ABSTRACT
The Black woman has many labels pressed upon her, and amongst those most resistant to change is that of religious animal. When she is not Sapphire, the embodiment of sexuality and erotica, she is Jemima; strong, resilient matriarch, eyes lifted exclusively heavenward, carrying her race and all its woes upon her shoulders, bearing them up through her unending prayers, her perpetual song and her faith in the Godman Jesus. This picture of the religious Black woman can, as in most cases of stereotype, only hint at the real experiences of women within the church. It is also the case that very little has actually been written in an effort to challenge these images and to provide representative insights into the lives of Christian Black women. This is most notable in Britain.
