ePub Righteous Discontent: The Women’s Movement in the Black Baptist Church; 1880–1920 by Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham in History

Review

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerIn my opinion the book was in better condition than it was rated.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A masterpieceBy T-BoneDr; Higginbotham's book is essential reading for everyone who believes that the Civil Rights Movement started when Ms. Parks got on a bus in Montgomery. I hope Dr. Higginbotham writes a sequel following these formidible women and their organizations from the 1920's through the 60's.21 of 24 people found the following review helpful. a foray into black women's activism in the Womens ConventionBy A CustomerEvelyn Brooks Higginbotham asserts that southern black women; through their participation in the National Baptist Convention fostered agency; activism; women's rights and racial dignity during the post-Reconstruction era of Jim Crow. Intrisic to her thesis is that while black women utilized the Baptist church as a support stucture against racism and poverty; they also worked to raise the status of the black race as a whole and black women specifically. One of the most important insights in this book; is an in-depth analyiztion of the feminization of religion. However;while Higginbotham's thesis is stong and engaging; altering the hereto academic focus away from prominent black Baptist activists to a wider; regional phenomenom of group participation; ultimatley her study contains a few theoretical holes. There is little critical analysis of the opposition that black women faced in their endevores; such as the creation the Womens Convention; a subsiderary of the larger National Baptist Convention. Also; there is no sense of the black "masses;" consistantly refered to as such; that these women tried to help. "Masses;" in this case indicates a monolith rather than an increasingly diversified group of people. Ellaboration on both of these points would have greatly improved the complexity of Higginbotham's study; as well as left the reader a great deal more informed. Over all; Righteous Discontent is a valuable source for anyone seeking information on race; gender and relgion at the turn of the century. Higginbotham's treatment of the subject is tactful and engaging; uncovering a little known but important facet of African American history.