Prophesying Daughters: Black Women Preachers and the Word, 1823-1913 (Hardcover)

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"After this I shall pour my spirit on all mankind: / your sons and your daughters will prophesy.... I shall pour out my spirit in those days even on slaves and slave-girls." - From Joel 2:28-29

Product Description

In nineteenth-century America, many black women left their homes, their husbands, and their children to spread the Word of God. Descendants of slaves or former "slave girls" themselves, they traveled all over the country, even abroad, preaching to audiences composed of various races, denominations, sexes, and classes, offering their own interpretations of the Bible. Chanta M. Haywood examines these autobiographies of Jarena Lee, Julia Foote, Maria Stewart, and Frances Gaudet, four women preachers who endured many hardships because of their religious convictions, to provide new insight into the nature of prophesying.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: University of Missouri Press (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826214673
• ISBN-13: 978-0826214676
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,912,873 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Revealing look at four strong churchwomen, October 5, 2003

By	Reginald D. Garrard "the G-man" (Camilla, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The years leading up to the Civil War and the ones that preceded it were a time of great change in America. In those pre-days, some recently freed slaves, as well as those in bondage, were covertly and overtly expressing their religious beliefs and their political views on their condiditon of servitude.

These four remarkable women were vocal in their opposition to the male hierarchy of the church, the "expected" role of women in the body of believers, and the confines of slavery as imposed on African-Americans. Such opposition to the "norm" made the women less than popular in many circles; however, they stood steadfast and eventually, through their nationwide travels, brought many to their respective church folds.

Dr. Hayward showcases each woman, offering her analyses of their respective writings/sermons. There are also glimpses of the women's personal lives and the burdens their travels placed on their families.

I wish, however, that the book had included more of the women's words, in contrast to the author's interpretation and explanation of them.

Overall, though, it is an intriguing work that is eye opening for those with an interest in the history of the Black church.