Sisters in the Wilderness

The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk

By: Delores S. Williams, Katie G. Cannon - Foreword by

Narrated by: Machelle Williams

This landmark work first published 20 years ago helped establish the field of African-American womanist theology. It is widely regarded as a classic text in the field.

In this landmark work of emerging African American womanist theology, Delores Williams finds in the biblical figure of Hagar-mother of Ishmael, cast into the desert by Abraham and Sarah, but protected by God - a prototype for the struggle of African-American women. African slave, homeless exile, surrogate mother, Hagar's story provides an image of survival and defiance appropriate to black women today.

Exploring all the themes inherent in Hagar's story-poverty and slavery, ethnicity and sexual exploitation, exile and encounters with God-Sisters in the Wilderness traces parallels in the history of African-American women from slavery to the present. A particular theology - a womanist theology - emerges from this shared experience; specifically, from the interplay of oppressions on account of race, sex, and class.

©1993, 2013 Delores S. Williams (P)2021 Tantor

A Must Read

What’s interesting about this conversation is how black women birth into consciousness spirituality. I hadn’t thought about that before, or the implications of “segregated” worship: male worship (and the inherent practices per denomination) and female worship (and the inherent “social” practices and norms per denomination) coupled with race, class, and geography.

Must read

I wish that i had read this earlier in my life! Recommend this to anyone who cares about God's love.

Spoke to so many of my personal experiences

Very thought provoking and life changing. As a Black Woman and Christian, I’m so grateful to have stumbled upon this theological perspective that recognizes, honors, and bravely explores this intersectional aspect of my life and the lives of so many.

Great writing and informative.

I wish to applaud the author for her outstanding scholarship. I am so glad to that this book was in my rotation to read.

Valuable book!

This analysis of sexism in the church prompted me to consider the fruit of the poisonous tree that has contaminated the whole nation including church and state. The Black church rewards our males because they were victims of racism while the white church worships the most racist, unChristlike man they could find. We’re Black women any less victimized than Black men? When it comes to Black men are those footprints in the sand Christ’s or a Black woman’s? Now, Black men are saying that Black women hate them because Black men have taught their women and children that the community can survive despite them,Black women whether CEOs, mammies or sex workers have supported their men’s egos be they school drop-outs, ex-offenders or confidence men, etc. Black women have been superwomen that Black men took for granted.