Liza J. Rankow

Joy Unspeakable

Prayer & Spiritual Formation

“Joy Unspeakable gives voice to a central but previously neglected aspect of Black religious experience. With this revised edition, Barbara Holmes brings the exploration forward, addressing the crucial issues of a 21st century landscape with insight and creativity. She traces the through-line of contemplative activism within and beyond the Black Church -- from the Middle Passage of the Atlantic slave trade to the Black Lives Matter Movement -- highlighting the role of the arts in the struggle for liberation from the Spirituals to Coltrane to Beyoncé. Holmes expands our understanding of contemplative practice, providing a valuable resource for both academic and community readers.”