Born: 1937 (Louisville, Kentucky)
Biography:
Delores Seneva Williams was an American Presbyterian theologian and professor who played a crucial role in the development of womanist theology. Born on November 17, 1937, in Louisville, Kentucky, Williams grew up in the rural South in a Seventh-Day Adventist family. She graduated from Central High School in 1950 and later became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) when she married her husband, Robert, a PC(USA) minister.
Williams’ journey in theological studies began at Union Theological Seminary, where she earned her PhD in systematic theology. Her exceptional academic achievements led her to become the Paul Tillich Professor of Feminist Theology at Union, a position that was later changed to the Paul Tillich Professor of Theology and Culture. Even after retiring, she remained highly respected and was granted the title of Professor Emerita.
Throughout her career, Williams became renowned for her groundbreaking work in womanist theology. In 1977, she published an influential article titled Womanist Theology: Black Women’s Voices, a seminal moment in the establishment of womanist theology as a distinct field. However, it was her book, Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk, published in 1993, that truly solidified her reputation in the academic sphere.
In Sisters in the Wilderness, Williams delves into the experiences of black women and their unique perspectives, ultimately advocating for their voices to be heard in theological discussions. She offers a theological response to the defilement of black women, emphasizing the importance of womanist thought as an approach to ethics, theology, and life rooted in the experiences of African-American women.
One of the key contributions of Williams’ work was her reevaluation of the biblical figure Hagar, using Hagar’s story as a lens to shed light on issues of reproduction and surrogacy as elements of black women’s oppression. Through her writings, Williams brought attention to the specific challenges faced by black women and their experiences as crucial sources of insight and inquiry in theological discourse.
Williams’ work also facilitated the establishment of the term womanism, coined by Alice Walker, who used it in her 1979 short story Coming Apart and later in her 1983 essay collection, In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens. Unlike feminist theology, predominantly practiced by white women, and black theology, predominantly practiced by black men, womanist theology is grounded in the experiences of black women. Williams emphasized that these experiences generate critical theological insights and raise significant questions.
Delores S. Williams made an indelible impact on the field of womanist theology. Her writings inspired countless individuals and challenged prevailing narratives within theological scholarship. Her dedication to highlighting the experiences and perspectives of black women has been instrumental in shaping the broader discourse on race, gender, and spirituality.