Womanist Sass and Talk Back

“This sassy, bold, brave book reads texts and contexts with a very keen eye, a passion for people and justice, and a clear expertise in biblical texts and histories. Smith has read complex concerns in a way that, whether scholar or lay, readers will encounter insight, challenge, and courage. I can hardly wait to use this book in a class. But if you’re a pastor or educator in a local congregation, it will serve you just as well.”


—Valerie Bridgeman, Interim Dean, Associate Professor, Methodist Theological School in Ohio





“In this remarkable book, Smith grounds her reading of biblical stories about women in contemporary crises experienced by black communities. When Sandra Bland stands up for her rights, Smith hears echoes of the Syrophoenician woman talking back to Jesus, who initially refused to help her, calling her a dog. Police sexual assaults on poor black women provide a framework for understanding Susannah, whom two elders sexually profiled. Smith thereby demonstrates the practical value of intersectionality, post-colonial, and other critical theories.”


—Bernadette J. Brooten, Professor, Brandeis University