What Manner Of Woman - A Short Documentary Film

Find out about one of the most important movements in theology over the last 30 years...
For Black women at the crossroads of the Ivory towers of the academy and the stained glass windows of the Black church, the 1980s was a time of self-definition.
In 1983, the African American writer and poet Alice Walker coined the term "womanist".
The creation of this confessional concept was a significant moment for women who found themselves called to teaching in the learned guilds of religion and to ministry in the church.
Taken from the Black southern expression, "You actin' womanish," mamas, nanas, aunties, church mothers and other mothers, confirmed, critiqued and challenged their girl children, to insure that they not only survived but thrived in a world often configured to destroy their creativity, intelligence and womanhood.
So while the term womanist was introduced to the world in the 1980s, its meaning encompassed the lived experience of generations of Black women in America.
Women, who like their biblical foremothers, were legally, socially and even spiritually relegated to the edges of the church and society. These women, by Mother Wit, sheer will and passionate determination charted their own course, rewriting definitions of what is means to be Black, female, and made in the image of God.
-Dr Stacey Floyd-Thomas ©2012
Photos: Michael Stephen Levy from his book Revelations
www.amazon.com/...

[@neecywatson]

This was absolutely brilliant. Womanist I am, bold, creative, intelligent,sassy and loving. I loved this documentary! Will be coming back to it time after time to remind myself who I am. I am not a preacher but feel that whatever any woman's dreams are and accomplish this term still stands for her. Thank you for this. Love and Peace

[@thepoetrypreacher]

Thanks for the acknowledgements of women's accomplishments. Continue the movement

[@DIMarie40]

Absolutely empowered after watching this video. Thanks

[@bgilmore62]

This was incredible. Like I just went to church again.

[@thebert9754]

So timely! Especially now...

[@YasminAndersonSmith]

How powerful and moving. Thanks for sharing.

[@user-ou6nz4uv4k]

Great film, Thank you so much for sharing !

[@jodeciw673]

Mind Blowing!!!

[@charlenesmith6768]

This is so true ❤

[@nataliereynolds3031]

@3:50 That's a whole notha thang

[@ATLHeaux]

Amazing!

[@starbasefiveify]

NICE VIDEO👍🌷🌷🌷

[@Q17Scott]

Brilliant

[@sharlynmenard3229]

Can I get this as a DVD?

[@charlenesmith6768]

There is A rising number of black women who are standing in the pulpits. Women have been called to church administrators, evangelism, Apostleship, preaching and teaching openly charting their own courses in Christ Jesus.

[@kwabenaessel6204]

I lost all respect for this documentary as soon as l heard the word "patriarchy ". This another branch of feminism creeping into the church in the disguised as a form of liberation movement for woman,when will women learn that serving the church does not make you servants but instrument of God you don't necessarily have to lead to be a tool in the kingdom of God, and stop victimizing your self as some sought of oppressed group, the real powerful women are stronger and wiser than that

[@solanasecrist2547]

I have to agree with you there. One main reason is because I know so many black women who never miss church, who live very clean lives, stay classy looking, are charismatic and full of smiles, encouragement, and are very genuine; yet they largely outnumber men in the church. They hope and deserve to get married and it doesn't happen. I am for equality of the sexes all day long, but that doesn't always mean sameness. Yes women are leaders and the bible shows this several times over, but they are leaders in very different ways. Men need to be the executive head of a church. Women can do bible studies, teach classes, hold women only sermons on different days of the week (or husbands can attend especially if she's speaking on having strong marriages), work for the treasury, schedule and announce prayer nights, be choir director, organize singles groups that can have game nights and discuss how they can use their being single as an advantage to the church, etc etc etc.

[@aloevera3317]

I would have to disagree with both of you. Feminism had its roots in the Church, so to negatively view theological thought reclaiming it is at best an uninformed position. I'm a bit new to womanist theology, but nowhere have I heard the claim being made that there are no differences between men and women. From my experience, this is a strawman argument frequently made against feminists of all kinds. I guess it came from viewing women as being just as intelligent and spiritually gifted as men despite physical differences, since we are all equal in Christ. People who view women as inferior to men will misrepresent the arguments of feminism to the unaware. I believe that you have conflated the misrepresentation with the real thing.

[@JenJaneway]

Foolish coward

[@anniederolf9345]

This misses the point completely. This isn’t just about gender. It’s about intersections of gender, race, and class. “You don’t necessarily have to lead to be a fool in the kingdom of God”…. This is so heavy with privilege.

[@anniederolf9345]

*tool

[@doomdogg5766]

Womanism, is feminist foolishness!