African American Wisdom

Farah Jasmine Griffin’s beloved father died when she was nine, bequeathing her an unparalleled inheritance in closets full of remarkable books and other records of Black genius. In Read Until You Understand - a line from a note he wrote to her - she shares a lifetime of discoveries: the ideas that framed the US Constitution and that inspired Malcolm X’s fervent speeches, the soulful music of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, the daring literature of Phillis Wheatley and Toni Morrison, the artistry of Romare Bearden, and many others.

Author of Farming While Black and co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, Leah Penniman reminds us that ecological humility is an intrinsic part of Black cultural heritage. While racial capitalism has attempted to sever our connection to the sacred earth for 400 years, Black people have long seen the land and water as family and treating the Earth as a home essential.

Wesley Greenfield, aka Ice or the Iceman, a self-professed "corner boy" has no intention of stepping up to Dr. Rosalyn Hunter, his high-school heart throb, even though she has stepped up to help him protect three abandoned neighborhood kids. As the principal of the local elementary school, in his view, she ranks too far above his lowly position as the owner and operator of a struggling community center.

After years of soul searching, both author Renee’ Drummond-Brown (USA), and Nancy Ndeke (Kenya, Nairobi), connect to their lost lineage to identify with their culture’s complex roots, historical backgrounds, and finally come to terms with confronting their own fears of forgiveness. Because slavery was anything but a figment of imagination, both author Drummond-Brown and Ndeke use their literary voice poetically from across the globe to face those fears. Stepping out on faith by accepting the things they cannot change and having the wisdom to know the difference, the authors welcome the ...

The Orisha religion is a world religion just like Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity. Archeologists have determined it has been practiced in West Africa since at least 500 BCE but is probably much older. During the transatlantic slave trade the Orisha religion spread to the Western Hemisphere. It was most heavily practiced in the Caribbean and Brazil. It is referred to as Isese (the tradition), Cuban Ifa, Lucumi, Santeria, Regla de Ocha, Brazilian candomblé, Umbanda or simply the Orisha religion. I have been studying comparative religion for over twenty years and the only ...

In The Way of Tenderness, Zen priest Zenju Earthlyn Manuel brings Buddhist philosophies of emptiness and appearance to bear on race, sexuality, and gender, using wisdom forged through personal experience and practice to rethink problems of identity and privilege.

This is an ebook of poetry written with everyone in mind. The poems are meant to inspire and to give hope to those feeling down. The poetry touches on different facets of everyday life. These uplifting poetic words include poems about those we care deeply for including wives, mothers, husbands, and fathers. A kind word is capable of making or breaking someone's day. It's also an ebook where you can feast on life and religious poetry. The author has written with love this poetic ebook view of life through his own personal self expressions and experiences. Each poetry topic of interest is ...

Hailed as America’s greatest civil rights advocate, Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired the people of the United States to demand equality, regardless of the color of their skin. And he did it peacefully. Time may have passed, but in today’s world, his teachings are needed more than ever. With Martin Luther King, Jr.’s wisdom and unwavering dedication to making the opposition listen, you can become a peaceful leader and advocate for the way the world should look, no matter who stands in your way.

Dream Boldly, Live Fully: Quotes, Reflections & Action Steps to Empower Black Teens: Find Your Voice, Embrace Your Strength, and Create Your Future Step into a world of inspiration with this empowering guide designed just for Black teens. Dream Boldly, Live Fully is more than a book—it's your roadmap to unlocking your greatness. Featuring timeless quotes from legendary Black icons like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Frederick Douglass, this book connects their wisdom with your journey. Through relatable stories, thought-provoking reflections, and actionable exercises, you'll discover ...

Who Are We Anymore? Book of Poems, by author Reneé Drummond-Brown, will leave the reader pondering how did we arrive at this turbulent crossroad? One thing for sure, two for certain, we know, that we know, cellphones and trends hold our attention at bay from the global catastrophes that detain our mind. Distractions are the new norm, that for certain we do know. Societies present condition and these norms leaves one questioning who, what, where, when, why, and how?

Brown Shugas’ by Reneé Drummond-Brown is written about us women of colour who the author refers to in the book as sisters, sistahs, and Sustahs. To earn the prestigious title Sustah, the woman of colour has endured some thAngs in her lifetime (and then sum) that no one else can withstand and she also shares a code of honor with other Sustahs that surpasses all understanding. For example, a Sustah is conditioned from a little girl to always smile through it all and never cry no matter what the situation whether emotional, psychological, and/or physical because one thing for sure and two ...

Root Awakening Poetry Book, by author Reneé Drummond-Brown, digs way down deep causing the author to wrestle within. Though the book lacks handsome colored flowers, and bears spines it plants a ray of faith, hope, and love in a concealed rainbow. Nonetheless, the readers tears coupled with seeded underground poems have deep spreading roots that branch out to feed arid regions. Root Awakening is urbane and seasoned for a time such as this…The poetic filaments and fiber invigorate the readers’ mind’s eye conveying nourishment to the soul like a sun in need of A Son, and A Son in need ...

Tina Justice burst into the club like she owned the joint. Heads quickly turned and murmurs rose amid lively applause. Newspaper photographers and reporters scurried ahead of her, frantically snapping pictures and shouting questions while her security team cleared the way. She ignored it all. Restaurant patrons jumped to their feet, applauding in roof-raising adulation and admiration of her, sounding like hundreds of geese rising from a lake, noisily squawking and honking, wings loudly beating the air.

24 Karat Gold Poems, by Reneé Drummond-Brown, in conjunction with her book, 24 Karat Gold Quotes, are compiled life lessons, and wisdom seeds sprouting throughout the vein of each book, which are profoundly good for growth as it relates to the soul. Through the mind’s eye of Drummond-Brown, poetic nuggets are masterfully crafted, and strategically placed throughout this particular book. The poems are extraordinary at every level. Her authentic talent as a creative writer sets the bar high, showing the literary world her genuine value, and worth as a 21-century author. Drummond-Brown’s ...

"Walking Wisdoms," is a poignant and deeply moving narrative that explores the intricate dynamics of familial relationships, life lessons, and the enduring wisdom passed down through generations. Set against the backdrop of rich cultural heritage, the book centers on the character of Menalik, an African-American Muslim Man, who imparts his life's wisdom and experiences to his son Tin-sing.

It was a long, hard-fought battle for Judge Kristen Catherine Bryant to be appointed by the President of the United States to a judgeship on the DC Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. She endured Congressional interrogations, press and news media interviews, speaking engagements, and grips and grins with intestinal fortitude and no little amount of patience and guile. That was all now behind her. She had a month to decompress before she had to move from Chicago, Illinois, to Washington, DC, to assume her new post.

The Roots of Resilience: How African Proverbs Shape African American Literature explores how ancestral wisdom continues to influence modern thought, storytelling, and resilience. Blending humor, history, and powerful insights, Emmanuel Simms unpacks the relevance of African proverbs in workplace culture, conflict resolution, and the African American literary tradition. With chapters that read like a conversation with your favorite wise elder (who also happens to have perfect comedic timing), this book invites educators, DEI leaders, writers, and readers to rediscover the power of proverbs ...