Rebecca Cox Jackson facts for kids

Rebecca Cox Jackson (1795–1871) was a free Black woman known for her strong religious beliefs and her work to empower women. She also wrote an autobiography called Gifts of Power: The Writings of Rebecca Cox Jackson, Black Visionary, Shaker Eldress, which was published in 1981.

Rebecca worked as a seamstress and took care of her brother's children. In 1830, she had a powerful religious experience. She believed God gave her special gifts, like being able to read and write, heal people, see the future, and hear God's voice. After this, she decided to live independently and follow her spiritual path. She then joined the Shaker movement, which believed in equality and living a simple life.

Rebecca started writing her life story in 1830 and finished it in 1864. In her writings, she shared her spiritual journey, her visions, and her experiences with unfair treatment due to her race and gender. In 1859, she and her close friend Rebecca Perot started a Shaker community for Black women in Philadelphia. Their friendship lasted for 35 years until Rebecca Jackson's death in 1871.

Rebecca's Early Life and Spiritual Journey

Rebecca Cox was born on February 15, 1795, in Hornstown, Pennsylvania. Her family was free, meaning they were not enslaved. She never had her own children but helped raise her widowed brother's children while living with him. She married Samuel S. Jackson and worked as a seamstress.

In 1830, Rebecca had a life-changing religious experience during a thunderstorm. Before this, she was very scared of storms. But she felt that God would protect her and speak to her during them. After this, she became deeply devoted to her faith. She believed God gave her many special abilities, including learning to read and write without being taught. She also believed she could heal people, see the future, have visions, and hear God's voice.

Rebecca later decided to live independently from her brother and continue her spiritual journey. She traveled to different churches and eventually found the Shakers in Watervliet, New York. She felt a strong connection to their beliefs, especially their commitment to living a simple, celibate life.

Undated photograph of Rebecca Perot, Rebecca Cox Jackson's partner of 35 years. No known image of Jackson exists.

Rebecca became a minister in the Shaker community. However, she faced unfair treatment because of her race. Because of this, she left and moved to Philadelphia with her close friend and companion, Rebecca Perot. In 1859, Rebecca Jackson started a Shaker group there, mainly for Black women.

Later, Rebecca and Perot returned to Watervliet for a year. Rebecca finally made a special promise to the Shakers there and received their approval. She then returned to Philadelphia and continued to lead her Shaker community as an Eldress until she passed away in 1871. She is buried in Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania. Her autobiography, which she wrote many years earlier, was finally published in 1981.

Rebecca's Spiritual Beliefs and Leadership

Rebecca Jackson's spiritual awakening in 1830 was a turning point. She felt that God gave her many gifts. These included learning to read and write, healing others, seeing visions, and hearing God's voice. She also believed that some serious health issues she faced were connected to these spiritual gifts.

Rebecca later decided to live independently from her brother, Joseph Cox, to follow her own spiritual path. Her autobiography, Gifts of Power, inspired many, including the famous author Alice Walker. Walker said that Jackson's story deeply influenced her own writing, especially her novel The Color Purple. Walker saw a connection between Rebecca Jackson's spiritual journey to literacy and the journey of Celie, the main character in The Color Purple.

When Rebecca first joined the Shakers in Watervliet, New York, they wanted her to make a promise to a white Eldress named Mother Paulina Bates to become a "full member." Rebecca felt uncomfortable with this at first, as she believed her spiritual journey should not be controlled by someone else based on race. She left but later returned and agreed to take the pledge. After this, she was given a blessing to minister to people herself.

Rebecca believed that being a mother was very important, even though she never had biological children and chose to remain celibate. She spoke of a "spiritual maternity," meaning she could be a mother figure to people in a spiritual way. Rebecca always followed her inner voice and what she felt God was guiding her to do. Her friend Rebecca Perot continued her work after Rebecca Jackson's death in 1871. The Black Shaker community in Philadelphia continued to thrive until at least 1908.

Rebecca's strong beliefs helped her feel powerful and confident, even when facing challenges. The Shakers believed in a "Mother-Father godhead," meaning they saw God as having both male and female qualities. This idea was important to Rebecca. She and other religious leaders used the idea of women's ability to create life as a way to show the importance of women in religion and leadership. Rebecca's spirituality helped her embrace her identity as a woman and see the strength in it. She believed that because God was guiding her, nothing was impossible.

Rebecca's Close Friendship

After Rebecca Jackson decided to live independently and follow her spiritual path, she met Rebecca Perot. They became lifelong companions. They lived, ate, traveled, and prayed together for 35 years, until Rebecca Jackson's death.

Works

• Gifts of Power: The Writings of Rebecca Jackson, Black Visionary, Shaker Eldress edited with an introduction by Jean McMahom Humez. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 1981.

See also

In Spanish: Rebecca Cox Jackson para niños