1. The Meaning of Freedom:
The Church
Tally Portnoi and Libby McKown

2. • In “The Meaning of Freedom,” Eric Foner argues that
following emancipation, African Americans strived to
realize freedom by gaining control over all aspects of
their lives: they stabilized their families, founded
independent churches, established community
organizations free from white influence, sought economic
independence, and asserted their rights by becoming
politically active. Through these efforts, antebellum free
African American and Freedmen communities were
consolidated and expanded to form the foundation of
modern African American society.
Article Thesis

3. • Following emancipation, the church remained a focal
point of African American life while being transformed
and consolidated as African Americans established
independent churches free from white influence.
Church Thesis

4. Separated from white
churches

5. Established completely
independent black churches

6. Churches: centers
of community life

7. Ministers thrust into political
leadership

8. Religion transformed:
“chosen people” Identity

9. • African American Teaching a Bible Class. 1900s. Photograph. Jesse Alexander Photograph Collection, New York City. Digital Schomburg
Images of 19th Century African Americans. New York Public Library. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.
<http://digital.nypl.org/schomburg/images_aa19/aa19c_info.cfm?>.
• "A Slave Preaching". 1863. The Illustrated London News. Learn NC. Web. 3 Jan. 2012. <http://www.learnnc.org/lp/multimedia/11572>.
• Crossing Red Sea. Photograph. Heavenly Accents. Wordpress, 24 Mar. 2010. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.heavenlyascents.com/2010/03/24/the-exodus-narrative-as-another-creation-story-for-old-testament-lesson-13/>.
• Moore, Joanna P. BANNER BIBLE BAND, NASHVILLE, TENN. c1902. Photograph. "Christ's Stead": Autobiographical
Sketches, Chicago. Documenting the American South. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.
<http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/church_images.html>.
• "Reverend Charles H. Pearce - Founder of the A.M.E. church in Florida". c. 1900. Florida Memory. Florida Memory: Division of Library
and Information Services . Web. 3 Jan. 2012. <http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/861>.
• St. Philip's Church, Richmond, Virginia. 1867. Photograph. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York City. Digital
Schomburg Images of 19th Century African Americans. New York Public Library. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.
<http://digital.nypl.org/schomburg/images_aa19/aa19c_info.cfm?>.
• Stephens, Alice B. Church Scene with Worshippers. 1800s. 19th Century American Women. Blogspot, 31 Mar. 2011. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.
<http://b-womeninamericanhistory19.blogspot.com/2011/03/two-paintings-about-19th-century-morals.html>.
• Unidentified. Meeting in the African Church, Cincinnati, Ohio. 1870s. Illustrated News, p.276 , Schomburg Center for Research in Black
Culture, Photographs and Prints Division. . Digital Schomburg Images of 19th Century African Americans. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.
<http://digital.nypl.org/schomburg/images_aa19/aa19c_info.cfm?>.
• Unknown. "Baptism". c. 1905. James Branch Cabell Library. Special Collections and Archives; Valentine Richmond History Center .
VCU Libraries. Web. 3 Jan. 2012. <http://dig.library.vcu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/cook/id/104>.
• Unknown. Joseph Priestley, English Chemist and Presbyterian Minister. 1860. Oxford Science Archive, Oxford. Heritage Images. Web. 4
Jan. 2012. <http://www.heritage-images.com/Preview/PreviewPage.aspx?id=1158718&pricing=true&licenseType=RM>.
• Walters, Alexander. NEW CHURCH TO WHICH BISHOP WALTERS CONTRIBUTED THE FIRST $ 25. 1917. Photograph. Documenting
the American South. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Web. 3 Jan. 2012. <http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/walters/ill5.html>.
Bibliography