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Karen Baker-Fletcher; Baker-Fletcher; Mamie Till; Mamie Till-Mobley; Emmett Till; Mary; Virgin Mary; Jesus; Cross; lynch; lynching; Power; Resilience; Black Madonna; Madonna; icon; iconic; theology; ethics; theotokos; womanist; womanism; protestant; activism; motherhood; mariology
Power, Resilience, and the Black Madonna

Mamie Till and Mary at the Foot of the Cross

Availability:
Available for Backorder
Publisher:
Westminster John Knox Press
Publication Date:
10/27/2025
ISBN:
9780664268510
Pages:
0
Trim Size
6 x 9
Product Type:
Paper

A profound theological exploration of two iconic mothers—Mamie Till Mobley, mother of Emmett Till, and Mary, the mother of Jesus—whose lives of faith, resilience, and activism illuminate the struggles and strength of mothers in the face of systemic violence and injustice.

Power, Resilience, and the Black Madonna draws a poignant connection between these two figures, positioning them as embodiments of spiritual resilience and fierce opponents of oppression. At the heart of the book lies Mamie Till’s story, a mother who transformed her grief into a call for justice after the brutal lynching of her son, Emmett Till, in 1955. Mamie’s decision to hold an open-casket funeral revealed the horrors of racial violence to the world, and her lifelong activism earned her recognition as a mother of the civil rights movement. Baker-Fletcher parallels this with the life of Mary, the Theotokos, or Mother of God, who endured the crucifixion of her son and became a symbol of hope and faith for oppressed communities throughout history.

The book delves into the theological, historical, and cultural significance of these women, highlighting their roles as living martyrs and icons of justice. It examines Mary’s often-overlooked importance in Protestant theology and Mamie Till’s enduring legacy as an educator and activist. Through careful scholarship and heartfelt storytelling, Baker-Fletcher reveals how both women embody a call to confront systems of oppression and embrace faith that fuels resistance and transformation.

Rooted in womanist theology, as well as historical and literary analysis, Power, Resilience, and the Black Madonna challenges readers to see Mary as mother of the beloved community and Mamie as a reflection of the Black Madonna—iconic symbols of enfleshed freedom and spiritual resilience. It considers the prophetic power of motherhood and the redemptive force of love and justice in a world where mothers continue to grieve the loss of children to unjust violence.

For theologians, activists, and anyone seeking to understand the enduring power of faith and motherhood, this book offers a deeply relevant theological and moral call to action. Through the powerful stories of Mary and Mamie, this book redefines martyrdom as a life devoted to truth and justice, offering a renewed Protestant Mariology and a vision of church mothering that calls readers to embody compassion, resilience, and transformation in today’s divisive, violent world.

Karen Baker-Fletcher is Professor of Systematic Theology at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. She is the author of four highly regarded books, including Dancing with God: The Trinity from a Womanist Perspective�� and Sisters of Dust, Sisters of Spirit: Womanist Wordings on God and Creation. Baker-Fletcher is a member of the Workgroup for Constructive Theology and was listed as one of fifteen top religious leaders on ecological issues by Grist magazine in 2007.


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Power, Resilience,...
Mamie Till and Mar...
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