W.E.B. Du Bois: “But what shall we say of work where spiritual values and social distinctions enter?”

Away back in the days of bondage they thought to see in one divine event the end of all doubt and disappointment; few men ever worshipped Freedom with half such unquestioning faith as did the American Negro for two centuries.

Fully ninety-four per cent have struggled for land and failed, and half of them sit in hopeless serfdom.

All this segregation by color is largely independent of that natural clustering by social grades common to all communities.

Three things characterized this religion of the slave,—the Preacher, the Music, and the Frenzy.