The Impact of The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a cultural shift for protestant Christians of the late 18th and 19th centuries. The Christians of the United States adopted the emotive fervor of Black Christians traditions such as hooping, ring shouts, and possession. These practices were derived from the traditions of West Africa and were shared partially due to the use of hush harbors and missionary work in slave communities. Additionally, the Second Great Awakening is partially responsible for the abolition and emancipation of Black people in the United States. This is due to the role of Black religious leaders and the prophetic parallels between the story of Exodus and the events of the Civil War.
In the Antebellum era, the enslaved entered “hush harbors” for heartfelt worship which stressed deliverance and salvation from the horrors of their earthly lives. Hush harbors were most often held by a large body of water for two primary reasons. First, the noise of the rushing water drowned out the sound of talking, allowing the enslaved privacy from their masters. Secondly, service by a body of water allowed them to practice baptisms, and other water-based religious rites with ease and for free. Another major pillar in the Black Christian traditions of the period was their plantation to plantation missionary work. This rarified freedom gave the enslaved to connect without retributions, allowing for news of all kinds to spread fairly quickly.
In the years leading up to the Civil War, the Black church found its political and prophetic voice in the cause of abolition. Ultimately, history shows us that many Black pastors of this period ultimately became politicians. This is partially due to the implicit trust and respect afforded to religious leaders. This was compounded by the fact that all pastors have a permanent audience in the form of their congregations. This dual role of the poli-preacher can easily be traced from the Abolitionist movement, all the way to the Modern Civil Rights Movement.
Prophetically, Black preachers pushed the idea of imminent change within the lifetime of the enslaved; a direct contrast to the common theme of post mortem salvation. This was the first time in which the agendas of white and Black ministers came into direct conflict.
This contention only heightened when Black ministers began to warn that anyone who condoned slavery would suffer divine punishment. A major champion of this idea was Frederick Douglass, who challenged Christians to confront an institution that violated the principle of equality before God. This inclusive principle transformed and set the spiritual standard for Christians across the world. This principle was compounded with the idea that the vengeful God was always listening to and standing by “His oppressed people.” (Psalms 34:15) This point was best presented in 1829, by abolitionist David Walker issued his famous tract, “Appeal to Colored Citizens of the World.”
The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 irrevocably shifted the lives of Black Americans everywhere. It's publishing, in the minds of many Black Americans, seemed to reenact the Exodus story of the ancient Israelites. The acquiescence of Lincoln in the middle of the Civil War likened him to the fearful Pharaoh; thus proving the prophecies of their pastors and the intervention of God. The Emancipation Proclamation, however, did not stop poverty, dislocation, chaos, and uncertainty for Black Americans. Across the United States, people left plantations without money, shelter, or land. Even while attempting to join the Union Army, many Black people were turned away due to racism. Throughout the Civil War and long after, many Black people would be forced into indentured servitude and sharecropping to support themselves.
To combat these issues, northern Black churches organized missions to the American South. Their efforts were geared to help newly freed people find skills and talents that would allow them to lead independent lives. The Black Church continued to help black people define self-worth and self-determination through many means. Their emphasis on providing education ultimately paved the way for many Historically Black Colleges and Universities. To this day, many of the traditions and standards set by the Second Great Awakening thrive in black churches across the United States.
