'Respected for What I am, Not for What I am Seen to Be': An Exploration of the Representations of African Americans within the Spiritualist Movement

This thesis explores the intersection of race, religion, and social reform within the context of nineteenth-century America, focusing on the spiritualist movement and its representations of African Americans. Rooted in the trauma of slavery, displacement of Native Americans, and the Civil War, spiritualism emerged as a cultural response to the era’s instability. Often perceived as a progressive force aligned with abolitionism and women’s rights, the movement advocated for a vision of an egalitarian society. However, this thesis challenges the notion of spiritualism as uniformly progressive, particularly in its treatment of race.

By critically examining the spiritualist periodical The Banner of Light, this research uncovers how Black spirits were depicted, revealing the complex relationship between the movement’s ideals and racial prejudice. These representations, while occasionally reflecting a vision of racial equality, frequently reinforced stereotypes and paternalistic views, illustrating a tension between spiritualists' aspirations and the pervasive racial ideologies of the time. The study traces the evolving portrayals of Black spirits—from infantilised depictions to more dignified representations of Black individuals—offering insight into the movement’s engagement with race as it adapted to the changing social landscape during and after the Civil War.

The thesis also situates spiritualism within broader social and cultural reforms, addressing how Black Americans influenced the movement’s discourse on race and citizenship. Through an analysis of these spiritual depictions, this work highlights the contradictions within spiritualism and offers a nuanced understanding of how race, religion, and reform intersected in nineteenth-century America. By employing critical race theory, the thesis provides a critical lens through which to examine how systemic racism shaped both historical narratives and spiritualist practices. Ultimately, this research aims to expand the historiography of spiritualism and race, offering valuable insights into the continuing relevance of these historical discussions in contemporary struggles for racial justice and equality.