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In the history of influential African-American women in the United States, two foremothers stand out, both from their experiences as African-Americans, and for their experiences as women. In both experiences, they fought to overcome prejudice: one, in relation to their race and two, in relation to their gender. These women were Jarena Lee and Amanda Smith, who felt called to preach the gospel in a time when women were admonished to "keep silent in the Church".

Let us begin with a brief history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The basis for the foundation of this church was segregation, and the event which preceded its initiation occurred in Philadelphia in 1816 with the forced removal of the Reverend Absalom Jones from the "established" white organization. Allen, and others rented a room and held worship services by themselves, formulating the beginning of the AME, which would become the most powerful of the African-American churches. This search for "equality", however, did not pertain to a woman's status within the newly formed organization. One reason in particular was the lack of recognition of women as potential spiritual leaders, another in the non-revivalistic nature of the organization.

Jarena Lee was residing in Philadelphia at that time, and was attending the English Church, which preached Methodism. After years of experiencing "visions" which propelled her towards a life of service to God, she was searching for the right vehicle through which to articulate his will. A voice told her that the English Church was not to be that vehicle, and she was introduced to the AME by the cook of the house in which she resided. Rev. Richard Allen was to give the sermon that day, and the experience deeply affected her. Two days later, she approached the Reverend Allen, who did not discount her visionary experiences, although the norm in the male conversion experience at this time appeared to come from deep soul-searching and prayer.

Yet Jarena Lee had a battle before her: how to follow her calling in an organization which, although founded upon the precepts of equality before God, did not have room for women who felt called to preach. For eight long years, Lee struggled. Finally, she was placed in a position in which, with or without permission, she was able to actually preach from a pulpit. She did not go from organization to organization, but steadfastly remained within the organization to which she felt she had been "called" to carry out her duty to

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