Father Divine, the self-declared deity and founder of the International Peace Mission Movement, passed away on May 12, 1940. A charismatic and controversial figure, he preached racial equality, communal living, celibacy, and self-reliance during the Great Depression. His movement attracted thousands of followers—Black and white—across the United States. Father Divine’s doctrine of economic independence led him to create jobs, provide housing, and open “heavens” (communal homes) for the poor. Though his claim to divinity was widely challenged, his work in fostering interracial harmony, social welfare, and civil rights ahead of its time made him a unique and polarizing figure in Black religious and social history.
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