Prophesying Daughters

In nineteenth-century America, descendants of slaves traveled the country, even abroad, preaching to audiences of various races, denominations, sexes, and classes, offering their own interpretations of the Bible. When these women were denied the pulpit because of their sex, they preached in tents, bush clearings, meeting halls, private homes, and other spaces. Often quoting from the scripture, they insisted that they were indeed prophesying daughters whom God called upon to preach.