The year 2020 marks the centenary of the passing of the 19th Amendment that allowed for women in the United States to vote. The strategic struggle of women demanding equal dignity and the right to vote in the United States helped to shed light on the systemic evils that have plagued the collective history of the country. Ideologies of racism, genderism, classism, and many more were and continue to be used to deny women their dignities both in the United States and in other parts of the world. This work sheds light on the intersectionality of religion, class, gender, philosophy, theology, and culture as they shape the experiences of women, especially women of color. A fundamental question that this volume aims to address is: What does it mean to be a woman of color in a world where systems of erasure dominate? The title of this volume is meant to showcase a deliberate engagement with the uncelebrated insights and perspectives of women of color in a world where systemic discrimination persists, and to articulate new strategies and paradigms for recognizing their contributions to the broader struggles for freedom and equity of women in our world.
SimonMary Asese A. Aihiokhai is associate professor of systematic theology at the University of Portland and a fellow at the Westar Institute.
The essays contained in this work address important considerations using an intersectional framework that unpacks complex ideas that are excitingly fresh and informative. The works included range from critiquing the validity of arguments in sacred texts to exploring how one might utilize or understand the texts in diverse contexts and places. The insights provided are necessary for any scholar or student seeking a deeper understanding of the integral role of women in theological and religious debates. --Shirley A. Jackson, Portland State University The overturn of Roe v. Wade disproportionately affects women of color. This pathfinding book provides hope and inspiration by documenting women of color's long struggle for their rights in the US and beyond. Grounded in inclusive theological anthropology, it galvanizes women and men to continue the fights our foremothers began. I highly recommend it to scholars, activists, and anyone who cares for women's well-being. --Kwok Pui-lan, Candler School of Theology, Emory University This anthology is unique in its presentation of voices from throughout the US to memorialize the centenary of the nineteenth Amendment and its impact on US society and women themselves. It provides a polyphonic narrative of women's lives, experiences, ambitions, work, and desires. Thus, it includes Christian, both Protestant and Catholic, Muslim, African, and Native American voices as well as LGBTQIA+. It particularly highlights the voices, experiences, and insights of women of color, especially African American women whose stories of their roles in the US suffrage struggle are still little known. It should be very successful in helping to dismantle the persisting structures of racism and sexism by encouraging critical and inclusive 'dialogues of life.' --Diana L. Hayes, Georgetown University
