Soul Liberty

“A masterful exploration of post-Emancipation black religious life in Virginia. . . . A must-read for those interested in the evolution of black religious life in America.”—Publishers Weekly

“This is specific, clear, empirical research conducted skillfully and presented straightforwardly. . . . This book swiftly rises to the A-list of must-reads in African American religious history.”—Reading Religion

“Impressive. . . . Soul Liberty is a well-researched study and a valuable resource for individuals interested in African American religion and politics.”—Journal of Appalachian Studies

“[An] exciting integration of digital humanities with a traditional monograph. . . . [Turner’s] book effectively proves why scholars of Black political life should not ignore the complex history of Black churches.”—Journal of Southern History

“Concise and deeply researched. . . . [Turner’s] work explores the value of quantitative methods and GIS technology and tracks changes in gender dynamics within Black churches.”—Journal of African American History

“Turner’s book provides a model for further state and local studies of African American church history, particularly in its attention to the crucial yet often overlooked political role of black women and black churches in the post-Reconstruction South. . . . [H]ighly recommend.”—Journal of Church and State

“Taking readers on the journey from the hush harbors of slavery to the great upheavals of emancipation through the Readjuster movement, Soul Liberty’s broad compass traces African Americans' efforts to make freedom real. Illuminating the intersections of postbellum religious and political history, Turner reveals the ways black Virginians used their religious institutions to define political strategies for embracing their full citizenship rights.”—Kidada Williams, Wayne State University

“How did black Christians in the South organize themselves both religiously and politically in the wake of the Civil War? Nicole Turner’s answer to that question unfolds in a nuanced and forceful demonstration that challenges common views of black political activity in churches. Turner’s methodology combines traditional archival materials with more recent tools such as GIS mapping, reminding historians that new understandings of the past come from new ways of approaching the sources and the data.”—Mary Beth Mathews, University of Mary Washington