The prayer tradition of Black people

By Harold A. Carter

Book Overview

Book by Carter, Harold A This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0817006982
• ISBN13: 9780817006983
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Gateway Press
• Length: 142 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Timeless Truth for Changing Times

Researching my book, "Beyond the Suffering: The Story of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," I have literally read hundreds of books on African American Church history. Harold Carter's work, "The Prayer Tradition of Black People," is by far the best book I've read on the history of African American prayer life. Why? What makes it so powerful? Rev. Carter displays a unique ability, rare among historians, to unearth buried historical riches and then to share them as a gift that provides resources for people today. Repeatedly, Dr. Carter provides excellent primary sources, quoted and explained in context. Then, he goes the next step. He engages his readers in pondering the implications for their lives today. Though written thirty years ago (1976), "The Prayer Tradition of Black People" is timeless. Others have written admirably on the topic, but none better than Pastor Carter. Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction", "Soul Physicians," and "Spiritual Friends."

A Rare Study of Black Religious Life

The Prayer Tradition of Black People by Reverend Harold Carter of New Shiloh Baptist Church (Baltimore) is an excellent study, based on Dr. Carter's dissertation. (St Mary's Seminary & University has a copy of his dissertation, but of course regrettably it cannot be borrowed.) It is also regrettable that this scholarly book that examines the prayers and prayer life handed down by nineteenth-century enslaved American blacks probably has not been issued anew since its publication in 1976.Dr. Carter reproduced copiously the prayers that were copied by folklorists or prayers secured from interviews of religionists or recalled by observers of religious services of postbellum and Southern blacks in the 20th-century. The Rev. Dr. Carter provides an excellent analysis of the form, technique, biblical source, and style of these prayers. Many of which are still in use today because they have been passed down orally in the rural districts of the South from one generation to the next during the annual summer revivals. This short book, probably about 145 pages, has no rivals. Few if any have performed or continued Dr. Carter's study. This book indeed should be read and that if it is out of print Dr. Carter and the publisher should be encouraged to bring out another edition.This is an excellent work for seminary or bible students or just regular lay people or for students interested in the linguistic or literary history of African-Americans. Even an old copy is better than none at all. Grab a copy, even one that has been marked up, and check out this wonderful work on black religious life.