"Sisters in the Wilderness" made its mark during a period of significant social, cultural, and political upheaval in the United States. It resonates deeply with me because of how it brings to the forefront the unique challenges and specific concerns of Black women, who were often overlooked in both the feminist movement and the civil rights movement.
Dolores Williams, along with Dr. Townes, insightfully critiques the tendency in Black theology to predominantly focus on Black men, a perspective that needed broadening. What really strikes me about womanism, and its response to a glaring sociopolitical issue, is how it addresses the overlooked voices of Black women in both feminist and black liberation theological discourses. Williams' critique of traditional Christian theology for perpetuating patriarchal and racist systems was, and still is, a crucial intervention. Her ability to pinpoint where race, gender, and class intersect is a pivotal contribution to the field of black theology.
Dolores Williams' work, especially her focus on the survival and quality of life of Black women, forms a fundamental part of womanist theology. Her reinterpretation of biblical narratives, such as the story of Hagar, is both challenging and enlightening. I find it fascinating how she uses these stories to highlight the resilience of Black women and boldly confront God in various ways. Speaking as someone whose feet feel more at home in Timberlands, prefers snapbacks to lace fronts, and who never really carried a purse, I've often felt distant from the conventional image of Black womanhood.
Although I've always recognized the magic in Black women, I struggled to see myself as part of this group due to the molds, pathologies, or tropes that seemed to define it. This week's readings, particularly "Sisters in the Wilderness," have been instrumental in helping me reclaim my identity as a womanist. They've shown me how womanism disrupts and resists the narrative of a white male god, fearlessly grappling with texts and highlighting the problematic nature of our epistemology around liberation, suffering, and redemption.
In my view, the book and Dolores Williams herself were ahead of their time, yet they spoke directly to the heart of the era.
Womanist theology has evolved through various waves, and I'm particularly drawn to the current wave that challenges gender norms. This approach, I believe, will enable other nonbinary individuals like myself to embrace the rich legacy and magic of womanism without feeling confined by gender binaries.
