This very amusing article points out some new research being done about the religion of slaves coming over from Africa. It talks about the mystical religion of hoodoo, but what makes it so amusing is that it ends with this little blurb:

However, digs at the homes of blacks who joined the middle class in the 19th and 20th centuries turned up no evidence of hoodoo ritual objects or bundles.

That’s not to say that middle-class African Americans were giving up their African traditions, but they were finding different ways to express it, Leone told The Washington Post.

Lack of hoodoo evidence may show the difficult choices facing African Americans who strived for acceptance and advancement, but wanted to remain connected to their traditions, he said.

Now I know this is a “terrible” thing to say, but considering today most African Americans are Christians (mostly evangelical/protestant but strong Catholic groupings too) maybe they just (cover your eyes, a terrible word follows) converted because they thought Christianity was true. Wow I am a radical.