Keeping the Faith: Stories of Love, Courage, Healing, and Hope from Black America
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Overview
Commentator, advocate, and author Tavis Smiley brings together a collection of almost one hundred original accounts drawn from African Americans in all walks of life, with a sprinkling of more famous individuals (Cornel West, Iyanla Vanzant, and Danny Glover). These stories, reminiscences, and testimonies share lessons learned about family, heritage, and black culture, illuminating moments that touched the contributors' lives in special ways. A stirring celebration of the abiding and profound inner strength, passion, and spirituality that nurture and sustain so much of the African-American community, Keeping the Faith is a book of affirmation and inspiration for us all.Synopsis
In Keeping the Faith, nationally acclaimed author and commentator Tavis Smiley, host of NPR’s The Tavis Smiley Show, weaves stories of over one hundred African Americans into a rich tapestry of intimate testimonies about life, love, and inner strength. In Smiley’s affirming collection, black Americans from all walks of life join with well known figures such as Iyanla Vanzant, Cornel West, and Danny Glover to offer insights about the moments that challenged them to learn, the teachers who inspired them to grow, and the sources of hope and courage they draw on in their daily lives. Certain to be of abiding value to readers everywhere, Keeping the Faith offers rich lessons about loss and healing, wisdom and fulfillment, perseverance and the wellsprings of joy.
KaaVonia Hinton - KLIATT
Smiley has assembled a heartfelt collection of over 85 anecdotes, social commentaries, and testaments of challenging experiences that have impacted black men and women from all over the country. Following a brief introduction by Smiley, the book contains seven main sections: Black Love, Inspiration, Faith, Grief and Healing, Hope and Overcoming, Education, and Family, Friendship, and Heritage. Some of the writers are well known, such as Dr. Cornell West, who recalls the love he received during his struggle against cancer; or award-winning actor Danny Glover, who describes how he overcame dyslexia. Others are inspirational speakers, such as Iyanla Vanzant, who discusses lessons learned during her brief career as a talk show host. But there are also a number of largely unknown writers who have important stories to share. Though the essays of the familiar are compelling, those written by the lesser-known offer a great source of strength, knowledge, courage and triumph. The biographies at the end help shed light on just how diverse and accomplished many of the contributors are. As much as possible, each narrative corresponds with the section's heading, though there is some overlap as some of the subject headings are closely related. These essays are not for the fainthearted as many deal with tragic death, physical abuse and destitution. One of the most rewarding parts of the book is Smiley's own contribution. Each section opens with at least one short essay by Smiley that indicates how much he knows personally about "Love, Courage, Healing and Hope." Aptly titled, this book is highly recommended to anyone who needs to be reminded that his or her life has purpose and meaning. KLIATT Codes:JSA—Recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2002, Random House, Anchor, 273p., Ages 12 to adult.
Editorials
KLIATT
Smiley has assembled a heartfelt collection of over 85 anecdotes, social commentaries, and testaments of challenging experiences that have impacted black men and women from all over the country. Following a brief introduction by Smiley, the book contains seven main sections: Black Love, Inspiration, Faith, Grief and Healing, Hope and Overcoming, Education, and Family, Friendship, and Heritage. Some of the writers are well known, such as Dr. Cornell West, who recalls the love he received during his struggle against cancer; or award-winning actor Danny Glover, who describes how he overcame dyslexia. Others are inspirational speakers, such as Iyanla Vanzant, who discusses lessons learned during her brief career as a talk show host. But there are also a number of largely unknown writers who have important stories to share. Though the essays of the familiar are compelling, those written by the lesser-known offer a great source of strength, knowledge, courage and triumph. The biographies at the end help shed light on just how diverse and accomplished many of the contributors are. As much as possible, each narrative corresponds with the section's heading, though there is some overlap as some of the subject headings are closely related. These essays are not for the fainthearted as many deal with tragic death, physical abuse and destitution. One of the most rewarding parts of the book is Smiley's own contribution. Each section opens with at least one short essay by Smiley that indicates how much he knows personally about "Love, Courage, Healing and Hope." Aptly titled, this book is highly recommended to anyone who needs to be reminded that his or her life has purpose and meaning. KLIATT Codes:JSA—Recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2002, Random House, Anchor, 273p., Ages 12 to adult.—KaaVonia Hinton