Reclaiming spirit in the Black faith tradition

By Derek S. Hicks

Book Description

Derek S. Hicks presents a profound exploration of how African American Christianity functions as a healing force within communities that have endured centuries of systematic harm. This interdisciplinary study reveals how everyday religious practices serve as powerful tools for cultural engagement and spiritual restoration.

At the center of Hicks' analysis lies the concept of "curative recalibration," a transformative process through which intentional faith works to restore humanity that has been wounded by various forms of degradation. This active spirituality shapes how Black communities interpret biblical texts and apply religious wisdom to their lived experiences.

Drawing from the rich tradition of antebellum African American faith, the author demonstrates how restorative principles manifest across multiple dimensions of religious life. From moral and political activism to protest writings, from material expressions of faith to musical traditions and literary works, even extending to aesthetic choices, these diverse forms reveal what Hicks identifies as a "reclaiming spirit" that flows through all aspects of Black religious thought and practice.

This comprehensive examination offers readers insight into how faith communities can harness spiritual resources to address collective trauma and pursue healing. Hicks' work illuminates the ways religious tradition can become a source of empowerment and restoration, providing a framework for understanding how spirituality actively engages with culture to reclaim and restore the human spirit.