Conference for the Study of the Negro Problems, held at Atlanta University, May 26th, 1903 / Edition 256

by W. E. B. Du Bois, Phil Zuckerman, Sandra Barnes, Daniel Cady, Sandra J. Barnes

Overview

First published in 1903, The Negro Church is not only the first extensive, in-depth sociological study of African-American religion specifically, but it is the first book-length sociological study of religion in general undertaken in the United States. Employing an array of historical, interview, survey, and participant-observation research methods, The Negro Church explores multiple aspects of African-American religious life in the early years of the twentieth century, from church finances to public opinion to denominational diversity to belief. This volume—primarily written by Du Bois himself—grew out of one of the groundbreaking "Study of Negro Problems" conferences organized by Du Bois while he was at Atlanta University. A new introduction gives the historical context of the work and demonstrates its continuing importance for sociologists, historians, religion scholars, and anyone interested in the religious institutions of African Americans over the last century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759103283
Publisher:	AltaMira Press
Publication date:	03/28/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	5.76(w) x 9.12(h) x 0.54(d)

About the Author

Phil Zuckerman teaches sociology at Pitzer College and is the editor of Du Bois on Religon (AltaMira Press, 2000). Sandra Barnes teaches at the African American Studies & Research Center at Purdue University. Daniel Cady is a graduate student in American history at the Claremont Graduate School.

Editorial Reviews

This clear-eyed, penetrating, and systematic study conveys the immediacy of a first hand look at a long gone society, a memory that should not be allowed to fade into oblivion.

Journal Of Religion and Spirituality In Social Work

The defining characteristic of The Negro Church is the fervor and urgency with which a leading scholar makes an empirical argument. In this case, Du Bois's passion is not in his prose, but rather in his method.

H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online