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| 'Spirited' Delivers New Sacred Text by: Herndon L. Davis |
Since the spring of 2006 the Black LGBT community has embraced a new sacred text, a vibrant
source of inspiration, and a guidebook of spiritual growth and understanding. It is called “Spirited,”
a collaboration of over 40 different Black LGBT authors who have each contributed their insight,
experiences, and advice on how to live vibrant and spirit filled lives without fear, guilt or shame.
Edited by G. Winston James and Lisa C. Moore, the book has been several years in the making as it
endured serious unexpected delays such as a house fire and even Hurricane Katrina. However the
seven year wait was well worth the valued effort as now a nationwide promotional tour is currently
underway introducing the spiritual anthology to diverse communities across the nation.
source of inspiration, and a guidebook of spiritual growth and understanding. It is called “Spirited,”
a collaboration of over 40 different Black LGBT authors who have each contributed their insight,
experiences, and advice on how to live vibrant and spirit filled lives without fear, guilt or shame.
Edited by G. Winston James and Lisa C. Moore, the book has been several years in the making as it
endured serious unexpected delays such as a house fire and even Hurricane Katrina. However the
seven year wait was well worth the valued effort as now a nationwide promotional tour is currently
underway introducing the spiritual anthology to diverse communities across the nation.
Go to any bookstore, mainstream or gay, and you’ll find at least a dozen LGBT books of faith and spirituality. However
none of them is quite targeted in its approach towards embracing homosexuality and spirituality within the context of the
black community.
To understand the black LGBT community and its spiritual angst, one must first understand the religiously entrenched
black culture, the wickedness of racism and the cruelty of homophobia and how they all work together synergistically to
inflict emotional pain and devastation.
In a society where anti-gay mega-churches have pervaded popular thought and where entire political infrastructures have
been built upon the fear of gay marriage, what is often left is a caustic void in the personhood of the lives of many
lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender individuals seeking a soothing, warm and spiritual healing.
The black LGBT community has had very little spiritual affirmation, guidance, and direction in the process of accepting
and embracing its individual beauty and diversity. Hence, “Spirited” seeks to be the bridge of the ever widening gap,
escalating disconnect, expanding chasm, and enlarging spiritual gulf that has overtaken the lives of so many black LGBT,
men, women and children.
none of them is quite targeted in its approach towards embracing homosexuality and spirituality within the context of the
black community.
To understand the black LGBT community and its spiritual angst, one must first understand the religiously entrenched
black culture, the wickedness of racism and the cruelty of homophobia and how they all work together synergistically to
inflict emotional pain and devastation.
In a society where anti-gay mega-churches have pervaded popular thought and where entire political infrastructures have
been built upon the fear of gay marriage, what is often left is a caustic void in the personhood of the lives of many
lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender individuals seeking a soothing, warm and spiritual healing.
The black LGBT community has had very little spiritual affirmation, guidance, and direction in the process of accepting
and embracing its individual beauty and diversity. Hence, “Spirited” seeks to be the bridge of the ever widening gap,
escalating disconnect, expanding chasm, and enlarging spiritual gulf that has overtaken the lives of so many black LGBT,
men, women and children.
What Makes “Spirited” So Different?
He’s from Jamaica and she’s from New Orleans. He’s tall, slender and muscular and she’s
petite, dainty and soft-spoken. They both are accomplished writers, communicators, and
progressive thinkers in their own right. But what brought them together was a passion to uplift
the black gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community.
Meet G. Winston James. His poems and short stories can be found in over 20 anthologies and
publications. He was also a former executive director of the Other Countries Black Gay
Expression artists collective and was a founding organizer of Fire & Ink: A Writers Festival for
GLBT People of African Descent.
In developing the book he explains that “My purpose was to address the fairly simple question
of how do black lesbian and gay people come to terms with their sexuality and their spirituality
particularly in the face of Christian religion which is often quite in opposition to our very
existence.”
James, who was christened a Catholic but was baptized and grew up in the Baptist church no
longer considers himself a Christian but still is sensitive to others who have remained in the
church along with others who’ve added other elements to their spirituality that best suits their
path.
“It was my hope in some way to attempt to cover the full breadth of spirituality within our
community. And I think we’ve done a pretty good job of covering a lot of what’s out there. It
was really important for me to move beyond Christianity because that’s what happened to me in
my own life. It was important for me to see how other folks have navigated the waters.
Sometimes some people have left the church others times they have not.”
So once the initial essay submissions were received, they were divided into “yes, no, and
maybe” piles. Then both editors elected to work with specific writers in order to edit the
submissions into a final state. From there the editors then submitted to each other their final
work for another round of editing to what is now printed in the book.
“Each piece that I read I tried to put myself in the mind of the consumer of the reader and ask
myself if this piece is going to touch someone. If I didn’t think it was going to touch someone,
then I didn’t think it was going to be in the book” adds James.
Now let’s meet the other half of the editing team of “Spirited”, Lisa C. Moore. Lisa is the
founder and editor of RedBone Press, which publishes work that celebrates the culture of black
lesbians and gay men and further promotes understanding between black gays and lesbians and
the black mainstream. Her company has now published 7 books which collectively have earned
three Lambda Literary awards. Moore was also lead organizer of the Fire & Ink writers festival
and editor of another literary publication.
As she reflects upon the finished product of “Spirited,” Moore has a pretty firm idea of how she’
d like to see the book used. “I didn’t really have expectations but I do have desires of how the
book would be used. I want it to be a resource for Black LGBT people who may be wrestling
with reconciling their sexuality with their spirituality. So if that sparks conversations within
churches or within people’s living rooms or with people and their grandmothers, so be it.
I want this book to help people become whole or at least get to that path to wholeness. It’s
been suggested that we use this as a sort of a bible study, that there be a Spirited study and a
curriculum that goes with it, so I’m looking into that. But I definitely want this book to be used
as a way towards healing” she explains.
During the seven year journey of co-editing the book, Moore’s own spiritual sensitivities have
changed. “I was christened Catholic and when I was seven my mother joined the Nation of
Islam. I left when I was 16 to go to school and I never looked back and I just was never in a
church except for an occasional wedding and a funeral; three funerals to be exact. I didn’t get
all of the kneeling and standing and kneeling and sitting and I didn’t know a lot of Latin. But I
also barely remember prayers in Arabic” she openly confides.
With this as her spiritual background, Moore continued to evolve as she took the various essays
of spirituality closer to heart. “This book has made me examine my own spiritual process and
what it means to feel like I’m a spiritual human being and it also has forced me to examine the
importance of spirituality in people’s lives. I never paid much attention to it but I pay a lot of
attention to it now.”
After a few starts and stops, the exit of a previous editor, graduate school for both Moore and
James, a house fire that destroyed a good bit of work, a new call for submissions, extensive
editing, re-editing, and more editing, a move to Florida, a move to Washington, DC, and then a
frantic search for relatives after Hurricane Katrina, “Spirited” has finally arrived an entire seven
years on schedule.
petite, dainty and soft-spoken. They both are accomplished writers, communicators, and
progressive thinkers in their own right. But what brought them together was a passion to uplift
the black gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community.
Meet G. Winston James. His poems and short stories can be found in over 20 anthologies and
publications. He was also a former executive director of the Other Countries Black Gay
Expression artists collective and was a founding organizer of Fire & Ink: A Writers Festival for
GLBT People of African Descent.
In developing the book he explains that “My purpose was to address the fairly simple question
of how do black lesbian and gay people come to terms with their sexuality and their spirituality
particularly in the face of Christian religion which is often quite in opposition to our very
existence.”
James, who was christened a Catholic but was baptized and grew up in the Baptist church no
longer considers himself a Christian but still is sensitive to others who have remained in the
church along with others who’ve added other elements to their spirituality that best suits their
path.
“It was my hope in some way to attempt to cover the full breadth of spirituality within our
community. And I think we’ve done a pretty good job of covering a lot of what’s out there. It
was really important for me to move beyond Christianity because that’s what happened to me in
my own life. It was important for me to see how other folks have navigated the waters.
Sometimes some people have left the church others times they have not.”
So once the initial essay submissions were received, they were divided into “yes, no, and
maybe” piles. Then both editors elected to work with specific writers in order to edit the
submissions into a final state. From there the editors then submitted to each other their final
work for another round of editing to what is now printed in the book.
“Each piece that I read I tried to put myself in the mind of the consumer of the reader and ask
myself if this piece is going to touch someone. If I didn’t think it was going to touch someone,
then I didn’t think it was going to be in the book” adds James.
Now let’s meet the other half of the editing team of “Spirited”, Lisa C. Moore. Lisa is the
founder and editor of RedBone Press, which publishes work that celebrates the culture of black
lesbians and gay men and further promotes understanding between black gays and lesbians and
the black mainstream. Her company has now published 7 books which collectively have earned
three Lambda Literary awards. Moore was also lead organizer of the Fire & Ink writers festival
and editor of another literary publication.
As she reflects upon the finished product of “Spirited,” Moore has a pretty firm idea of how she’
d like to see the book used. “I didn’t really have expectations but I do have desires of how the
book would be used. I want it to be a resource for Black LGBT people who may be wrestling
with reconciling their sexuality with their spirituality. So if that sparks conversations within
churches or within people’s living rooms or with people and their grandmothers, so be it.
I want this book to help people become whole or at least get to that path to wholeness. It’s
been suggested that we use this as a sort of a bible study, that there be a Spirited study and a
curriculum that goes with it, so I’m looking into that. But I definitely want this book to be used
as a way towards healing” she explains.
During the seven year journey of co-editing the book, Moore’s own spiritual sensitivities have
changed. “I was christened Catholic and when I was seven my mother joined the Nation of
Islam. I left when I was 16 to go to school and I never looked back and I just was never in a
church except for an occasional wedding and a funeral; three funerals to be exact. I didn’t get
all of the kneeling and standing and kneeling and sitting and I didn’t know a lot of Latin. But I
also barely remember prayers in Arabic” she openly confides.
With this as her spiritual background, Moore continued to evolve as she took the various essays
of spirituality closer to heart. “This book has made me examine my own spiritual process and
what it means to feel like I’m a spiritual human being and it also has forced me to examine the
importance of spirituality in people’s lives. I never paid much attention to it but I pay a lot of
attention to it now.”
After a few starts and stops, the exit of a previous editor, graduate school for both Moore and
James, a house fire that destroyed a good bit of work, a new call for submissions, extensive
editing, re-editing, and more editing, a move to Florida, a move to Washington, DC, and then a
frantic search for relatives after Hurricane Katrina, “Spirited” has finally arrived an entire seven
years on schedule.
| G. Winston James |
| Lisa C. Moore |
The number 40 has a great significance within various spiritual and societal contexts. So it comes as no surprise that it took over 40 different and diverse writers from multiple faiths to
speak acutely and authoritatively on the topic of Black LGBT spirituality and sexuality.
“One story makes you laugh, another makes you cry, yet another tempts you to run out and hurt somebody--my favorite elements in a good book. There's something for everyone” explains
contributor, Tonya Parker, Ed.S., NCMT Maryland Even though Parker contributed to the anthology, she also gained a greater understanding and spiritual growth from reading the stories,
essays, and slices of life from her 40 other co-authors. She eagerly explains that “I love to examine different perspectives. I definitely don't feel so alone, so different any more.
There are others who went through a similar process as mine, and are thriving in their spirituality. That is very affirming for me. Also reading how others have reconciled with their original
religious teachings has helped me to not throw out the baby with the bathwater” she concludes. Meanwhile fellow contributor, Tracee Ford, who woks as Director of Training and
Outreach for the Community Mediation Center sees “Spirited” as a tool for something even greater.
“I feel like there really is a holy war going on right now. We are in a fight for our souls as expressed through our sexuality. Spirited is an essential tool towards winning this war. I knew
this anthology had to happen because too many folks are still suffering because of the things ‘faith’ communities are saying about sexuality.”
And writer/advocate Clarence*J. Fluker interprets the book in more traditional terms. “I have viewed all of the essays in this book as what the old folks at church used to call testimonies.
Each contribution tells a story unique to the person that penned it but there are common themes that string all of them together.” But Fluker was also quick to add that the book affirms who
he is and the lives of so many other same gender loving people. “Through these essays, testimonies I have reaffirmed that I am not nor was I ever alone and that we, lesbians, gays,
bisexuals and transgender people of African descent…we are hope, beauty, grace, and the spirit of the Creator manifests in us.”
speak acutely and authoritatively on the topic of Black LGBT spirituality and sexuality.
“One story makes you laugh, another makes you cry, yet another tempts you to run out and hurt somebody--my favorite elements in a good book. There's something for everyone” explains
contributor, Tonya Parker, Ed.S., NCMT Maryland Even though Parker contributed to the anthology, she also gained a greater understanding and spiritual growth from reading the stories,
essays, and slices of life from her 40 other co-authors. She eagerly explains that “I love to examine different perspectives. I definitely don't feel so alone, so different any more.
There are others who went through a similar process as mine, and are thriving in their spirituality. That is very affirming for me. Also reading how others have reconciled with their original
religious teachings has helped me to not throw out the baby with the bathwater” she concludes. Meanwhile fellow contributor, Tracee Ford, who woks as Director of Training and
Outreach for the Community Mediation Center sees “Spirited” as a tool for something even greater.
“I feel like there really is a holy war going on right now. We are in a fight for our souls as expressed through our sexuality. Spirited is an essential tool towards winning this war. I knew
this anthology had to happen because too many folks are still suffering because of the things ‘faith’ communities are saying about sexuality.”
And writer/advocate Clarence*J. Fluker interprets the book in more traditional terms. “I have viewed all of the essays in this book as what the old folks at church used to call testimonies.
Each contribution tells a story unique to the person that penned it but there are common themes that string all of them together.” But Fluker was also quick to add that the book affirms who
he is and the lives of so many other same gender loving people. “Through these essays, testimonies I have reaffirmed that I am not nor was I ever alone and that we, lesbians, gays,
bisexuals and transgender people of African descent…we are hope, beauty, grace, and the spirit of the Creator manifests in us.”
We all know that you can’t please everyone and for literary critics who read hundreds of books a
year, they’re an even harder bunch to please. But so far there appears to be a unanimous
agreement about the book “Spirited.”
“Whatever your religious persuasion—Jehovah’s Witness, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist,
Catholic, Wiccan—there’s something here [in Spirited] for everyone. …this is a valuable book,
especially for members of churches where the war on gays and lesbians is waged weekly.”
—Thom Nickels, Lambda Book Report, Summer 2006
“Spirited provides heartfelt, sometimes heart wrenching, and soul-full personal accounts of what
it is like to be religious/spiritual, black, and gay or lesbian. Conflicts, racism, homophobia, and
confusion abound when one has one foot in the black church and another in the LGBT
community, and the spiritual narratives from writers, clergy, and worshippers beautifully
navigate these waters while celebrating God’s love. This collection, like Moore's first book Does
Your Mama Know? An Anthology of Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories, is a rich tapestry of
analysis, poetry, love, and spirit.”
—Suzanne Corson, Books to Watch Out For, August 2006
“[It] is an uplifting collection of short stories that most can relate to in some way. …Whether
you are looking to spend an hour or only fifteen minutes, Spirited is the kind of read to start your
day positively and provide the soul with the affirmations required for the heart to thrive.”
—Alana Ramirez, The BASU Source, September 2006
year, they’re an even harder bunch to please. But so far there appears to be a unanimous
agreement about the book “Spirited.”
“Whatever your religious persuasion—Jehovah’s Witness, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist,
Catholic, Wiccan—there’s something here [in Spirited] for everyone. …this is a valuable book,
especially for members of churches where the war on gays and lesbians is waged weekly.”
—Thom Nickels, Lambda Book Report, Summer 2006
“Spirited provides heartfelt, sometimes heart wrenching, and soul-full personal accounts of what
it is like to be religious/spiritual, black, and gay or lesbian. Conflicts, racism, homophobia, and
confusion abound when one has one foot in the black church and another in the LGBT
community, and the spiritual narratives from writers, clergy, and worshippers beautifully
navigate these waters while celebrating God’s love. This collection, like Moore's first book Does
Your Mama Know? An Anthology of Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories, is a rich tapestry of
analysis, poetry, love, and spirit.”
—Suzanne Corson, Books to Watch Out For, August 2006
“[It] is an uplifting collection of short stories that most can relate to in some way. …Whether
you are looking to spend an hour or only fifteen minutes, Spirited is the kind of read to start your
day positively and provide the soul with the affirmations required for the heart to thrive.”
—Alana Ramirez, The BASU Source, September 2006
As they travel the country together conducting book readings, G. Winston James and Lisa C.
Moore create a stir in communities wherever they go. In fact they invite as many contributing
authors as they can to read from their works and to speak from their own personal experiences
and emotional triumphs.
And, as awareness of the book continues to grow so do requests for a sequel and submission
inquiries for a second edition. But for now, G. Winston and Lisa continue to hit the road driving
and to ascend the skies flying wherever invitations and networking will take them. For now they
continue to be a forerunner of something far greater than themselves and far deeper than both of
them can possibly imagine or comprehend.
And for now they continue to touch the lives of so many others sharing with them the reality of
what were once dreams of spiritual liberation accompanied by residual joy, peace and harmony
that can only come from an inward and a spirited journey of reconciliation of self, Creator and the
diversity which lives within.
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host. He can be reached directly at
www.herndondavis.com
Moore create a stir in communities wherever they go. In fact they invite as many contributing
authors as they can to read from their works and to speak from their own personal experiences
and emotional triumphs.
And, as awareness of the book continues to grow so do requests for a sequel and submission
inquiries for a second edition. But for now, G. Winston and Lisa continue to hit the road driving
and to ascend the skies flying wherever invitations and networking will take them. For now they
continue to be a forerunner of something far greater than themselves and far deeper than both of
them can possibly imagine or comprehend.
And for now they continue to touch the lives of so many others sharing with them the reality of
what were once dreams of spiritual liberation accompanied by residual joy, peace and harmony
that can only come from an inward and a spirited journey of reconciliation of self, Creator and the
diversity which lives within.
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host. He can be reached directly at
www.herndondavis.com
| A Word From The Editors |
| A Word from the Contributing Authors |
| A Word From The Literary Critics |
| The Future of Spirited |
• Rev. Beverly Saunders Biddle
• Amina M. Binta
• Alaric Wendell Blair
• Sharon Bridgforth
• C.C. Carter
• Tonda Clarke
• Herndon L. Davis
• Mona de Vestel
• Elisa Durrette
• Anthony Farmer
• Kenyon Farrow
• Rev. Wanda Y. Floyd
• Clarence J. Fluker
• Tracee Ford
• Amina M. Binta
• Alaric Wendell Blair
• Sharon Bridgforth
• C.C. Carter
• Tonda Clarke
• Herndon L. Davis
• Mona de Vestel
• Elisa Durrette
• Anthony Farmer
• Kenyon Farrow
• Rev. Wanda Y. Floyd
• Clarence J. Fluker
• Tracee Ford
| Contributors |
| Contributors |
• Diane Foster
• Steven G. Fullwood
• Anthony R.G. Hardaway
• Dorothy Harris
• Michaela Harrison
• G. Winston James
• Lynwoodt Jenkins
• Daniel Alexander Jones
• Kaija Langley
• Earthlyn Manuel
• Bahíyyih Maroon
• Jorhán Mbonisi
• Dyan "Abena" McCray
• Monique Meadows
• Steven G. Fullwood
• Anthony R.G. Hardaway
• Dorothy Harris
• Michaela Harrison
• G. Winston James
• Lynwoodt Jenkins
• Daniel Alexander Jones
• Kaija Langley
• Earthlyn Manuel
• Bahíyyih Maroon
• Jorhán Mbonisi
• Dyan "Abena" McCray
• Monique Meadows
• Kathleen E. Morris
• Tonya Parker
• Conrad Pegues
• Scarab
• H.L. Sudler
• Tawanna Sullivan
• Patrice Suncircle
• Tonya Parker
• Conrad Pegues
• Scarab
• H.L. Sudler
• Tawanna Sullivan
• Patrice Suncircle
| Contributors |
• Rev. Karen G. Thompson
• Natasha Tinsley
• Linda Villarosa
• Rev. Jim Webb
• Marvin K. White
• Eva Yaa Asantewaa
• Natasha Tinsley
• Linda Villarosa
• Rev. Jim Webb
• Marvin K. White
• Eva Yaa Asantewaa
| Contributors |
