A main difference between African and Christian religions, however, is.
that Africans did not find it necessary to convert all other cultures to.
their religion. Thus Africans were rather resistant to the preaching of.
Christian ministers when they came to America. The Christian ideas they.
did absorb, however, were indoctrinated into their lives with the addition.
of culture such as gospel music (see Music). Later, a minister of mainly.
of African-American congregations would use distinctly "Black" preaching.
methods, as when "he begins to employ numerous stock phrases and ideas,".
and, "Midway in the message the preacher begins to chant his words.
rhythmically." .
Art.
17th-century Africans had art forms that would be considered advanced.
even today. Most of their expression was religious in nature. But when.
they were brought to the New World, ".[slaves] could not do this because.
Protestants had always frowned upon religious imagery in the church as.
being worldly. Thus, there was little opportunity for the slave to.
express his creativity in graphic and plastic art for the church as he had.
done in Africa where religion and art were inseparable. Moreover, the.
slave was afforded few opportunities to carve on his own or his master's.
time." .
This repression of the slave's creativity doubtlessly impeded the.
development of an African-American art standard. Although slaves could be.
trained in the practical arts, such as typesetting or furniture making ,.
they could really not fully express themselves until released from the.
bonds of servitude.
Incidentally, there was an outpouring of African-American art after.
emancipation. This was a time when former slaves could finally put their.
creativity to use, and the results were a genre individual in itself, yet.
complimentary to American art as a whole. Blacks became sculptors,.
painters, block printers, actors, and architects. But it would be a long.
time yet before Black art could be fully appreciated, or even accepted as.