Hush harbor

During antebellum America, a hush harbor or hush arbor was a place where enslaved African Americans would gather in secret to practice religious traditions.^[1]

History

African American churches in slavery and freedom provided places to worship and for African Americans to practice their own version of Christianity.^[2][3]

Religion grew to become a highly respected part of life for enslaved Africans. It offered them hope and reassurance, although they were forced to organize and conduct meetings in secret because the idea of assembling without supervision left the slaveowners in fear. The meetings were held after dark, once field and house chores were completed, and carried on late into the night.^[4][5][6]

Christianity became the prominent religion of enslaved Africans after being transported to the Americas. Upon exposure to Christianity, the enslaved discovered promising stories and passages in the Bible that offered hope; the suffering of Jesus Christ was relatable to their existence. ^[7][8][9]

The hush harbors served as the location where the enslaved could combine their African religious traditions with Christianity. It was safe to freely blend the components of each religion in these meetings.^[10] The enslaved could let go of all their hardships and express their emotions. Here is where Negro spirituals originated; the creation of these songs contained a double meaning, revealing the ideas of religious salvation and freedom from slavery. The meetings would also include practices such as dance. African shouts and rhythms were also included.

The enslaved would suffer punishments had they been caught in a hush harbor meeting. Slave owners were confident that they would compare treatment, working conditions, and punishments, leaving them worried about revolts and riots. Instead the African American church focused on the message of equality, teaching that all people were equal in God's eyes, and on hopes for a better future.^[11]

W. E. B. Du Bois asserted that the early years of the Black church during slavery on plantations was influenced by Voodooism.^[12] For example, an oral account from an African American in the nineteenth century revealed that African Americans identified as Christian but continued to make and carry mojo bags to church and practiced Hoodoo and Voodoo. As time progressed, many African Americans became more Christian and less influenced by African religions.^[13][14]

See also

• Christianity portal

• Brush arbour revival