social and gender barriers

Black History Spotlight: Rev. Jarena Lee

Trailblazing preacher broke social barriers for Black women in the 1800s The Rev. Jarena Lee was a Black history trailblazer, who was the first woman to be authorized to preach by Richard Allen, the founder of the AME Church, and the first Black woman to have an autobiography published in the United States. Jarena was born in 1783 to free, but poor, Black parents. She was sent to work as a live-in servant at the age of 7 and was later exposed to Christian teachings. Jarena came to Philadelphia as a teenager and was changed after hearing a passionate sermon delivered