Amanda Smith, An Autobiography: The story of the Lord’s dealings with Amanda Smith.

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“Three months of schooling was all I ever had,” writes Amanda Smith. That was at a school for whites, though a few colored children were permitted to attend. To this school my brother and I walked five and a half miles each day, in going and returning, and the attention we received while there was only such as the teacher could give after the requirements of the more favored pupils had been met. In view of the deficiency in my early education, and other disadvantages in this respect, under which I have labored, I crave the indulgence of all who may read this simple and unvarnished story of my life.”

The above paragraph can be found in the introduction to the book Amanda Smith, an autobiography. The subtitle is “The story of the Lord’s dealings with Amanda Smith.” Harvey Christian Publishers reprinted an abridged version of this book some years ago but are now presenting the book in its entirety.

This autobiography is remarkable for its simplicity, truthfulness, and detailed description of life as it was then. “Unvarnished,” the author called it and so it is. Beginning with her birth into slavery, Amanda chronicles in detail her life—freedom from slavery, conversion, call to minister at home and abroad and, most of all, her inner struggles as a black lady evangelist in the latter half of nineteenth century America. Her story is moving and inspiring and also a revelation of the prejudice existing even in religious circles.

Although our struggles to fulfill God’s call in our individual lives may greatly differ in detail from Amanda Smith’s, in essence they are very little different. We, too, fight against bitterness, unforgiveness, prejudice, and doubt. Amanda’s victories through simple trust in her Heavenly Father, inspire us to have faith that we can fulfill God’s call for our lives in a way which honors and glorifies Him.

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