Benjamin E. Mays 
The Negro’s God [PDF ebook] 
As Reflected in His Literature

‘The ideas of God in Negro literature are developed along three principal lines: (1) Ideas of God that are used to support or give adherence to traditional, compensatory patterns; (2) Ideas, whether traditional or otherwise, that are developed and interpreted to support a growing consciousness of social and psychological adjustment needed; (3) Ideas of God that show a tendency or threat to abandon the idea of God as a ‘useful instrument’ in perfecting social change.’
From Chapter IX, Summation

About the author