Rare Footage: Hundreds Gather at a 1920s African-American Baptism

community baptism is so integral to

community baptism is so integral to religious practice in african-american

religious practice in african-american

religious practice in african-american communities in the 20s there was a very

communities in the 20s there was a very

communities in the 20s there was a very established since of strength and

established since of strength and

established since of strength and support for one another

support for one another

support for one another there are hundreds witnessing this

there are hundreds witnessing this

there are hundreds witnessing this important moment the sort of going to

important moment the sort of going to

important moment the sort of going to the river and it becomes a sort of holy

the river and it becomes a sort of holy

the river and it becomes a sort of holy day you have the ministers that are out

day you have the ministers that are out

day you have the ministers that are out there and then always girls adults all

there and then always girls adults all

there and then always girls adults all coming in pairs being baptized

coming in pairs being baptized

coming in pairs being baptized simultaneously you see individuals who

simultaneously you see individuals who

simultaneously you see individuals who are as they say catching the Holy Ghost

are as they say catching the Holy Ghost

are as they say catching the Holy Ghost the Spirit has invoked to them I don’t

the Spirit has invoked to them I don’t

the Spirit has invoked to them I don’t think very many people have saying this

think very many people have saying this

think very many people have saying this to be able to capture such a sacred

to be able to capture such a sacred

to be able to capture such a sacred practice provides that moment into the

practice provides that moment into the

practice provides that moment into the sort of cultural memory of many African

sort of cultural memory of many African

sort of cultural memory of many African Americans

”

Rare Footage: Hundreds Gather at a 1920s African-American Baptism | National Geographic