This historical look at black women mission workers focuses on some organizers and supporters of the missions and on some missionaries. Females were allowed to do these jobs but the ministry remained off limits to them. The leadership capabilities shown by these women support efforts to purge sexism from the contemporary church. (Author/VM)

At the beginning of the twentieth century one-third of black women worked; most did agricultural or domestic work. Gradually as employment benefits increased and anti-discrimination laws were enforced, work opportunities for black women became more varied and better paying. (VM)