Lent offers a season of reflection, repentance and renewal, and for Black Christians it also carries deep connections to history, resistance and communal faith. Five books by Black authors explore how ancient Lenten practices intersect with liberation theology, embodied dignity and the lived experiences of Black communities.
Author Archives: The Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
AFRO Editor
Posted inWord In Black
What is Lent? A guide to fasting, prayer and sacrifice
Lent is the 40-day Christian season of prayer, fasting and sacrifice leading up to Easter, commemorating Christ’s suffering and resurrection. While many believers give up favorite foods or habits, others practice various forms of fasting or add meaningful spiritual disciplines to deepen faith and prepare for renewal.
Posted inWord In Black
In Minneapolis, faith groups provide shelter from the ICE storm
As ICE raids escalate in Minneapolis, faith leaders and lay communities are turning churches, streets, and teaching spaces into sanctuaries—offering food, trauma care, and resistance grounded in Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community.
Posted inReligion
Druski’s latest skit parodies Black megachurch culture
Comedian Druski’s viral skit parodying prosperity-style Black megachurch culture has ignited widespread praise, backlash and reflection, with viewers debating whether the satire critiques exploitation or disrespects sacred faith traditions. Faith leaders and commentators argue the skit resonates because it mirrors real issues of performance, money and hypocrisy that the church must confront internally.
Posted inWord In Black
Amid backsliding, a Michigan group keeps MLK’s fire burning
As the nation marks 40 years of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, the King Commission of Mid-Michigan—one of the oldest organizations devoted to King’s legacy—continues to adapt amid civil rights backsliding. With fewer living veterans of the movement, the Commission is shifting its focus toward educating and empowering younger generations, using its nationally prominent King Luncheon and year-round programming to keep Dr. King’s vision of justice and collective action alive.
Posted inWord In Black
Richard Smallwood: ‘I’m looking forward to singing with you in heaven’
The death of Richard Smallwood, the legendary gospel composer and musician whose work reshaped Black church worship, on Dec. 30 at age 77, has prompted tributes across congregations and the music world. Best known for “Total Praise” and other modern hymns, Smallwood blended classical training with gospel tradition, leaving a lasting spiritual and musical legacy that continues to resonate across denominations and generations.
Posted inReligion
Watch Night: How Black Americans welcomed freedom with prayer
Watch Night, also known as Freedom’s Eve, is a sacred New Year’s Eve tradition in Black communities rooted in Christian worship and remembrance of Dec. 31, 1862, when enslaved and free African Americans gathered in prayer to await the Emancipation Proclamation. The tradition endures today as a blend of faith, cultural ritual and historical memory, honoring both spiritual perseverance and the long struggle for freedom.
Posted inWord In Black
7 Christmas carols with a touch of soul
Black composers and arrangers shape the Christmas repertoire, adding spirituals and gospel songs that endure across generations.
Posted inSports
Baltimore Ravens’ gift to schoolkids: Clean feet and new kicks
Baltimore Ravens stars Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers and teammates humbled themselves in a rare pre-Christmas act of service, washing the feet of students at Severn Elementary School before gifting them new sneakers. Rooted in an ancient Christian tradition symbolizing humility and love, the ritual offered a powerful lesson that true greatness is shown through service to others.
Posted inWord In Black
As SNAP benefits stall, Black churches step up to feed America
As the government shutdown halts SNAP benefits for millions of Americans, Black churches across the country are stepping up to fill the gap. Congregations like New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia and Open Altar Ministries in Virginia are expanding food programs, feeding thousands, and demonstrating the Black Church’s long tradition of community care. With food insecurity disproportionately affecting Black households, faith leaders are mobilizing resources, donations, and volunteers to ensure no family goes hungry.
Posted inReligion
‘A Master Teacher’: Remembering Dr. W. James “Jimmie” Abbington
Dr. W. James “Jimmie” Abbington, a renowned musician, scholar, and educator known as the “dean of Black church music,” died Sept. 27 at age 65. Recently appointed as Duke University Divinity School’s first professor of Black sacred music, Abbington’s lifelong mission was to preserve and elevate African American sacred music as both art and theology.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Bridging the ‘Black-Blue Divide’ — one congregation at a time
Faith and Blue, a national initiative launched in 2020 by MovementForward, invites police officers into houses of worship to foster trust and dialogue with communities that have often viewed law enforcement with skepticism. At Set the Captives Free Outreach Center in Maryland and hundreds of churches nationwide, congregations are bridging the “Black-Blue divide” through worship, conversation, and shared activities with local officers.