Religion & Religious Practice > Religion & Religious Practice: Interviews > > Interview on Slaves with Tourguide Lou: By Sylvie Goldner
Sylvie
2015
Were Africans converted to a different religion when they were enslaved?
Enslaved Africans were baptized to Christianity. The Portuguese believed it was there duty to convert African slaves to Christianity. Virginians thought that you couldn’t have a slave who was Christian because you can’t have a Christian enslaving another Christian.
Did the Africans ever refuse?
They didn’t to their master. If they did, which rarely happened they were severely punished if not killed. What happened was the Africans would practice their religion secretly in the woods.
Did they ever get caught?
Sometimes they would get caught but usually they would get away with it.