Some powerful male Baptist leaders chose to endorse rather than fight women’s organizational autonomy.

Evidence

Powerful male allies pronounced their support for the Woman’s Convention at this time. In addition to Lewis G. Jordan was Richard H. Boyd, leader of the NBC’s Home Mission Board and also head of its publishing board. Second in influence only to Morris, Boyd noted the reluctance of the women to relinquish their autonomy and expressed his willingness to yield to their stubbornness. — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 740

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Black Baptist feminists softened demands to reassure men they would not seek office. — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent: The Women’s…, 660; Even pro-woman male leaders opposed women forming separate spheres of denominational power — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent: The Women’s…, 707; Male Baptist leaders dismantled the women’s auxiliary almost as soon as it formed. — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent: The Women’s…, 715 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Male denominational leaders tried to subordinate autonomous black women’s organizations #contradicts (0.85) — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 738
• Black Baptist women’s national organizing faced sustained male resistance from churchmen. #contradicts (0.82) — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 691
• A male leaders’ network unified around gendered authority above doctrinal differences. #complicates (0.75) — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 463
• Black Baptist women guarded their institutional autonomy against male intrusion #qualifies (0.72) — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 363