God Struck Me Dead: Voices of Ex-Slaves

by Clifton H. Johnson, Paul Radin (Preface), Albert J. Raboteau (Introduction)

An invaluable collection of vivid conversion narratives and autobiographies by illiterate but powerfully articulate ex-slaves, God Struck Me Dead is a window into the soul of America and its religious history. Gathered from the Fisk Social Science Institute's massive study during the 1930s on race relations, and originally published by the Pilgrim Press in 1969, this volume is a rich resource of liberation from those whose faith was borne and tested by the cruelest of human degradations - slavery. Includes a preface by Paul Radin, author and expert on primal religion.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

171 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1969

About the author

Clifton Herman Johnson, 1921-2008

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been in an out of print a number of times since its first printing. The author tracked down and interviewed ex slaves and reprinted large portions of the conversations. If you are interested in the civil war, emancipation of African Americans and history in general, this is well worth it. And, its easy to read.
Much of the book is presented as oral history. There are stories good and bad slave masters, daring escapes, comparisons of the attitudes of Union and Confederate soldiers. The common theme in most of the interviews are the effect of intense religious experiences and how they guided these folks to make risky decisions that ultimately improved their lives.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating compilation of conversion experiences dictated by X slaves and transcribed in the 1930s. Of particular interest are the six longer autobiographical transcriptions. The inhumanity of slavery is affirmed. At best it was (and is) horrid.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read selections for class.