The research project “Church and Slavery” organizes a webinar on the subject of “Afro-Atlantic Catholics: America’s First Black Christians.” Professor Jeroen Dewulf (University of California) will give a guest lecture on this subject, on the basis of his new book about this topic, with special attention to the role of Afro-Atlantic Catholics in the former Dutch colonies (Suriname, Curaçao, New Netherlands). See below for a short description of his lecture. The webinar will be moderated by professor Rose Mary Allen (University of Curaçao).
The webinar will take place on Tuesday February 25, 2025, 15.30-17.00 CET (10.30-12.00 AST). The webinar is free of charge, but registration is required through https://forms.gle/GaXoUs6UbeB6mwZv6
Short description lecture
Black Christianity in America has long been studied as a blend of indigenous African and Protestant elements. Jeroen Dewulf shows in his book and guest lecture that this approach is incorrect. He argues that African Catholics had a huge impact on the historical development of Black Christianity in America during the seventeenth century, not the least in the former Dutch colonies in the Americas, such as Curaçao and New Netherlands.
