1920 - Marcus Garvey holds a convention of the United Negro Improvement Association in New York. This movement presented revolutionary challenges to African American socio-religious life and ideals.

1920 - African American Pentecostal roots emerge from the founding location of the Azuza Street Missions in Los Angeles. This Pentecostal presence is soon realized in Harlem as migrants and native Harlemites find an exciting spiritual alternative to the traditional denominations. The African American Pentecostal experience will greatly impact music, writings, and art expressions.

1921 - Garvey organizes the African Orthodox Church. This religious creation fostered direct correlations to Orthodox Christianity in Africa. A branch church was located in Harlem.

Charles A. Tinley, an African American cleric-musician becomes the first African American to compose and publish hymns. His style consisted of a genre of Gospel Blues that percipitated expanded forms of worship expression. Of course, Harlem churchs were crucial in these expressions.