This book is "the story of the quest by blacks to find meaning in their historical experience and to build communities in America. To give meaning to the traumas of the past, many eighteenth century blacks turned to the teachings of the Old and New Testaments, and proceeded, even while enslaved, to use churches to build independent communities. It appears to me that in our continuing struggle for liberation on the 'ladder of life, ' we have too often overlooked the central role that the black church has played in our history" -- Introd.