"Hallelujah!" Researching African American Church Records

Role of Religion in African American Communities
African American churches provided a great deal of support for local communities and people. Their role in local jurisdictions helped to promote record keeping and preservation which helps us to conduct genealogical research. As you discover more about churches that your ancestor's attended, it can paint a more accurate of your ancestor and their values. Religion helped to:


 * Connect communities
 * Give hope
 * encourage civil rights
 * lead school and education initiatives
 * promote and lead social welfare functions

Here are a couple articles and websites to read and discover more about the role of religion in local communities: