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"I Cried out and None but Jesus Heard!" Prophetic Pedagogy

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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2005 "I Cried Out and None but Jesus Heard!" prophetic pedagogy: the spirituality and religious lives of three nineteenth century African-American women Elecia Brown Lathon Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Lathon, Elecia Brown, ""I Cried Out and None but Jesus Heard!" prophetic pedagogy: the spirituality and religious lives of three nineteenth century African-American women" (2005). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 3120. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/3120 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. “I CRIED OUT AND NONE BUT JESUS HEARD!” PROPHETIC PEDAGOGY THE SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIOUS LIVES OF THREE NINETEENTH CENTURY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Curriculum and Instruction By Elecia Brown Lathon B.S., Southern University, 1993 M.Ed., Louisiana State University, 1996 Ed.S., Louisiana State University, 2002 December 2005 ©Copyright 2005 Elecia Brown Lathon All Rights Reserved ii For my mother Laverne S. Brown, my inspiration, my friend and my first teacher iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS All that I am and all that I ever hope to be I owe it all to thee. To God be the glory for the things He has done. I have been humbled, enlightened and inspired throughout this process. The women that I chose to study have opened my eyes to new and exciting spaces that I would never have dreamed of inhabiting. The radical nature, commitment to the call and the devout desire to do the will of God that each of these women exhibited has encouraged me to continue my journey and to follow my dreams. I have been strengthened mentally and spiritually. So I thank Maria Stewart, Julia Foote and Zilpha Elaw for their spiritual legacy and their amazing strength. For they have truly become my “Sisters of the Spirit” (William Andrews). I would like to acknowledge my major professor, Dr. Petra Munro Hendry. Thank you for your comments, your feedback, your guidance and for helping me learn how to “think outside of the box.” All of these things significantly enhanced the quality of my work. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to have you as my major advisor throughout this process. Thank you for providing the understanding and support that only a quintessential scholar and major advisor can provide. Thanks for your unwavering confidence in me. When I thought I couldn’t climb a hill, you made me feel like I could climb a mountain. A special thank you to Dr. Earl H. Cheek, Jr., who worked with me from day one. You always had time for me even in the midst of your busy schedule. I can’t tell you how much your support and encouragement has meant to me. Thanks for always being there. To my committee members: Dr. Leonard Moore, Dr. Joyce Jackson, Dr. James Byo, and Dr. Earl H. Cheek, Jr., the kindness and support of each is beyond words. I am extremely blessed to have had the privilege of their presence and knowledge in assisting me throughout the doctoral process. iv As I thank the many people who have helped me I shiver at the thought of leaving someone out. “Please charge it to my head and not to my heart.” A special thank you to Kelly McFatter, Ms. Lois Stewart, and Ms. Joyce Stevenson. You guys have been wonderful. I know I worried you a lot but not once did you complain. I will forever be in your debt. To my mother, an educator of forty plus years, who instilled in me the value of education at an early age. I admire her for her tenacity, her energy, and most of all her spirituality. You have been a role model and inspiration to all of your children. I thank God for you and your love. Thank you for taking care of me and my little ones while I completed this project. To my dad, George Brown, Jr., thanks for keeping me laughing and for always being confident that I would finish one day. To my brothers and sisters, Evangelynn Clark, Chandralynn Livous, Elton Brown, Sr., Calvin Brown, Sr., and Rodney Brown: you guys are incredible. Thanks for putting up with me and my moods throughout this process, but most of all thanks for your support and encouragement. I would like to thank my mother-in-law and father-in-law, Barbara and Eddie Ray Lathon for their support and encouragement throughout this process. My only regret is that my mother- in-law is not with us to see the completion of this project. In the midst of her illness she called and encouraged me. She always asked how things were going. I thank her for that. I know she would have been proud. Mr. Eddie Ray, keep the faith and know that weepin may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. To my friends and “sisters of the spirit”, Chapreca Fields and Paulette Johnson, Thanks for being my friends. It has really meant a lot to have you in my corner throughout my writing. I v can’t say thank you enough for the many times you called to check on me, and for the many times you just listened to me vent. Your friendship is a gift from God. Sandra Compton, Denise Ned, Latoya Stickman and Hazel Stickman, to you I say thanks for checking on me to make sure that I didn’t “crack up.” I really appreciate you looking out for me and my family. To Dorian McCoy and Gwen Jackson, thanks for your friendship and listening ear. You guys are the best. I couldn’t have done it without you. To my classmate Donna Porsche-Frilot, thanks for introducing me to Maria Stewart. Together we can continue to recover the lost lives of African-American women religious. I look forward to the challenge. A special thanks to Mr. Mike Mallet at the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student Athletes. Thanks so much for your encouragement assistance, support and for always making me smile. I owe you. To my students past and present (SU and LSU), I thank you for helping me envision all that I could be. Thanks for helping me to realize what my gifts are and what I have been called to do. To my children who were born in the midst of my doctoral work : Derrek (three years) and Elise Leigh Ann (4 months). Thanks for putting up with mommy. You are the best kids a mother could ask for. Your smiles helped keep me grounded and focused throughout this process. I love you! Hope, Debra, Ms. Nora, Ms. Diana, Ms. Aleatha, Ms. Barbara, Ms. Joyce, Ms. Audrey, Ms. Pat, Ms. Debbie, Ms. Sharon, Ms. Alicia, Ms. Shawn and Ms. Liz, thanks for taking good care of my babies. I prayed for the best to care for my little ones and that’s exactly what God sent me. vi To my husband, and best friend, Derrek Sr., who so willingly sacrificed to make sure that this project came to fruition. My research became a part of your life. You never fussed or complained. You always encouraged me and you always told me that I could do it. Thanks for your spirituality, for pushing me, and for being the wonderful husband that you are. I love you and I thank you. Special thanks to the New Pilgrim Baptist Church and the New Hope Baptist Church for nurturing my budding spirituality many years ago. Finally, I would like to thank my pastor, Isaiah J. Webster and his wife, Louise Webster. The two of you have been wonderful to me and my family. Pastor Webster, thanks for the books. I can’t thank you enough. To Sunday school class #8, thanks for your prayers. Thanks to Ms. Charlotte Anderson for your assistance, Dr. Charles Vincent for suggested readings, Mother Jackson for taking time to talk to me about old negro spirituals and the old church and the Greater New Guide Church family for your love and support. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ...............................................................................................................................iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................................................................................................. iv ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................xi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 Woman’s Rights ................................................................................................................... 1 To Prophesy or Not to Prophesy: That Was the Question .................................................. 3 Spiritual Influence............................................................................................................... 7 Prophetic Experiences......................................................................................................... 8 Spirituality Defined........................................................................................................... 11 Resistance, Survival and Empowerment........................................................................... 13 Agency, Activism and Spirituality.................................................................................... 17 Understanding Curriculum...............................................................................................
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