11. Religion Was Both a Tool of Control and Resistance
Christianity played a dual role in the world of slavery. Slaveholders often used religious teachings to justify and enforce obedience, presenting slavery as divinely ordained. Yet, for the enslaved, faith became a wellspring of hope and resistance. Through secret gatherings and coded spirituals, enslaved people found solidarity and a vision of freedom. Explore this powerful duality at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
