pagan beliefs from their homelands. The Africans also experienced many short lived
religions that were avidly followed, but fizzled after a few short months.
The Africans began attending Catholic churches in New Orleans. At the height of
their passion a group called the Free Negro Elite emerged in the Catholic setting. This
group believed themselves to be above many people because they worked for their
freedom and because they were religious people. The group was bolstered from Catholic
churches. In 1848 ten elitists founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The
church became extremely popular and well attended.
Aside from Christian religions a few Negroes followed the religion of Voodoo.
Voodoo is still extremely popular in some Southern areas of the country. The belief was
that possession by spirits is possible and if the spirit possesses you, you have reached the
height of religion. Followers of Voodoo do not believe in reincarnation, but they do
follow the belief of worship of ones ancestors. The experiences predecessors had and the
information they received could be possessed by anyone who worshipped them. The
religion was probably introduced by the immigrants from San Domingo.
There are many types of people in New Orleans, and many types of people
throughout America. It is complicated to see how the different groups interact with each
other. By analyzing a small area of the country which is extremely diverse, yet unified the
people of the United States can see how well we all can work and live together.