African American Church

Tressie faithfully prayed every night that God would send her a thug. It wasn't long before her prayers were answered and she met a handsome ex-convict named Payce Boyd. Payce is a fine roughneck and everything Tressie ever imagined and more. That is until Tressie experiences firsthand the reality of being a thug's girl. Seeking solace and comfort in the sanctuary, Tressie soon learns valuable lessons and shocking truths about herself and others.

Meet the members of the Love, Joy, Peace, and Deliverance Community Choir, a group of young adults joined together through their passion for singing the Lord’s praises - although their hearts are far from the things of God. Patrice Russell was raised in the church, but she is hell bent on living like the devil, not even trying to get help for the sex addiction she knows she has. Lorene McCall has been Patrice's best friend since childhood. When she's not singing, Lorene is cussin' like a sailor.

♥The Bakery Romance Series ♥ He's blind... She's a victim... Blind since birth, Carl Warner is devastated after his girlfriend rejects his marriage proposal. As he struggles to deal with his pain he encounters Miriam Beech via a local food ministry. A victim, Miriam is healing from a recent trauma. She finds solace working in her bakery. She’s determined to raise her teenaged daughter, Jessica, in a wholesome environment. When problems with Jessica arise Miriam asks God for direction. Jessica deals with her pain best as she can. Unattractive, she's always felt insufficient when ...

DeShawn lives a high, creative, and promiscuous life in San Francisco. But when he’s called back to his cramped Alabama hometown for his uncle’s funeral, he’s hit by flashbacks of handsome, doomed neighbors and sweltering Sunday services. Amid prickly reminders of his childhood, DeShawn ponders family, church, and the men in his life, prompting the question: Who deserves love?

Carter Woodson (1875-1950) was a prominent Black leader and intellectual who raised awareness of the Black historical experience by initiating the first Black History Week, which later became Black History Month. Published in 1921, The History of the Negro Church traces the development of the Black churches in the US from colonial times to the early years of the 20th century. The work includes a series of biographical sketches of church leaders through the decades, beginning with early church movements in the North and efforts to minister to slaves in the South.

Emmett Till offers the first truly comprehensive account of the 1955 murder and its aftermath. It tells the story of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old African American boy from Chicago brutally lynched for a harmless flirtation at a country store in the Mississippi Delta. His death and the acquittal of his killers by an all-white jury set off a firestorm of protests that reverberated all over the world and spurred on the civil rights movement.

She doesn’t want to be a “good” Christian girl. Rue’s mother despises her nonconforming attitude. Her father wants her to be the next associate pastor. Rue admires him and is willing to accept the mantel. She loves “unchurched” people. A service project reveals, Rue is not her mother’s daughter, and the father she idolizes has been lying. Is this why she is different? Could this be why her mother hates her? Is she being punished for refusing to fit in a box? Rue was told she can’t have one foot in the church and one foot out. But if everyone is lying, can she sit on the ...

Sheridan S. Davis, author of Saved Sex, Pretty for a Dark-Skin Girl, and I’m Nobody’s Ruth is all too familiar with Chicago’s church scene. The city, mostly known for its heavily portrayed violence in media, is also the birthplace of Gospel music and has a rich history in God. As a church girl herself, Sheridan decided to pen a fictional tale about the friendship between five church girls. Join Shyanne, Selena, Kyra, Miriam, and Lisa as they plow through the ups and downs of friendship.

More Than Grateful follows First Lady Rachel Tate as she faces the most challenging trial of her life. Married to Pastor Jonas Tate, the charismatic leader of Rise Church, Rachel is determined to make her mark by organizing her first women’s conference, aptly named More Than Grateful. But the journey is anything but smooth. As Rachel steps into her new role, she encounters resistance from the women in the congregation, particularly from Allison, who once hoped to marry Jonas herself. The tension between Rachel and Allison spills over, straining Rachel’s relationship with her husband and...

On June 17, 2015, 12 members of the historically black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina welcomed a young white man to their evening Bible study. He arrived with a pistol, 88 bullets, and hopes of starting a race war. Dylann Roof’s massacre of nine innocents during their closing prayer horrified the nation. In Grace Will Lead Us Home, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jennifer Berry Hawes provides a definitive account of the tragedy’s aftermath.

"Candy-Coated Words Have Led to Sleepless Nights": "Tiffany's marriage is built on a foundation of sweetly spun lies since the day they uttered 'I do.' Overwhelmed by sorrow yet paralyzed by fear, Tiffany witnesses her world unraveling. The truth she concealed has been uncovered, and her husband now holds the fragments of her deception. In the wake of one little white lie, Tiffany confronts the haunting question: Can the cost of that seemingly harmless untruth shatter everything she holds dear?"

Angelic Essie Belle Johnson and devilish Laura Reed both agree that they need to do something to spice up their lives and earn more money. So, they start their own church on the street in front of their Harlem apartment. With Laura's gift for performing and Essie's melodious voice, the two quickly become a hit and must move their services into a renovated theater. But as their congregation grows, a host of misfits enter the scene - some honest, but others who just want a piece of the pie.

On July 2, 1822, Denmark Vesey, a formerly enslaved man, was hanged in Charleston, South Carolina. He was convicted of plotting what might have been the largest insurrection against slaveholders in US history. Witnesses claimed that Vesey appealed to numerous biblical texts to promote and justify the revolt.

Eva spends much of her life torn between the man she had and the man she has. On paper they both look like ideal husband material. But looks, as we all know, can be bought, faked, or photoshopped. Everyone around Eva seems to keep shoveling lies to bury their secrets. As Eva starts to dig for the truth, she realizes it's impossible to stay clean, especially while playing in someone else's dirt.

At every Black church picnic, there’s one unspoken rule—be careful whose potato salad you eat! When the congregation of Greater Hope Baptist Church gathers for their annual picnic, the competition is fierce, the gossip is strong, and the side-eyes are sharper than ever. Sister Gladys is determined to prove that her potato salad reigns supreme, while Sister Pearl insists that she's s been the undisputed queen of the dish for decades. The congregation watches all the drama unfold with a knowing smile. As laughter fills the air and old rivalries heat up, the church picnic becomes...

Before Jamaal’s seventeenth birthday, he’s appointed as his preacher uncle’s designated driver and unwilling personal confidant. Behind the fine outfits and hats, behind the harmonious singing and delicious cooking, Jamaal is exposed to crazy aunties, sexy church sisters, corrupt pastors, and predator deacons. A good kid who just wants time to finish his homework and kiss a nice girl his own age, Jamaal is dragged through the strange world of the Black church. You best pray for him.— An offensive dark comedy by the author of BLM-PD and Monuments: A Deadly Day at Jefferson Park.

The story of the Graham family continues in My Son's Ex Wife: Aftershock. First Lady Audrey Graham is relieved when her only son, Stiles, encounters the young, vivacious nutritionist Detria Mackey. Rena is equally captivated by recent divorcee and science teacher, Robert Becton but does he have what it takes to make Rena forget her past and give her future a much needed jump start? When Rena returns to Memphis for less than pleasant reasons, Stiles and Rena realize they still have unresolved feelings for each other. Will it be enough for this couple to overcome what severed their ...

The number three signifies divine wholeness. After the devastating loss of their friend, the remaining Church Girls fight to the death to get their friendship back intact. In this third installment of Church Girls, will a black cloud, life's conundrums, and distance become their demise? Or will the Church Girls finally discover the path that leads to wholeness?

Hezekiah McCoy is a free man in more ways than one. He's roaming around seeking a place to establish "New Holy Rock Ministries" and find himself a first lady to go along with it. Fancy McCoy is determined to live her best life after being duped by a man sent by her ex-husband to humiliate her. Dem McCoy Boys are still making their marks and leaving some unforgettable legacies (not necessarily all good ones). Stiles's visits to Holy Rock are growing more frequent. Is it because of his new position or the new lady in his life?

For generations, the Black church has been a cornerstone of resilience, community, and empowerment, serving as a sanctuary for African Americans facing systemic oppression. Rooted in liberation theology and social activism, it has played a crucial role in social movements and cultural identity. However, while the Black church continues to be a source of strength, it also mirrors the complexities and contradictions of the communities it serves.