The Study of African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Churches and Their Migration Across the Southern States

Course: African American History / Religious Studies / Southern History
Grade Level: College Students
Duration: 1 Hour and 30 Minutes

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  1. Understand the historical context of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in the southern United States.
  2. Analyze the role of the AME Church in African American migration patterns and cultural development.
  3. Examine the significance of the AME Church in relation to religious, social, and political movements during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
  4. Discuss the impact of migration on the expansion and growth of the AME Church in the southern states.

Materials Needed:

  • Projector and screen for presentations and videos
  • Access to digital resources (articles, primary sources, etc.)
  • Whiteboard or flip chart and markers
  • Handouts with key reading materials and discussion prompts

Lesson Outline:

Introduction (10 Minutes)

  • Activity: Begin with a brief class discussion. Ask students to share their prior knowledge of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. What do they know about its origins and significance?
  • Contextualization: Provide a brief overview of the formation of the AME Church in the late 18th century as a result of racial discrimination in predominantly white Methodist congregations. Highlight key historical moments such as the founding of Bethel AME Church in 1794 in Philadelphia, the church’s early growth, and its later spread throughout the southern states.

Lecture/Presentation (25 Minutes)

  1. Historical Background of the AME Church (10 Minutes)
    • Explain the origins of the AME Church, focusing on its birth from the struggle for freedom and justice for Black people.
    • Discuss the role of prominent figures like Richard Allen and Absalom Jones in establishing and growing the church.
    • Highlight the church’s early theological, cultural, and social impact, especially in northern cities and later the southern migration.
  2. The AME Church and Migration Across the South (10 Minutes)
    • Examine the migration patterns of African Americans during the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as the Great Migration, and how these movements intersected with the spread of the AME Church.
    • Discuss the church’s role in providing social, cultural, and political support for African Americans in southern communities.
    • Explore the challenges faced by the AME Church in the South, including segregation, violence, and racial discrimination, and how the church became a refuge for Black identity and community.
  3. The AME Church’s Influence on the Southern Religious Landscape (5 Minutes)
    • Discuss the church’s role in fostering a sense of unity and activism, particularly in advocating for civil rights, education, and Black economic independence.
    • Touch upon the AME Church’s relationship with other African American religious movements, such as the National Baptist Convention, and their role in shaping the southern Black church experience.

Group Activity: Case Study Analysis (20 Minutes)

  1. Divide the students into small groups (4-5 students per group).
  2. Assign each group a different state in the South (e.g., Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, etc.).
  3. Provide each group with a case study on the AME Church’s history in that state, including migration trends, key historical events, and the church’s social and political influence.
  4. Ask each group to prepare a 5-minute presentation summarizing the church’s impact in their assigned state, emphasizing the migration narrative and the church’s role in community building.

Class Presentations (15 Minutes)

  • Each group will present their findings to the class, summarizing the main points from their case study.
  • After each presentation, the class will engage in a brief Q&A session, allowing students to ask questions and offer insights.

Wrap-Up and Discussion (10 Minutes)

  • Class Discussion: What was the most surprising aspect of the AME Church’s history in the South? How did migration influence the church’s growth and role in Black communities?
  • Reflection: Ask students to reflect on how the history of the AME Church challenges or reinforces their understanding of African American religious practices and migration during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • Closing Thought: Discuss the continuing legacy of the AME Church in the modern-day South, especially in light of its involvement in contemporary social justice movements.

Assessment:

  • Formative Assessment: Participation in group discussions and case study analysis.
  • Summative Assessment: Short essay (due the following week) on the role of the AME Church in shaping African American migration and its cultural, religious, and political impact in the South. The essay should address how migration patterns influenced church expansion, community development, and social activism.

Homework/Extension Activities:

  1. Reading Assignment: Provide students with an article or excerpt from a Black Christian Evolution. Students should come prepared to discuss the material in the next class.
  2. Field Trip (Optional): If feasible, organize a visit to a local AME church or a historical site connected to the church’s history in the region to gain further insight into its legacy.

This lesson plan aims to integrate historical inquiry with contemporary discussions of race, migration, and religion, ensuring that students engage critically with the subject matter.