Arthur Huff Fauset

Arthur Huff Fauset was an American anthropologist, educator, and folklorist who studied African American religious practices and culture in the early-to-mid 20th century. He conducted fieldwork on Black religious movements in urban settings, particularly focusing on storefront churches and alternative spiritual practices in Philadelphia and other cities. Fauset earned his PhD in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and taught at several institutions. His research examined how African American communities adapted and created religious practices in urban environments during the Great Migration period. His work documented the emergence of various Black religious movements and leaders who operated outside mainstream Christianity. Fauset approached these subjects from an academic anthropological perspective, analyzing the social and cultural functions of these religious practices. He contributed to the understanding of African American religious diversity and the role of alternative spiritual movements in urban Black communities during a period of significant demographic and social change.

Readers of "Black Gods of the Metropolis" find Fauset's anthropological approach to Black religious movements informative and methodical. Many appreciate his documentation of lesser-known religious leaders and movements that operated in urban areas during the early 20th century. Readers value the book's academic rigor and Fauset's fieldwork methodology. They note his objective examination of various religious figures and movements, including Father Divine's Peace Mission and other alternative spiritual practices that emerged in Black urban communities. Some readers find the writing style dry and academic, making it challenging for general audiences. Others note that the book reflects the anthropological perspectives of its time period, which can feel dated to contemporary readers. Several readers comment on the book's historical significance as an early academic study of urban Black religious practices. They recognize its contribution to understanding the diversity of African American spiritual life beyond traditional Christianity, though some wish for more analysis of the social conditions that gave rise to these movements.