By Signe Smith
Governance & Society
Throughout African-American history, the Black church has played a unique and important role in the realm of Black activism. It is no secret that figures like Martin Luther King Junior and Malcolm X utilized their places of worship for their activism during the Civil Rights movement, but is the mobilization of the Black church limited to these men? For too long, the role of Black women in important historical events has been overlooked, and when it comes to the mantle they assumed in the Black church, this is no different.
Since the beginning, the Black church has been intertwined with the roots of the civil rights movement. The church provided a sense of guidance and acted as a sanctuary from outside oppression. Individuals were able to gain experience in leadership and learn how to mobilize others — something seen even during slavery (for instance Nat Turner’s rebellion, where Turner used the words of the Bible to motivate him). The Black church provided a space where Black people could be themselves, talk about their culture, and discuss the condition of their people. It was one of the only spaces where Black people were allowed to gather in an organized fashion during slavery, and it created a culture of community still seen today. However, despite the great influence and avenues for freedom, there are many voices left unknown in the landscape of the Black church. Fannie Lou Hamer, Coretta Scott King, and Ella Baker are just glimpses of unsung heroines within the legacy of Black church activists.
Voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer played a pivotal role in creating the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), an activist group that made history when it challenged the all-white Democratic National Convention delegation. Like Dr. King, Hamer was motivated by her faith, and it was Hamer along with King who negotiated two seats to be filled by members of the MFDP, and she alone who made the speech that gave America its final push.
Coretta Scott King, the widow of Dr. King, continued her husband's work, advocating for civil rights and social justice through the church. She referred to her husband as a co-worker and traveled with him all over the globe, championing for what she believed in. While she has been recognized as an advocator and changemaker, campaigning against the Vietnam War, the South African Apartheid, and more; in many cases, she remains forever in the shadow of her late husband because popular media refuses to give credit where credit is due.
Organizer extraordinaire Ella Baker played a pivotal role in shaping the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which spearheaded the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and empowering grassroots movements within the church. Yet her role in this remains determinately overshadowed yet again by leaders like Dr. King and Reverend Ralph Abernathy (it is also worth noting that Fannie Lou Hamer played a large role in the SCLC as well, yet remains just as unrecognized as Baker).
The gender of these incredible women compounded the discrimination they faced, making their achievements remarkable, yet hidden. The intersectionality of race and gender meant that their voices were often silenced or marginalized.
It does not help that in many cases, male activists at the time contributed to the atmosphere of discrimination and underestimation of women. Dr. King has been noted to make women appear as complacent to him, and Malcolm X documented many sexist policies in his teaching. This makes the situation even worse because even if they had been recognized, they would not have been respected by the very colleagues with whom they aimed to create political change.
This creates an environment where Black women are not recognized for their political contributions, even in scenarios in which they contributed the most. It is an unceasing cycle of oppression that continues to follow Black women activists even today.
Recognizing and amplifying the stories of these remarkable Black women is not just an act of historical correction; it is an essential step toward dismantling the gender biases that have long hindered the acknowledgment of contributions made by Black women, and their legacy in activism.
It is what we do now, bringing these stories to light, that can change the wrongs of the past, and pave the way for leveling the playing field in the future.