Puritan theology held African and English souls equal in whiteness and goodness.

Evidence

Puritans must religiously instruct all slaves and children, the “inferiors,” Mather pleaded. But masters were not doing their job of looking after African souls, “which are as white and good as those of other Nations, but are Destroyed for lack of Knowledge.” Cotton Mather had built on Richard Baxter’s theological race concept. The souls of African people were equal to those of the Puritans: they were White and good. — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, 148

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the early theological meaning of ‘White soul’ — metaphysical equality, not skin color — which predates and differs from later racial hierarchy.