In The Origins of Proslavery Christianity, Charles Irons’ emphasizes this point with particular attention to the Nat Turner rebellion. Irons argues that after the Turner rebellion, slaveowners “primary goal was to wrench the veil from the dangerous invisible church and to bring tens of thousands of unchurched blacks to Sunday services.” Irons’ point shows how the specter of black activity and unrest haunted white slaveowners, and this point can be seen similarly in Walker and Smith’s work. They state: “black America remains a frightening mystery to some white Americans.” Just as antebellum slaveowners feared what was going on behind the “veil” of the invisible church, today white Americans fear what they imagine is said and radicalized behind the walls of black congregations. Of course, knowing what is said or pulling back the curtain would not necessarily assuage white fears—black churches have often been primary places where American white supremacy is critiqued and condemned. An awareness of black Christianity would come into conflict with the chosen amnesia white Americans
In The Origins of Proslavery Christianity, Charles Irons’ emphasizes this point with particular attention to the Nat Turner rebellion. Irons argues that after the Turner rebellion, slaveowners “primary goal was to wrench the veil from the dangerous invisible church and to bring tens of thousands of unchurched blacks to Sunday services.” Irons’ point shows how the specter of black activity and unrest haunted white slaveowners, and this point can be seen similarly in Walker and Smith’s work. They state: “black America remains a frightening mystery to some white Americans.” Just as antebellum slaveowners feared what was going on behind the “veil” of the invisible church, today white Americans fear what they imagine is said and radicalized behind the walls of black congregations. Of course, knowing what is said or pulling back the curtain would not necessarily assuage white fears—black churches have often been primary places where American white supremacy is critiqued and condemned. An awareness of black Christianity would come into conflict with the chosen amnesia white Americans