Black Grief and Soul Therapy

The Beginning of Healing... A Book Review Black Grief & Soul Therapy As stated in the Dhammapada, "any problem that can be described [or labeled] can be healed..." (Ecknath Eswaran's translation of the Dhammapada, 1996). Holding this view Dr. Nicholas Cooper-Lewter does what any great doctor does. He gives his clinical observation on the condition of the African-Descendent community in America. Dr. Lewter describes the suffering of the human condition and the exacerbations of slavery on that conditioned culture and community. Dr. Lewter then asserts his diagnosis, then his prognosis, and finally his understanding that defines the problems of the community at large and sets forth alterative paths as solutions to the afflictions that plague the African-Descendent community and culture here in America. Dr. Lewter call these things as he sees them and makes no apology for the gross nature of the diseases, the afflictions, and the tolls they have taken on the persons, property, and principles on the lives of the people in the diasporas. He points to facts that have been to long ignored, and situations overlooked concerning the church and the people who have come to run them as sub-genres of their parent institutions. In his book, Dr. Lewter takes a courageous stand that challenges the institutions, and our individual self to become more reflective and proactive in the recovery, re-identification, and reclamation of our very beingness. Dr. Lewter needs to be on stage at the Tavis Smiley tour bringing his message to the masses as many others have. This is a need to read, must practice, must seek out, and support all of the people who are healers within the African-Descendent communities. I am building a network of men and a class based on the theories of Dr. Lewter's and other's books, practices, and principles. Wishing, Well-Being for Humanity in its Totality! May we all head onward in the Fifth-Direction Mr. Johnny C. Huff, M.Ed. The Midnight Writer Swami Amano Viram

Being a person in a helping profession, for over thirty years, it was pleasing to see that someone has put into the printed word that which is needed to be written concerning this important subject. Dr. Cooper-Lewter in his succint and well documented treatise on Black Grief and Soul Therapy speaks to the hidden pain and not so hidden struggling of a people who have never taken the time to sincerely grieve. The issues around self-worth and consistent feelings of the lack of personal value, pervades; yet Dr. Cooper-Lewter through Soul Therapy seeks those trapped in the malaise and provides a blue print to get out. Black Grief and Soul Therapy, like much of what is now called Black Psychology and Black Social Work, capitalizes on Ancient and recent African American history, theology of the "real Black Church", Black Culture and sheer good sense to carry forth a message of hope. Using the techniques and building upon them will help young therapists, with substantial Black clientele, not only understand them, but actually be able to help them, using Cooper-Lewter's own principles of helping and thank-you's. Much of the social work and psychological literature written lately has not broken new ground of understanding, and especially when considering the problems of Black folk. Black Grief and Soul Therapy breaks that ground and cultivates the direction in which a people should grow.

Every so often this planet is blessed with a person who has special abilities of Hindsight, Insight, and Foresight. These abilities allow us as human beings to take a look in the mirror at ourselves as spiritual beings inhabiting this physical vessel. In this journey we call life one must take this look at ourselves no matter how painful it might be. Our greatest fear is being exposed or found out for our inadequacies. Yet it can be our greatest reward because it will allow us to face the realities of life. In turn this will allow us to enter into the realm of infinite possibilities and unlimited potential. In this book, Black Grief and Soul Therapy, Dr. Cooper-Lewter makes us as Africans in America face the mirror of our experience here. Although reading this book may be a painful experience for the reader, none the less it is a journey you will enjoy and must take if you want to reach your full human potential. Dr. Cooper-Lewter's Hindsight into what happened to those Africans who were brought here in the hulls of ships has added a new and important word in our historical and social discourse, Chattelization. He says that it was a process that made the enslaved African no longer see himself as a spiritual being but as a human being having spiritual encounters. This process has produced human beings who are shame personified and suffer from all forms of Grief. Dr. Cooper-Lewter in this seminal work shows us how this Chattelization process of our enslavement period still effects us even today. Because we have never dealt with our spiritual domination, destruction, and death in this country, we mistakenly looked to a place where we thought we could find sanctuary the Black Church. Because of the inherited deceptions in the Church, all too often the only thing we ever find there is even more grief and shame. But it is his Foresight, in giving us some direction in getting us out of the mess we find ourselves in that sets this book apart. Black Grief and Soul Therapy is a must read for those of us who want our people to move from the Hole-In-Our-Souls and a crucified state of being into healing and Resurrection. In order for us as Africans in America to rise above the ashes of our Maafa and move beyond to a place of clarity, we must all become Soul Therapists. Our congregation has taken on the challenge and chosen to develop 1000 "Passaged" Soul Therapists in the next Ten Years. Black Grief and Soul Therapy is a monumental work that must be read, studied and practiced by all who would help heal our sacred and oppressive secrets in our collective past(The descendants of Chattel and masters, alike). This is the one way we can end the Soul-Drive-Bys and Spiritual Abuse occurring in our Churches and communities. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this great and mighty work. I highly recommend this book to the serious reader and practitioner of African centered thought. Baba Derrick Jackson,Pastor Krst Universal Temple, Columbia, SC

This book will drive the new millenium to a healthy sense of self for all readers. The book gives caregivers the tool to work with the damaged souls of the people that they work with. This book also gives the reader a guide to live a more healthy life. I recommend the book strongly for all to read to better understand and face their fears about something talked about but never really put to words.