An exhibition of one of the major pillars of the Black Community in Charlotte, North Carolina immediately following Emancipation up until the beginning of the Great Depression. The Black Church was a source for education, spiritual guidance, politics, and racial uplift. Through their ministry The Black Church attempted to guide the masses into first class citizenship in America. This was one of the few outlets which allowed blacks to express their feelings about their contemporary plight.
Structures
This section of the exhibit shows the physical structures of the African American Churches. These places were not only buildings for worship, but were also used as public gatherings for the community. These "pillars of the black community" truely brought the citizens together.Congregations
The citizens from the black communities in Charlotte would gather for worship, community activities and spiritual rebirth. The people organized and used the church for community uplifting, using it to show the greater area of Charlotte what the communities were like.Leaders of the Church
In this section, the exhibit stresses the importance and the leaders of the church. These pastors, bishops and ministers not only spoke the Word of God, but practiced it too. Branching out into the community, they helped uplift the people from outside the pulpit by doing God's work outside of the church.The Written Word
In this final section, pamphlets, programs and specialty service annoncments can be seen. Many of thses articles were passed out to the public to spread the word of certain services. Also these were used to mark gatherings and important news of the church.Credits
Kyle Cox, Byron Parker, India Solomon