God’s Trombones: Celebrating Black Preaching in America is a four-part small group study focusing on the history and style of African American preaching. In this session, we are introduced to the early preaching of Harry Hoosier and listen for the reverberations of his voice in the preaching of Gardner C. Taylor.
“The black preachers’ formula for delivering a sermon is:
Gardner C. Taylor
Start low,
Go slow,
Get higher,
Strike fire,
Retire.”
Harry Hoosier: The Forgotten Voice of Early American Preaching
Among the earliest and most influential Black preachers in America was Harry Hoosier, often called “Black Harry.” Though largely forgotten in modern discussions of preaching, he was once considered by some the greatest orator in America. Traveling and preaching from 1784 until his death in 1810, Hoosier gained renown for his passionate sermons and ability to stir audiences, both Black and white. As Henry H. Mitchell notes, Hoosier was perhaps “the best known and most widely traveled Black preacher” of his time. However, due to his illiteracy, no written sermons survive, leaving his legacy preserved only through accounts of those who heard him. Even the spelling of his name is uncertain—recorded as “Hoosier,” “Hosier,” “Hoshur,” and “Hossier”—adding to the mystery surrounding his life. Some even speculate that the state of Indiana’s nickname, “The Hoosier State,” may have originated from his followers who migrated there.
Born into slavery in North Carolina around 1750, Hoosier’s early years remain largely undocumented. He is believed to have been sold north to Baltimore, Maryland, where he gained his freedom around the time of the American Revolution. He became the carriage driver for Bishop Francis Asbury, one of the first bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. Asbury, a staunch opponent of slavery, saw something remarkable in Hoosier. Despite being unable to read, Hoosier memorized vast portions of Scripture as Asbury read aloud during their travels. Through this, Hoosier developed a powerful ability to preach, becoming the first African American known to have preached directly to white audiences.
“The Greatest Orator in America”
His reputation as a preacher was extraordinary. Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, remarked that despite his illiteracy, Hoosier was “the greatest orator in America.” Booker T. Washington later wrote that Hoosier was not only the first Black Methodist preacher in the United States but also one who surpassed many of his white counterparts in popularity. Methodist Bishop, Thomas Coke believed Hoosier was among “the best preachers in the world” due to the overwhelming power of his sermons. In 1781, he delivered his most famous sermon, “The Barren Fig Tree,” now considered the first documented Methodist sermon by an African American.
Hoosier’s reliance on faith was central to his ministry. It is said that he was once offered lessons in reading to combat his illiteracy, but Harry refused as he did not want to be dependent upon his ability to read rather than his faith in God. As he once declared:
”I sing by faith,
pray by faith,
preach by faith,
and do everything by faith;
without faith in the Lord Jesus,
I can do nothing.
“The ordination of Bishop Francis Asbury by Bishop Thomas Coke at the Christmas Conference establishing the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States at Baltimore, Maryland, in the winter of 1784” by Thomas Coke Ruckle
Harry can be seen on the left in the painting.
Despite his influence, Hoosier’s later years were marked by struggle. Accounts suggest that he fell into hardship and alcoholism, living on the streets of Philadelphia. However, in a moment of spiritual wrestling under a tree one night, he experienced a profound renewal of faith. From that moment until his death, he continued to preach with power and conviction. His legacy, though often overlooked, lives on in at least two churches bearing his name: Harry Hosier United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Hoosier Memorial United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
The impact of Harry Hoosier on the tradition of Black preaching is difficult to measure. With no recorded sermons, we can only speculate on how much of his style influenced later generations. Yet, considering his ability to captivate audiences, his deep biblical knowledge despite being illiterate, and his passionate, faith-driven preaching, it is likely that his influence has been passed down in ways we cannot fully trace. How much of what we recognize today in Black preaching—the rhythm, the call-and-response, the emotive storytelling—can be linked back to him? We may never know for sure, but it is undeniable that Harry Hoosier was a pioneer whose voice, though largely forgotten in history books, still echoes in the tradition of Black preaching today.
Discussion Questions
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What are some words you would use to describe black preaching?
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What vocal qualities typify this style?
A Sonorous Voice
Black Preaching: The Recovery of a Powerful Art, by Henry H. Mitchell
Such is the power of the sonorous voice—deep, resonant, and impossible to ignore. It’s why Morgan Freeman could turn a simple grocery list into poetry. The moment his name is mentioned, his voice echoes in your mind as if it were always waiting there.
So, what about you?
What voices—rich, deep, and ringing like a bell—have stayed with you? Which actors, singers, or speakers immediately come to mind when you think of a truly sonorous tone?
The Dean of Black Preachers: Gardner C. Taylor
Gardner C. Taylor, often called “The Dean of Black Preachers,” was one of the most influential voices in American Christianity. Born on June 18, 1918, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he was the grandson of emancipated slaves. After graduating from the Oberlin College School of Theology in 1940, he quickly established himself as a powerful and eloquent preacher, blending deep theological insight with a masterful command of language. His exceptional oratory earned him widespread recognition, including being named one of Ebony magazine’s 15 Greatest Black Preachers and receiving 15 honorary degrees throughout his lifetime.
For over 42 years, Taylor pastored the historic Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, where his leadership helped the congregation grow to nearly 10,000 members. He was a close friend and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., playing a vital role in the Civil Rights Movement by using his pulpit to speak against racial injustice. Taylor’s preaching style, rich in poetic cadence and theological depth, made him a sought-after speaker beyond his own church, influencing generations of ministers and theologians.
Taylor’s legacy extended to the national stage, where his wisdom and moral authority were recognized by political leaders. In January 1993, he preached the pre-inauguration sermon for President-elect Bill Clinton at Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Washington, D.C. His impact on Black preaching, social justice, and the broader Christian church remains immeasurable. Taylor passed away on April 5, 2015—Easter Sunday—leaving behind a lasting influence on American preaching and the pursuit of justice through faith.
The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb
Numerous sermons from Gardner C. Taylor are available online; many of them are well-known and beloved. Our class time constraints prevented me from sharing some of his better-known messages. Giving time for a discussion of Harry Hoosier, introductory questions, and discussion at the end, I settled on a message Taylor delivered at the C. Eric Lincoln Lectureship Series in 1993.
The sermon was an excellent example of Taylor’s full use of his voice, with its sonorous qualities. It also fits well with Taylor’s oft-quoted formula for preaching, “Start low, go slow, get higher, strike fire, retire.”
The sermon was also a prime example of the qualities of Black preaching brought out in these quotes from Henry H. Mitchell’s Black Preaching: The Recovery of a Powerful Art (an invaluable resource for this study):
The recording available on YouTube begins with introductory remarks and the usual on-stage banter between the speaker and long-time associates. If time is an issue, I recommend beginning at 8:15 into the recording.
Preaching is a Presumptuous Business
Discussion Questions
- Remember Taylor’s formula for Black preaching. Did you see him “retire” at the end of the sermon? Was there anything left to be said when he sat down?
- How did the call and response from the audience help build and form the sermon?
- What was Taylor’s thesis statement for the sermon? Did the audience know what it was?
- How did Taylor use the range of his voice? Were there moments when he changed the pitch, speed, or volume? How did he use these qualities to impact the audience?
- Do you feel he used the full range of his voice, or was he holding back?
From Harry Hoosier to Gardner C. Taylor
Harry Hoosier’s preaching is lost to the ages. Living well before the time of recorded media, with few surviving quotes, all we have to go on is the reputation of one whose voice commanded the attention of Black and White congregations alike. But one has to wonder what qualities that began with Hoosier in the revivalistic fervor of the Second Great Awakening continue to resonate today through the preaching of Gardner C. Taylor and others.
Though separated by centuries, both men shared an ability to stir souls and use the full range of their voices as instruments of conviction and hope. I believe Hoosier’s legacy is likely not entirely lost—it lives on in the power, passion, and prophetic witness of Black preaching today.
