Histories of Pentecostalism in the United States have long focused on binary narratives of the development of African-American and white Pentecostalism out of the great revival at Azusa Street in Los Angeles. In recent years, scholars of Pentecostalism have expanded this narrative to include Latino and Native American Pentecostalsâ??who were a part of the movement from the beginning. Gastón Espinosaâ??s Latino Pentecostals in America joins this trend, tracing the history of Latino involvement in the Assemblies of God and challenging long-standing narratives.
The book is actually more like three books in one. The first third of the book is devoted to the growth of Pentecostalism among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in Texas and California. After that, Espinosa focuses on Puerto Ricans and the growth of Pentecostalism both on the island and in New York City. Then he addresses more recent issues among Latino Pentecostals, including the role of women in the church, faith and social activism, and political trends. The book hangs together as a self-conscious rewrite of Assemblies of God history that privileges the Latino voices that have so often been left out of denominational narratives.
Read Full Article »