God, Harlem U.S.A.: The Father Divine Story

How did an African-American man born in a ghetto in 1879 rise to such social and religious prominence that his followers addressed letters to him simply "God, Harlem U.S.A."? Using hitherto unknown materials, Jill Watts portrays the life and career of one of the twentieth century's most intriguing religious leaders, Father Divine. Starting as an itinerant preacher, Father Divine built an unprecedented movement that by the 1930s had spread across the nation and around the world, attracting a wide variety of followers. As his ministry grew, so did the controversy surrounding his enormous wealth, flamboyant style, and committed "angels"--black and white, rich and poor. Here for the first time a full account of Father Divine's childhood and early years challenges previous contentions that he was born into a sharecropping family in the deep South. Where earlier biographers have concentrated on Father Divine's social and economic programs, Watts focuses on his theology, which gives new meaning to secular activities that often appeared inconsistent and contradictory. Father Divine developed a syncretic religion composed of African-American traditions, Catholicism, Methodism, Pentecostalism, and the power of positive thinking, or New Thought, a forerunner of the New Age religions popular today. He taught followers to channel his spirit to achieve health, prosperity, and salvation. By focusing on mind power and positive thinking, Father Divine offered those suffering from racism and economic dislocation an ideology that promised success through self-mastery. Although much has been written about Father Divine, God, Harlem U.S.A. finally provides a balanced and intimate account of his life's work.This is the story of a religious movement from its charismatic leader to its dedicated followers and their impact on American life.