Table of Contents for
This Spot of Ground: Spiritual Baptists in Toronto by Carol B. Duncan

Preface

Acknowledgments

INTRODUCTION

The Research Setting

The Study as a “Talking Book”

Travessao

Book Overview

1. “A PASSPORT TO HEAVEN’S GATE”

Introduction

“Heaven’s Gate”: Canada in the North American and Caribbean Black Imaginary

Church-Ship: Spiritual Voyaging

Spiritual Baptists in Multicultural Canada: Considering Religious and National Identities in Migration

Countercultures of Modernity and the Problem of Multiculturalism

A Historical Overview of Multiculturalism in Canada

Multiculturalism in the Spiritual Baptist Church

Spiritual Baptist Perceptions and Experiences of Multiculturalism in Canada

Conclusion

2. “THIS SPOT OF GROUND”: THE EMERGENCE OF SPIRITUAL BAPTISTS IN TORONTO

Introduction

Origins of the Spiritual Baptist Church in the Caribbean

“This Spot of Ground”: The Spiritual Baptist Church as “Homeplace” in Toronto

The Founding of the First Spiritual Baptist Church in Toronto (1975–1980)

Toronto Spiritual Baptist Church Organization

Conclusion

3. “SO SPIRITUALLY, SO CARNALLY”: SPIRITUAL BAPTIST RITUAL, THEOLOGY, AND THE EVERYDAY WORLD IN TORONTO

Introduction

“So Carnally, So Spiritually”

Ritual as Performance and Social Commentary

Joining the Spiritual Baptist Church in Toronto

Coming to Canada

Work Experiences

“It Hurt Me Feelings”: Naming Racism

“I Say You Can Call Me ‘Damn Bitch’...Just Don’t Call Me ‘Madam’!”: Challenging Sexist Racism

The Church as Community: Support Networks in the Spiritual Baptist Church

Conclusion

4. “AFRICALAND”: “AFRICA” in TORONTO SPIRITUAL BAPTIST EXPERIENCE

Introduction

Africaland

Sacred Space and Place in the Spiritual Baptist Church

Sacred Time in the Spiritual Baptist Church

Travelling to Africaland

Africa as Eden

Africaland and the African Diaspora

Conclusion

5. “DEY GIVE ME A HOUSE TO GATHER IN DI CHIL’REN”: MOTHERS AND DAUGHTER IN THE SPIRITUAL BAPTIST CHURCH

Introduction

An Overview of Domestic Service in Canada

The Mothers of the Church

Family in the Spirit: Extended Family in the Spiritual Baptist Church

“If You Don’t Come to Me, I’m Coming to You”: Ancestral Mother

“Dey Give Me a House to Gather in di Chil’ren”: Spiritual Mother/Carnal Mother

“God Has Work for You to Do”: Nation Mother

“It Makes You Feel Like Home”: Spiritual Daughter

Conclusion

6. AUNT(Y) JEMIMA IN TORONTO SPIRITUAL BAPTIST EXPERIENCES: SPIRITUAL MOTHER OR SERVILE WOMAN?

Introduction

“Seeing” Aunt Jemima

(Re)Turning the Gaze on Aunt(y) Jemima

Re-reading Aunt(y) Jemima and the Creole Woman

Tie-head Woman

Head-ties and the Social Construction of Identity

Conclusion

CONCLUSION

“To Pick It Up and Take It Forward”

Bibliography

Index