Black Stars African American Religious Leaders The history of Africans in America is filled with stories about their shared religious beliefs. But this wasn't always true. When the slave ships first arrived on America's shores, Africans from different cultures were forced to abandon their native religious beliefs and adopt Christianity. Eventually, religion became a focal point that helped Americans of African heritage form a strong sense of identity and unity. Black people looked to the spirit of hope that belief in a higher power bestowed, and took advantage of the opportunities to find community that religious services provided. Over time, as the power of black churches expanded, their leaders used their influence to mount campaigns for equal rights and social justice. The mini-biographies in this inspiring book tell the remarkable stories of the most notable African American religious leaders in America's history including such well-known leaders as Sojourner Truth, Nat Turner, Elijah Muhammad, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr.

, Jesse L. Jackson, Al Sharpton, and T. D. Jakes. The book also highlights lesser-known black religious leaders including: Abalom Jones and Richard Allen, who were the first ordained African American ministers and founders of one of the most important black churches. Reverend John Jasper, who preached at slave funerals and paid his owner from his preaching salary for the days he missed work. Richard Henry Boyd, who started the first black Baptist publishing company so that black people could have their own religious literature. Joseph E.

Lowery, who was a leader of the Selma to Montgomery March and led the delegation that took the marchers' demands for voting rights to Alabama Governor George Wallace. Vashti McKenzie, who became the first female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal church.