Divas Sisterhood Mentoring Program

She worked hard as a cook and a washerwoman to provide for herself and her daughter after her husband was killed in the American Civil War. Prayer became a way of life for her as she trusted God for shoes, the money to buy her sisters freedom and food for her family. She became well known for her beautiful voice and inspired teaching and hence, opportunities to evangelize in the South and West opened up for her. Wherever she traveled, she wore a plain poke bonnet and a brown or black Quaker wrapper, and she carried her own carpetbag suitcase. Being a preacher and traveling as much as Amanda did, she sought out her appearance thoroughly. The appearances of women in the nineteenth century were described as “[Especially] fraught with volatile meanings, as the line between seemingly overly sexual or appearing presumptuously dressed above one’s station was a fine one.” African American women struggled with receiving the respect they deserved even if they dressed the part and as a lady. This was due to “Shadowed stereotypes bred in slavery of wanton Jezebels and pious Mammies…” African American women in the nineteenth century took the way they dressed very serious and so did others. If they dressed any way out of their respective outfit, judgments would be made against them. These women did not want others to forejudge them from their appearances or perceive them negatively. The stereotypes of being a Jezebel or Mammie were a few of the characteristics of how others seen the African American women population. They were either Jezebels, women with high sexual appetites; or Mammies, a-sexual women who was thick with big breasts and large buttocks. [4]

In 1876, she was invited to speak and sing in England travelling on a first class cabin provided by her friends. The captain invited her to conduct a religious service on board and she was so modest that the other passengers spread word of her and resulted in her staying in England and Scotland for a year and a half. She next traveled to and ministered in India, then spent eight years in Africa working with churches and evangelizing. While in Africa she suffered from repeated attacks of "African Fever" but persisted in her work. As a strong proponent of the Temperance Movement both in Africa and in the United States, she was invited by noted temperance advocate Rev. Dr. Theodore Ledyard Cuyler to preach at his Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn New York, then the largest church in its denomination. Upon her return from Africa, Amanda funded her own memorable opportunity. She funded The Amanda Smith Orphanage and Industrial Home for Abandoned and Destitute Colored Children. It was an institution for the poor and friendless colored children in a suburban neighborhood in Chicago. . The institution provided a home for children to become self-reliant. Amanda traveled many states to help gather money to support her work. “Support for this institution depended on in*******al cooperation for fund-raising and an advisory board. To raise funds for the initial costs, Smith enlisted Methodist in*******al cooperation across the country.” She was dedicated and put forth a lot of energy for the home. However, she soon met conflict with the orphanage due to many problems such as financial, a fire that destroyed the building, conflict between Smith and the staff, complaints from neighbors, and failed inspections by the orphan home investigators. Two years following Smith’s death, another fire broke out in the home killing two girls. The building was closed for good.[5] She continued to visit various nations and gained a reputation as "God's image carved in ebony."

Her autobiography was published in 1893.

Amanda Smith retired to Sebring, Florida in 1912 due to failing health. She died in 1915 at the age of 78.

70% of women and girls no longer receive the training in their youth to strengthen their inner thigh muscles through keeping their legs close together when sitting. A weakness in the inner thigh muscles makes it difficult for some women and girls to sit with their legs together, and crossing their legs is often their only way to stop their knees from falling apart.

Often Times when wearing long pants, We adopt a masculine air of authority. If you catch yourself doing this, just remind yourself that you are a young lady and correct your position💜✨

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