The Souls of Womenfolk

“An astute unpacking of the experiences of enslaved African American women. . . . Throughout, the insightful excavation of historical records and bold theorizing create a convincing image of enslaved women’s lives and concerns. This important work will expand academics' understanding of race and religion in the South.”—Publishers Weekly

“Groundbreaking academic study. . . . Wells-Oghoghomeh shows how the religious imaginations of enslaved women were deeply rooted in understandings of gender—and how those religious experiences gave shape not only to 'the souls of womenfolk' but also to the communities around them.”—Christian Century

“An excellent debut work.”—CHOICE

“One of the most important books in African American religious history of the past decade. . . . The book is a triumph.”—Civil War Book Review

“This book will be difficult for many, but it is very important for the understanding of the enslaved community and its descendants.”—Reading Religion

“A powerful addition to a robust body of literature devoted to the experiences of African and African American women living under slavery. Wells-Oghoghomeh offers crucial insights, close analysis, and some surprising findings along the way. This book will likely become required reading for scholars in diverse fields, including African and African American studies, the transatlantic slave trade, and black women’s history."—The Middle Ground

“Wells-Oghoghomeh offers paradigms expansive enough to hold histories of violence, trauma, and strength. . . . An important contribution to scholarship and perhaps the book itself offers a material and sacred act of remembrance.”—Fides Historia

“Offers a deeper look at Christianity among enslaved persons in Georgia. The focus on womenfolk is the book’s greatest strength and makes it particularly appealing to gender historians of African American studies.”—Journal of Southern History

“An essential text for slavery historians, historians of religion, Womanist and Black Feminist ethicists, and other audiences [that] centers enslaved African women’s cultural memories, social organizations of enslaved life, embodied experiences, maternal and spiritual authority, cultural creativity, and responses to sexual violence and trauma by exploring their religious roles and rituals.”—American Religion

“I wish I had had this book when I was studying Black religion and spirituality as a graduate student. . . . [A]n important text that should be included as a resource for any theological educator who is focused on religious experience, spirituality, and anthropology.”—The Journal of the College Theology Society