My Soul Is a Witness: African-American Women’s Spirituality

＂My Soul Is a Witness is an authentic call to days, rituals and strengths of old. Strengths we still have. Spirituality we need to rely upon.＂ -Sandra West, The Savannah Tribune My Soul Is a Witness is a powerful collection of poetry, prose, reflections, prayer, and song celebrating spirituality in the lives of African-American women. Featuring a variety of voices including Johnetta B. Cole, Marsye Conde, Rita Dove, Nikki Giovanni, Akasha (Gloria) Hull, Toni Morrison, Iyanla Vanzant, and Alice Walker, this collection demonstrates the diverse ways that women connect with the Spirit. Exploring faiths ranging from Islam to Buddhism to Christianity, these writings illustrate the importance of religion and spirituality in the women of the African-American community. No matter how the Spirit expresses itself in these women’s lives, their faith is experienced not just as individuals but also as an inheritance from the women in their community. This anthology will surely touch every sister of the Spirit. ＂[A] beautifully rendered anthology.＂ -Library Journal ＂A wonderful book. . . . Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive work on spirituality of African-American women.＂ -Toni Campbell, Real African World Magazine Gloria Wade-Gayles holds the Eminent Scholar’s Chair at Spelman College and is a CASE master teacher for the state of Georgia. She is author of Rooted against the Wind: Personal Essays and No Crystal Stair: Visions of Race and Gender in Black Women’s Fiction and editor of In Praise of Our Teachers, among others. She currently resides in Atlanta

Gloria Wade-Gayles holds the Eminent Scholar’s Chair at Spelman College and is a CASE master teacher for the state of Georgia. She is author of Rooted against the Wind: Personal Essays and No Crystal Stair: Visions of Race and Gender in Black Women’s Fiction and editor of In Praise of Our Teachers, among others. She currently resides in Atlanta.