In 1994, at a conference which became popularly
known as the Memphis Miracle , American
Pentecostals sought racial reconciliation for their
movement. This text looks at the rhetoric of racial
reconciliation as employed in that event.
Specifically, the argument is made that American
Pentecostals relied on the rhetorical
tools of collective memory, myth and nostalgia in
their effort toward racial healing and
reconciliation. It is further posited that the
narrative of the Azusa Street revival of 1906 served
as a rallying point for Pentecostals in regard to
the afore mentioned rhetorical tools. The argument
is made in this book, that in order to achieve this
much needed reconciliation, Pentecostals looked to
the narrative of the Azusa Street revival,
reexamining their collective memory of the event,
and in doing so they have mythologized the
characters and events of that revival. Finally,
nostalgic rhetoric was employed showing that in
order for Pentecostals to achieve the desired racial
reconciliation, they must look back to the
interracial characteristic of the Azusa Street
revival as a template for racial healing today.
known as the Memphis Miracle , American
Pentecostals sought racial reconciliation for their
movement. This text looks at the rhetoric of racial
reconciliation as employed in that event.
Specifically, the argument is made that American
Pentecostals relied on the rhetorical
tools of collective memory, myth and nostalgia in
their effort toward racial healing and
reconciliation. It is further posited that the
narrative of the Azusa Street revival of 1906 served
as a rallying point for Pentecostals in regard to
the afore mentioned rhetorical tools. The argument
is made in this book, that in order to achieve this
much needed reconciliation, Pentecostals looked to
the narrative of the Azusa Street revival,
reexamining their collective memory of the event,
and in doing so they have mythologized the
characters and events of that revival. Finally,
nostalgic rhetoric was employed showing that in
order for Pentecostals to achieve the desired racial
reconciliation, they must look back to the
interracial characteristic of the Azusa Street
revival as a template for racial healing today.