Grieving While Black

An Antiracist Take on Oppression and Sorrow

By: Breeshia Wade

Narrated by: Michele Lyman

Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

A groundbreaking exploration of grief and racial trauma through the eyes of a Black end-of-life caregiver.

Most of us understand grief as sorrow experienced after a loss - the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a change in life circumstance. Breeshia Wade approaches grief as something that is bigger than what's already happened to us - as something that is connected to what we fear, what we love, and what we aspire toward. Drawing on stories from her own life as a Black woman and from the people she has midwifed through the end of life, she connects sorrow not only to specific incidents but also to the ongoing trauma that is part and parcel of systemic oppression.

Wade reimagines our relationship to power, accountability, and boundaries and points to the long-term work we must all do in order to address systemic trauma perpetuated within our interpersonal relationships. Each of us has a moral obligation to attend to our own grief so that we can responsibly engage with others. Wade elucidates grief in every aspect of our lives, providing a map back to ourselves and allowing the listener to heal their innate wholeness.

©2021 Breeshia Wade (P)2021 North Atlantic Books

Critic reviews

"Grieving While Black expands the notion of grief beyond its quick association with death to examine all of the spiritual and psychological tolls of racism and sexism. By drawing on her experiences as a birth doula and chaplain, Breeshia Wade complicates grief itself by exploring different forms of loss while also imagining a path toward healing. A bracing, illuminating read." (Brit Bennett, author of the New York Times best sellers The Vanishing Half and The Mothers)

"...Grieving While Black tackles grief through the lens of race and racism. At its core is the understanding that grief is intrinsically tied to racial identity and systems of discrimination." (Metro.co.uk)

"Every page in this slim volume is a revelation. Read slowly - and more than once." (Lion's Roar)

Worth experiencing multiple times

Raw in her authenticity, professional in her career experience and writing skills, spiritual in her penetrating discernment, Breeshia Wade takes the reader on a journey of an inside view of the impact our race-based caste system has on the hearts and minds of the people it dehumanizes with both systemic and casual disregard. As a first-time author she demonstrates great promise in her unique ability to blend honesty and forthright frankness with a reflective, mindful, and insightful style of developing profound understandings she expresses with poignant impact.

I am personally very grateful that she took the pains to share her story and her brilliance with the world. She defines justice and restoration with zen-like excellence and sets the standard we all need to adopt if we hope to make the much needed changes and achieve the oneness for which our hearts hunger.

The narration of this book is beyond excellent. I cannot imagine a more perfect narration for this book.

Hand it out at the office…

This is an extremely palatable for the sensitive and easily offended fragile folks. Well written stories well woven….. I’ll take 20 copies to do a book study at the office…

Amazing Book on Grief

This book is a beautiful call to action. The author’s stories illuminate the shifts in awareness that are needed for anti-racist work, for parity in all helping roles, and for the elimination of inaccurate assumptions and trajectories that an understanding of grieving experience have been laden with. Thank you for sharing your beliefs, insights, and these relationships.