Women and Religion in the African Diaspora: Knowledge, Power, and Performance (Lived Religions)

This landmark collection of newly commissioned essays explores how diverse women of African descent have practiced religion as part of the work of their ordinary and sometimes extraordinary lives. By examining women from North America, the Caribbean, Brazil, and Africa, the contributors identify the patterns that emerge as women, religion, and diaspora intersect, mapping fresh approaches to this emergent field of inquiry. The volume focuses on issues of history, tradition, and the authenticity of African-derived spiritual practices in a variety of contexts, including those where memories of suffering remain fresh and powerful. The contributors discuss matters of power and leadership and of religious expressions outside of institutional settings. The essays study women of Christian denominations, African and Afro-Caribbean traditions, and Islam, addressing their roles as spiritual leaders, artists and musicians, preachers, and participants in bible-study groups. This volume's transnational mixture, along with its use of creative analytical approaches, challenges existing paradigms and summons new models for studying women, religions, and diasporic shiftings across time and space. This Landmark Collection Of Newly Commissioned Essays Explores How Diverse Women Of African Descent Have Practiced Religion As Part Of The Work Of Their Ordinary And Sometimes Extraordinary Lives. Examining The Lives Of Women From North America, The Caribbean, Brazil, And Africa, The Contributors Identify The Patterns That Emerge As Women, Religion, And Diaspora Intersect, Mapping Fresh Approaches To This Emergent Field Of Inquiry. The Volume Focuses On Issues Of History, Tradition, And The Authenticity Of African-derived Spiritual Practices In A Variety Of Contexts, Including Those In Which Memories Of Suffering Remain Fresh And Powerful. The Contributors Discuss Matters Of Power And Leadership And Of Religious Expressions Outside Of Institutional Settings. The Essays Study Women Of Christian Denominations, African And Afro-caribbean Traditions, And Islam, Addressing Their Roles As Spiritual Leaders, Artists And Musicians, Preachers, And Participants In Bible-study Groups. This Volume's Transnational Scope, Along With Its Use Of Creative Analytical Approaches, Challenges Existing Paradigms And Summons New Models For Studying Women, Religions, And Diasporic Shiftings Across Time And Space. Book Jacket.--book Jacket. É A Senzala : Slavery, Women, And Embodied Knowledge In Afro-brazilian Candomblé / Rachel Elizabeth Harding -- I Smoothed The Way; I Opened Doors : Women In The Yoruba-orisha Tradition Of Trinidad / Tracey E. Hucks -- Joining The African Diaspora : Migration And Diasporic Religious Culture Among The Garifuna In Honduras And New York / Paul Christopher Johnson -- Women Of The African Diaspora Within : The Masowe Apostles, An African-initiated Church / Isabel Mukonyora -- Power In The Blood : Menstrual Taboos And Women's Power In An African Instituted Church / Deidre Helen Crumbley -- The Spirit Of The Holy Ghost Is A Male Spirit : African American Preaching Women And The Paradoxes Of Gender / Wallace Best -- Make Us A Power : African American Methodists Debate The Woman Question, 1870-1900 / Martha S. Jones -- Only A Woman Would Do : Bible Reading And African American Women's Organizing Work / Anthea D. Butler -- Exploring The Religious Connection : Black Women Community Workers, Religious Agency, And The Force Of Faith / Cheryl Townsend Gilkes -- The Arts Of Loving / Lisa Gail Collins -- Truths That Liberate The Soul : Eva Jessye And The Politics Of Religious Performance / Judith Weisenfeld -- Shopping With Sister Zubayda : African American Sunni Muslim Rituals Of Consumption And Belonging / Carolyn Rouse -- But It's Bible : African American Women And Television Preachers / Marla Frederick-mcglathery. Edited By R. Marie Griffith, Barbara Dianne Savage. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [293]-356) And Index. Frontmatter Acknowledgments (page vii) Introduction (page ix) PART I DIASPORIC KNOWLEDGE 1 É a Senzala: Slavery, Women, and Embodied Knowledge in Afro-Brazilian Candomblé (RACHEL ELIZABETH HARDING, page 3) 2 "I Smoothed the Way, I Opened Doors": Women in the Yoruba-Orisha Tradition of Trinidad (TRACEY E. HUCKS, page 19) 3 Joining the African Diaspora: Migration and Diasporic Religious Culture among the Garífuna in Hondurus and New York (PAUL CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, page 37) 4 Women of the African Diaspora Within: The Masowe Apostles, an African Initiated Church (ISABEL MUKONYORA, page 59) 5 "Power in the Blood": Menstrual Taboos and Women's Power in an African Instituted Church (DEIDRE HELEN CRUMBLEY, page 81) PART II POWER, AUTHORITY, AND SUBVERSION 6 "The Spirit of the Holy Ghost is a Male Spirit": African American Preaching Women and the Paradoxes of Gender (WALLACE BEST, page 101) 7 "Make Us a Power": African American Methodists debate the "Woman Question," 1870-1900 (MARTHA S. JONES, page 128) 8 "Only a Woman Would Do": Bible Reading and African American Women's Organizing Work (ANTHEA D. BUTLER, page 155) 9 Exploring the Religious Connection: Black Women Community Workers, Religious Agency, and the Force of Faith (CHERYL TOWNSEND GILKES, page 179) PART III PERFORMING RELIGION 10 The Art of Loving (LISA GAIL COLLINS, page 199) 11 "Truths that Liberate the Soul": Eva Jessye and the Politics of Religious Performance (JUDITH WEISENFELD, page 222) 12 Shopping with Sister Zubayda: African American Women Sunni Muslim Rituals of Consumption and Belonging (CAROLYN ROUSE, page 245) 13 "But. It's Bible": African American Women and Television Preachers (MARLA FREDERICK-MCGLATHERY, page 266) Notes (page 293) About the Contributors (page 357) Index (page 361)