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In Ethiopia, the black people became Christians 1700 years ago, hundreds of years before Northern Europe turned to Christianity... And here, most of the saints are black.
Henry Louis Gates
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the early adoption of Christianity by black people in Ethiopia, and the prominence of black saints in the faith's history.

Henry Louis Gates emphasizes the historical importance of Ethiopia in the context of Christianity, noting that black people embraced the faith some 1700 years ago, well before it spread to Northern Europe. This statement serves to challenge commonly held narratives about the history of Christianity and showcases the significant contributions of African communities within the religion, particularly through the acknowledgment of black saints.

Themes

EthiopiaChristianityHistoryBlack SaintsAfrica

In practice

Example use cases

In a lecture on the history of Christianity, one might quote this to highlight the importance of Africa in the spread of the faith.

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