Join us as we celebrate Black History Month in February and Bold Women’s Day during Women’s History Month in March. Follow this blog every Monday, as we reflect on bold women of faith—women whose collective voices continue to change the lives of women and girls every day!
by Valora K Starr
This blog series will introduce you to women of great faith. No, I can’t provide you with hard data to support this claim— what we know about most African-descent “sheroes” is not written in American history, but their stories have been passed from generation to generation and new learnings are surfacing every day.
With confidence we can celebrate these women because of their actions, lives lived, and because of the era and circumstances through which they lived. Their faith is obvious.
There is a familiar quote, “Preach the Gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words.” Those who lived through slavery, reconstruction, and Jim Crow passed on this practice throughout the generations. This made it possible for our contemporary sisters, growing up during segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, to raise children who, today, are living their faith out loud, in the face of political unrest and almost-daily mass shootings.
You will meet women— driven to free others, little women who died in church, one ready to teach heritage and faith and one who is still working. All who had nothing but their God and their unwavering faith. Sit with these sister-women, take in their stories and engage your faith though their lives.
Week 1 – Driven Faith
Let us visit for a moment with Harriet Tubman. Her story has been dissected and disputed, but whether she made 13 returns to guide 70 and more enslaved people on the Underground Railroad, and whether you know her as Araminta, Minty, scout or spy for the Union Army, activist in the women’s suffrage movement, or abolitionist, it is her faith that is consistent.
Her grandmother sealed little girl Harriet’s identity as Ashanti (warrior people) and after being struck in the head with a metal weight which teen Harriet said, “broke my skull,” left her with severe headaches and seizures for the rest of her life. Sometime after her injury, Tubman began experiencing visions and vivid dreams, which she interpreted as revelations from God. These spiritual experiences had a profound effect on Tubman’s personality, and she acquired a driven faith in God. And along with the legacy of her grandmother and mother’s faith, she answered God’s call as Moses did: to lead the people to freedom. “Broke skull,” headaches, seizures and all.
Harriet, at age 50, adopted an infant girl, Gertie Davis, who grew up carrying on their faith through her own gifts of service and advocacy for the Black community.
Who helped to shape your faith? What drives your faith?
Valora K Starr is director for discipleship for Women of the ELCA.
Photo of Harriet Tubman from Wikipedia.com.
Thanks for sharing Harriet’s story, Val. A cousin took me a couple of years back, to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to visit the place where Harriet was born, the museum and the store where she was hit in the head.
I look forward to reading your blogs throughout the month.
Thanks Annette! Harriet is so very important to both descendants of enslaved people and to women. She not only set our freedom but how to keep it. The
lessons are hidden in plain sight and crucial to the freedoms being restricted today. I hope the rest of the stories of these bold women of faith strengthen your faith and actions.
Looking forward to your blogs this month. Thank you Valora for your unwavering faith and your leadership!
Thanks Jean! It’s my good pleasure!
A beautiful replay of you life to share her commitment to saving lives through so much danger.
Indeed!
Thank you!
You bet!