Final answer:
The two important social institutions for African Americans were churches and schools. Churches provided community and support, while schools empowered African Americans through education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two social institutions that became increasingly important for African Americans as they built on their freedom were churches and schools. Churches provided a place of community and spiritual support, as well as a platform for organizing and advocating for social change. Schools, often housed within churches, allowed African Americans to gain education and knowledge, empowering them to navigate their new reality and fight for equality.
Roles of Churches::
Many churches played dual roles, acting as spiritual centers as well as schoolhouses, and became central to the freedom struggle. They provided a place for African Americans to exercise their faith freely, away from white control, and remade their religious worlds to reflect their own social and spiritual desires.
Churches also became organizational hubs where leadership and anti-racist politics were nurtured. As part of their effort in advocating for social change, African Americans utilized churches to galvanize the community, pushing for manumission and lobbying against the slave trade and slavery.
Additionally, churches were venues where strategies for civil rights activities were planned and freedom songs were sung to uplift and unite participants.
One example of the growth of these institutions is the development of anti-slavery organizations turned church associations. Liberated from white-controlled churches, black Americans were able to establish their own religious worlds according to their own social and spiritual desires. This allowed them to build a strong sense of community and provided a space for organizing and addressing social issues. Churches also played an essential role in advocating for social change by hosting meetings, providing educational opportunities, and offering a platform for influential leaders.