Rebecca Protten: A Black Caribbean Woman’s Story of Religious Revival
1. Rebecca Protten: A Black Caribbean Woman’s story of religious revival
In the 18th century, Rebecca Protten was one of the most prominent black evangelical leaders in the Atlantic world. Born in the Caribbean to enslaved parents, she was later sold to a man in New York City. In 1739, she joined a group of Moravian missionaries who were sent to Jamaica to evangelize slaves. After learning about the gospel from the Moravians, she experienced a religious conversion and became an itinerant preacher throughout the Caribbean.
Rebecca’s story is significant because it highlights the importance of black women in the 18th century Atlantic world. At a time when most black women were slaves, Rebecca was able to gain her freedom and become a leader in the black evangelical movement. Her story also demonstrates the role that religion played in the lives of black people in the 18th century. For many blacks, Christianity was a way to find meaning and purpose in their lives, as well as a way to resist slavery and oppression.
2. Evangelism in the 18th century Atlantic world
The 18th century was a time of great religious change in the Atlantic world. Protestantism was on the rise, and new missionary movements were spreading Christianity throughout Europe, Africa, and the Americas. One of the most important missionary movements of the time was the Moravian Church, which was founded in 1735 by Count Zinzendorf.
The Moravians were one of the first groups to send missionaries to evangelize slaves in the Caribbean. They believed that all people, regardless of race or social status, deserved to hear the gospel message. In 1739, they sent a group of missionaries to Jamaica, which included Rebecca Protten.
The Moravians were also instrumental in developing black evangelicalism. They believed that blacks could be saved just like whites, and they worked tirelessly to spread Christianity among slaves throughout the Atlantic region. As a result of their efforts, many blacks, including Rebecca Protten, experienced religious conversions and became active evangelists themselves.
3. The Moravian Church and the development of black evangelicalism
The Moravian Church played a key role in the development of black evangelicalism. This can be seen in their willingness to send missionaries to evangelize slaves in the Caribbean. It can also be seen in their belief that blacks could be saved just like whites. This belief challenged many of the racial assumptions of 18th century Christianity, which held that blacks were inferior to whites and not capable of salvation.
The Moravians’ efforts to spread Christianity among slaves had a profound impact on black people in the Atlantic world. For many blacks, Christianity was a way to find meaning and purpose in their lives, as well as a way to resist slavery and oppression. As more and more blacks converted to Christianity, they began to develop their own form of evangelicalism, which emphasized personal salvation and social reform.
4. Rebecca Protten and the Atlantic region
Rebecca Protten’s story is significant not only because she was one of the most prominent black evangelical leaders of her time, but also because she lived in the Atlantic world. The Atlantic region was a place where different cultures and religions collided. It was also a place where many Africans were forcibly brought to work as slaves.
Rebecca’s story demonstrates the religious and social changes that were taking place in the Atlantic region during the 18th century. Christianity was spreading rapidly, and new missionary movements were bringing the gospel to different parts of the world. At the same time, the Atlantic slave trade was in full swing, and millions of Africans were being forcibly brought to the Americas to work as slaves. In this context, Rebecca’s story is a powerful example of how Christianity could be used to resist slavery and oppression.
5. Gender and the 18th century black Atlantic experience
Rebecca Protten’s story is also significant because it highlights the role of gender in the 18th century black Atlantic experience. In many ways, Rebecca’s story challenges assumptions about gender roles in the 18th century. For instance, she was able to gain her freedom and become a leader in the black evangelical movement, even though most black women of her time were slaves.
Rebecca’s story also demonstrates the different ways that black men and women experienced Christianity in the 18th century. For many black women, Christianity was a way to resist slavery and oppression. For black men, it was often a way to gain social status and power. This difference can be seen in how Rebecca and her husband, John Protten, interacted with white missionaries. While Rebecca was open to learning from the Moravians, John was more skeptical and resistant to their message.
6. Conclusion
Rebecca Protten’s story is significant because it highlights the importance of black women in the 18th century Atlantic world. At a time when most black women were slaves, Rebecca was able to gain her freedom and become a leader in the black evangelical movement. Her story also demonstrates the role that religion played in the lives of black people in the 18th century. For many blacks, Christianity was a way to find meaning and purpose in their lives, as well as a way to resist slavery and oppression.