Black Roots of Pentecostalism
The first "Pentecostals" in the modern sense appeared on the scene in 1901 but it was not until 1906, however, that Pentecostalism achieved worldwide attention through the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles led by the African-American preacher William Joseph Seymour. In 1906, Seymour opened the historic meeting in April, 1906 in a former African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church building at 312 Azusa Street in downtown Los Angeles.
For over three years, the Azusa Street "Apostolic Faith Mission" conducted three services a day, seven days a week, where thousands of seekers received the tongues baptism. Word of the revival was spread abroad through The Apostolic Faith, a paper that Seymour sent free of charge to some 50,000 subscribers. From Azusa Street Pentecostalism spread rapidly around the world and began its advance toward becoming a major force in Christendom.
The interracial aspects of the movement in Los Angeles were a striking exception to the racism and segregation of the times. The phenomenon of blacks and whites worshipping together under a black pastor seemed incredible to many observers. The ethos of the meeting was captured by Frank Bartleman, a white Azusa participant, when he said of Azusa Street, "The color line was washed away in the blood." Indeed, people from all the ethnic minorities of Los Angeles, a city which Bartleman called "the American Jerusalem," were represented at Azusa Street.
Books on Black Pentecostalism
Afro-Pentecostalism by Call Number: BR1644.3 .A44 2011 Holy Spirit Resource CenterISBN: 9780814797303Publication Date: 2011
The Dictionary of Pan-African Pentecostalism, Volume One by Call Number: EbookISBN: 9781532661334Publication Date: 2018
The Labor of Faith by Call Number: BR1644.3 .C37 2017 Holy Spirit Resource CenterISBN: 9780822363835Publication Date: 2017
Spirit on the Move: Black Women and Pentecostalism in Africa and the Diaspora by Call Number: BR1644.3 .S65 2019Publication Date: 2019
Links to Resources
- ORU Black Heritage Week Chapels
Recognizing Black Heritage is a tradition at ORU. This collection contains many audio files and transcripts of past Black Heritage chapels. - Read The Apostolic Faith from the Azusa Street Mission
The Azusa Street Mission published a newspaper, The Apostolic Faith, which reported on the revival in Los Angeles and emerging Pentecostal movement. The newspaper, which featured letters and articles from around the world, shared the excitement and passion of these early Pentecostals. The Apostolic Faith is an essential resource for those interested in better understanding the themes, beliefs, people, and events that helped to shape the contours of the global Pentecostal movement. - Azusa Street Mission Anniversary Program
This is a program from the Fourteenth Anniversary of the Azusa Street Outpouring in 1920 put together by William J. Seymour. It was one of the last events at Azusa. Seymour died in the summer of 1922 from a heart attack.
This program contains an outline of Seymour's teaching on the soon coming of Christ and a number of songs that were sung during the meeting. - Bio of G.T. Haywood
Undoubtedly, nearly every Apostolic knows the name of Bishop Garfield Thomas Haywood. Bishop Haywood’s early alignment with the Oneness camp during the difficult years when the “New Issue” was dividing the Pentecostal Movement along doctrinal lines, is a well-known chapter in our unique history. He was a revered Bible teacher, apologist, and hymn writer. The church that Bishop Haywood founded and pastored until his death in April 1931, Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, was a center of Apostolic revival and was seminal in the establishment of other Oneness Pentecostal churches and ministries throughout Indiana and the entire Midwest.
Black Pentecostal Resources
Martin Luther King's Last Speech from Mason Temple
Martin Luther King Jr.'s last speech was delivered at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee, the flagship church of C.H. Mason's historically black Pentecostal denomination, the Church of God in Christ.
Read more about Mason Temple: opens new windowhttp://www.cogic.org/foundersweek/mason-temple/
Oral Roberts and Racial Reconciliation
- Healing for All Races: Oral Roberts’ Legacy of Racial Reconciliation in a Divided City
This article explores Oral Roberts’ legacy of racial reconciliation in the backdrop of the racial history of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Oral Roberts was a pioneer of racial integration of his meetings during the Healing Revival of the 1950s. But his racial vision came to maturity as Oral Roberts University became a center for social uplift for African Americans in the Spirit-empowered movement. Today, that legacy continues to shape Oral Roberts University as a shining example of racial diversity among Christian universities in America.
Oral Roberts was a pioneer within the Christian community for his views on racial inclusion in American Society. In the 1950's, Roberts took a bold stand and refused to segregate his tent crusades, even in the Jim Crow South. This stance was unpopular even among many of his supporters in the Pentecostal community. But Roberts declared, "I will not segregate the altar of God."
in the 1960's, Roberts started ORU during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Roberts and often took public stances against segregation and racism. Here is an open letter Roberts published in his magazine, The Abundant Life, in March of 1968.
in 1968, Roberts was invited by black pastors from Harlem to discuss how his crusades could help bring hope and healing to the black community. You can see the photo of his meeting with these pastors below. You can listen to Roberts talk about this meeting opens new windowhere. Oral Roberts' racial vision continues today at ORU, which has continued to be a place of racial diversity and inclusion.
Notable African American Alumni
- Clifton Taulbert
According to Clifton L. Taulbert, noted author and entrepreneur businessman, he could have failed had he not encountered community builders and entrepreneurial thinkers early on in his life. Taulbert was born on the Mississippi Delta during the era of legal segregation where he completed his secondary education. Though opportunities were few and barriers were plentiful, Taulbert managed to dream of being successful, not knowing the shape that success would take. Today Taulbert is the President and CEO of the Freemount Corporation (a human capital development company) serving clients nationally and internationally-Fortune 500 Companies, small businesses, federal agencies, professional organizations, community colleges and K-12 leadership.
- Robert Goodwin
From 1966 until 1970, Robert Goodwin attended Oral Roberts University, where he earned his B. A. degree. At Oral Roberts University Goodwin was a member of the student ministering team and traveled around the world preaching. In 1973, Goodwin earned his M. A. degree in philosophy from San Francisco Theological seminary.
Upon completing his master’s degree, Goodwin was summoned back to Tulsa by his father to run the family-owned newspaper, The Oklahoma Eagle. Goodwin operated the paper until 1981; during his tenure he increased the readership and converted the printing to a more efficient, cost effective process.
