By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word In Black
Lent invites reflection. For 40 days, many Christians fast, pray, and examine their lives in preparation for Easter. But for Black Christians — whose faith traditions were shaped by enslavement, migration, resistance, and communal survival — Lent can carry additional layers of meaning.
From repentance and renewal to liberation and embodied dignity, Black theologians and spiritual writers are offering new ways to approach the season. Their work connects ancient Christian practices to contemporary struggles and to the lived realities of Black communities.
Here are five books by African American authors that explore Lent through history, spirituality and the enduring wisdom of Black faith traditions.
1. “Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal”
By Esau McCauley
Part of a series, “Fullness of Time,” that explores the seasons of the church calendar, this book declares that Lent “is inescapably about repenting,” but not about despair. The season, the author writes, ”is about turning away from our sins and toward the living God. A season dedicated to repentance and renewal should not lead us to despair; it should cause us to praise God for his grace.”
2. “Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith“
By Selina Stone
Chosen as The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book for 2024, “Tarry Awhile,” Churchtimes says, “makes the wisdom of Black spiritualities and faith available for all people.” Focused on seven themes — darkness as a place of encounter with the divine; the unity of all things; movement, belonging and migration; the Spirit as one who moves in unexpected ways; quiet contemplation as essential to spiritual growth; healing in community; and weeping that turns to joy — the book “centres the stories of often overlooked people and communities, offering wisdom for all people who hope to encounter God in the midst of wearying times.”
3. “Lent of Liberation: Confronting the Legacy of American Slavery”
By Cheri L. Mills
In a bold pairing of Christianity and America’s original sin, “Lent of Liberation” offers a devotion for each of the 40 days of Lent, weaving the history of slavery into each one. The devotions are written in the voice of a formerly enslaved person who escaped through the Underground Railroad.
4. “This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation and the Stories That Make Us”
By Cole Arthur Riley
The author assigns readings to highlight the sacredness of Black embodiment. “From the womb, we must repeat with regularity that to love ourselves is to survive,” she writes. “I believe that is what my father wanted for me and knew I would so desperately need: a tool for survival, the truth of my dignity named like a mercy new each morning.”
5. “Were You There?: Lenten Reflections on the Spirituals”
By Luke Powery
The author harnesses the power of traditional African American spirituals to enrich the Lenten experience. Each selection includes the lyrics of a spiritual, the author’s reflection on its meaning, a relevant passage from scripture and a prayer.
This article was originally published by Word In Black.
