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Come Sunday

By Thomas Roma

Book Description

Through the lens of photographer Thomas Roma, Come Sunday offers an intimate visual journey into the heart of African American spiritual life in Brooklyn. What began as a documentation of church architecture transformed into something far more profound when a pastor invited Roma inside to capture the essence of Sunday worship itself.

Over three transformative years, Roma attended and photographed more than one hundred and fifty services across fifty-two black Christian churches throughout Brooklyn, creating a remarkable visual testament to faith in action. This collection presents the most compelling images from that dedicated year of Sundays, revealing the power, joy, and community that define these sacred gatherings.

The photographs capture authentic moments of worship, prayer, and spiritual connection, offering viewers a window into the rich traditions that sustain these congregations. Each image speaks to the universal human need for spiritual community while honoring the specific cultural expressions of African American Christianity.

Complementing Roma's visual narrative, scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. provides essential context through an illuminating essay that explores the multifaceted role of the church in African American experience. His insights help readers understand the deeper historical and cultural significance of these sacred spaces and the communities they nurture.

Come Sunday invites readers to witness the transformative power of collective worship and discover how faith communities create meaning, healing, and hope in urban America.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~3 hours)

📄 Length: 111 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Church buildings, united states
  • ✓ Explore Photography, artistic
  • ✓ Explore City churches
  • ✓ Explore African Americans
  • ✓ Explore Artistic Photography
  • ✓ Explore Religion
  • ✓ Explore African americans, new york (state)
  • ✓ Explore African American churches

Topics Covered

Church buildings, united states Photography, artistic City churches African Americans Artistic Photography Religion African americans, new york (state) African American churches Exhibitions Brooklyn (new york, n.y.) African americans, religion Pictorial works

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