History of the Sermon (1989)
Folks
Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Newsmagazine
Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 1989-02-12
Duration: 00:15:51
Subjects: Religion | African American churches
Contributors:
- Masingale, Sonya Host
- Pitts, Walter Interviewee
- Finister, Willie Speaker
Description
This segment from the February 12, 1989, episode of the series “Folks” features Sonya Masingale’s report on the history of the sermon in the black church in the United States. She interviews Dr. Walter Pitts, an anthropologist at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, who discusses: the history of the black folk sermon; the African and European influences on the sermon; the structure of the sermon; possession trances in the black folk church; and the purpose of religious rituals. This report also includes footage of Reverend Willie Finister delivering his weekly sermon at Mount Canaan Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.