Black and Catholic in Savannah, GeorgiaIn this unique ethnography of urban southern Catholicism - one of the few substantial studies of modern African-American Catholics since the 1920s - Gary W. McDonogh employs a decade of anthropological and historical research to explore the contradictions and survival of black and Catholic parishes in Savannah. Given the disfranchisement of African Americans in the South as well as nativist responses to Catholics among both blacks and whites, those who are black and Catholic in Savannah constitute a double minority whose lives McDonogh explores by examining the interaction of community, church, and individual. A city divided for two centuries by conflicts over culture, class, and race, Savannah is permeated by ambiguous identities that often end up before the altar. Religion thus serves as a cultural language through which urban life can be observed as well as a system of belief and identity shared by blacks and Catholics. This multidisciplinary study links ethnography to wider debates on symbolism, gender, class, and cultural power. The vivid voices, memories, ritual and social acts, and observations of Savannah provide the basis for comparative insights and theoretical generalizations on communities within the United States and on a broad range of urban and religious issues. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Saint Benedict the Moor Church 1991 | 7 |
Choice and Constraint | 24 |
First African Baptist Church 1990 | 33 |
Saint Patricks Church Destroyed after the 1940 Hurricane | 39 |
Queen of Apostles Chapel the Mobile Catholic Chapel for Rural Georgia | 55 |
Black and White as Metaphors and Action | 65 |
Black Alley Residences in Eastside Savannah 1991 | 86 |
Old Cathedral of Savannah | 151 |
Baptisms at Saint Benedict the Moor Parish 190075 | 154 |
Old Saint Anthonys Church | 157 |
Saint Anthonys Church 1992 | 165 |
Savannah Catholic Parish Baptisms 19001975 | 167 |
Sacramental Life of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish 192338 | 168 |
Sacramental Life of Saint Anthony of Padua Parish 192338 | 169 |
Most Pure Heart of Mary Church 1990 | 171 |
Most Pure Heart of Mary School Original Convent and Chapel 1990 | 109 |
Savannah Catholic School Enrollment 195859 | 113 |
Early Kindergarten Classes at Saint Anthonys School | 114 |
Saint Benedicts School and Rectory 1990 | 116 |
Classroom at Saint Benedicts | 118 |
Savannah Catholic School Enrollment 1964 | 125 |
Savannah Catholic School Enrollment 1971 | 128 |
Savannah Catholic School Enrollment 1975 | 129 |
Parish Neighborhood and Community | 141 |
Baptisms at Saint Benedict the Moor Parish 187599 | 150 |
Organization Power and the Church | 185 |
Classroom at Saint Benedicts | 213 |
Laity Continuity and Empowerment | 222 |
A Holiness Baptism by the Reverend C M Grace | 265 |
First Communion Saint Anthonys | 269 |
A Black Rural Cemetery | 291 |
A PreVatican II Church Interior | 300 |
Contradiction Church and Conscience | 324 |
Bibliography | 345 |
Common terms and phrases
action active African American attend baptism became become belief Bishop black and Catholic black and white black Catholics black community black parishes building called Catholic church Catholicism century chapter closed colored congregation continuing contrast cultural discussion dominant early Eucharist example experience faith Father followed formal friends Georgia Heart identity individual institutions integration later leaders leadership liturgy lives male marked mass meaning mission Negro neighborhood Nonetheless noted nuns organization parishioners participation practice prayers present priest problems programs Protestant questions race recalled reflect relations religion religious remains represent response ritual roles sacramental Saint Anthony's Saint Benedict's Saint Mary's Savannah schools separate served shared sisters slaves social society South southern suggested teachers tion traditions urban values women