New. Paperback.

I've been in the storm so long, children
Been in the storm so long
I've been in the storm so long, children
Gimme a little time to pray.

These words, taken from a traditional African American spiritual, introduce the more than 40 inspirational readings collected here - pieces that embody the struggles and triumphs of Black Unitarian Universalists.

Been in the Storm So Long resonates with the spirited voices of 29 African Americans. From nineteenth-century poets to contemporary thinkers, they testify to the burdens of prejudice and the hard truths of oppression. Yet, as theologian Howard Thurman (1899-1981) writes, a strongly rooted faith somehow prevails: "The commonplace is shot through with new glory. . . . Despite all the crassness of life, despite all the hardness of life, despite all the harsh discords of life, life is saved by the singing of angels."

The selections in Been in the Storm So Long are arranged in six chapters - including "The Black Experience," "Seeds of Change," and "The Dreamer and the Dream." With capsule biographies of contributors and ample material appropriate for discussion, Been in the Storm So Long is a rich resource for education as well as worship.

Boston: Skinner House, 1991.