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EPISODE 34: Jarena Lee on Building Sacred Space
"If it is wrong for man to hold property in man, it is wrong for woman to hold property in woman." — Jarena Lee
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In 1819, Jarena Lee became the first woman authorized to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Born free in New Jersey in 1783, she traveled thousands of miles on foot, building communities of faith wherever Black people gathered.
This episode explores what it means to build a home—a spiritual dwelling place—when you've been denied one. We reflect on the radical act of creating space without waiting for institutional permission, and how Black women have consistently filled the gaps where traditional structures failed.
KEY INSIGHTS
- Jarena Lee didn't wait for the church to catch up to what she knew about herself and God
- The AME Church was founded after Black worshippers were pulled from their knees during prayer at a white Methodist church in Philadelphia
- Black women created sacred spaces—Sunday schools, missionary societies, kitchen table Bible studies—while still fighting to stand behind the pulpit
- Building your own table requires trusting the value of what you have to share
- The goal isn't just personal liberation—it's creating rooms where others can be whole
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
00:37 – Quote: Jarena Lee
00:51 – Who Was Jarena Lee?
01:20 – Building Home When Denied One
01:50 – Not Waiting for Permission
02:31 – The Founding of the AME Church
03:07 – Black Women Creating Sacred Spaces
03:49 – Reflection Question
04:05 – Closing
REFLECTION QUESTION
Where have you built a spiritual or communal space when doors were closed to you?
FEATURED FIGURE
Jarena Lee (1783-1864) – First woman authorized to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
CONNECT WITH KNOWLEDGE GUMBO
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SHARE THE WISDOM
If this quote stirs something for you, like great gumbo, let it simmer and choose to share it with love to another Black woman.
Until next time, take great care of your mind, your body, and your soul.
