Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections for the Work of Liberation

by Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes, Andrew Wilkes

In the summer of 2020, while composing a series of devotionals on the Psalms for their church, the Double Love Experience, authors Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes and Andrew Wilkes recognized that these ancient words spoke truth and inspiration not only to their immediate community, but also to the growing number of people doing the holy, demanding work of pursuing justice, undoing structural racism, and building a society that truly values Black lives.
The Psalms speak power today as they always have. They have spoken across generations. They have bridged cultural divides and social contexts with their emotional rawness, urge towards justice, and blunt candor about the coarse edges of walking with God.
Psalms for Black Lives includes thirty devotions, each containing a psalm, a reflection, and an invitation for the reader to develop a justice imagination through further engagement with the text. Psalms for Black Lives also includes daily discussion questions to support small-group study and a guide for congregational and community groups who want to embody the words of the Psalms together.

Genres: Theology, African American, Religion, Christianity, Spirituality

160 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2022

Reviews

[Graydon Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I had a hard time going through this consistently (it’s just a 30 day devotional) but the content was great and I love the project of reading through the Psalms to cultivate a “justice imagination.”

[Drick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes and Andrew Wilkes are co-pastors of a predominantly African American church in Brooklyn. During the days following the murder of George Floyd, they called their congregation to a 30 day-period of fasting, prayer and reading the the Book of Psalms. This book carries the mediations on 30 select Psalms for that period. The central them is the development of what they call a “justice imagination” which they write “can speak a comprehensive, hands-on word of spirituality and social transformation into this racist, economically unequal, yet deeply hungry and hopeful moment. A justice imagination is resistance at work” (p. 14).

The major themes chosen were celebration, lament, envisioning and embolding in a time of great pain and struggle for African Americans. I read the book as a devotional for thirty days mingling my reflections on the designated psalm with the authors. Often I I focused on parts of a given psalm different than the authors, but our join mediations were very much for me. I would urge a reader to read this book in a similar manner to get its full impact and take in its rich suggestions for thought, prayer and action.

[Kimberly Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not written for me, a white woman, I felt privileged peaking into the depths of faith and wisdom in the black Christian community. I feel like there is so much to learn from my Black brothers and sisters in Christ. They know suffering and perseverance, as do the Psalmists. I began this in November, seeking wisdom as we enter turbulent waters and have read it very slowly over these past four months. I will likely read it again and again.

[J Percell Lakin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psalms for Life

I really enjoyed this book. I appreciated the way the authors connected the psalms to contemporary life, but also the way they provided questions for stirring the imagination and for honest reflection so that the reader doesn’t just encounter God but the reality of oneself.

[Haley Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this book is not *for* me as a white woman, it was a profound opportunity to decenter my experience in the devotional setting. It was wise, and challenging, and gave such room to sit with my privilege and examine it in ways so that I can still continue to be transformed towards mercy, love, and justice.

[Kimberleigh Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great devotional

I loved the daily scripture and things to meditate on. I follow Dr Anika Wilson Brown and we read this on her morning POWER Up prayer & devotions. I'm glad she recommended the book.

[Amylou314 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Psalms devotional, this time with some practical ways to form a justice mindset. May we always be on the lookout for ways to help the marginalized, support the suffering, and create a society that reflects God's heart to each other as best we can.

[Charlene Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to share with others. Great for Bible study with a group or alone. The reflection part to write is great for self improvement. Rated 5.

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, devotionals and study.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me well over a month to get through this, but it was great content