Our Lady of Victory: The Saga of an African-American Catholic Community

Shirley Harris Slaughter
iUniverse (2008)
ISBN 9780595434824
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (3/09)

This is one of the most compelling books I have had the chance to read and review. Ms. Slaughter takes us on a trip in time when her community was trying to develop church services and schools for the African-American community.

Readers can remember what it is like to have different cultures be segregated into their own area in communities, going to different schools and not being allowed to worship with others in the community. Starting as a storefront church, this is a story about a community that was determined to be part of the larger community and have the same privileges. Many churches profess the love of God to all, but it didn’t include African-Americans. As Catholics, this community found that no priest would be assigned to their small parish. Until one day a priest by the name of Fr. Hubert Roberge took the challenge. Even though the parishioners were excited, they were also very leery of what might happen when a white priest came to their church.

Ms. Slaughter gives us insight into how prejudice and lack of concern for others almost caused their church to fail. The author started out writing this book to honor early pioneers in the African-American Catholic community- and she did an excellent job on the historical roots. But she also spends time discussing the Catholic diocese and its neglect of its parishioners and African-American Catholic churches. I think what amazed me the most is that she didn’t come across as angry and resentful- she came across with honor and love for the community that made a significant change. The author relates that many do not know of the spiritual roots of the African-American Catholic churches- and they need to know.

I found this book to be very compelling, at times it made me mad (how African-Americans were treated) and other times it had me cheering for this community and those who would not take no for an answer. “Our Lady of Victory” by Shirley Harris Slaughter is a book I have shared with many African-Americans in a local school and have encouraged other cultural groups to read it as well.

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