Black Eyed Peas for the Soul

To tell a story well, you have to live a story well -- with courage, persistence, and faith that everything's going to turn out all right. Black-Eyed Peas for the Soul is a collection of stories that reveals universal themes, as well as the unique perspectives of African Americans. The first collection of its kind, Black-Eyed Peas for the Soul boldly dispels the myth of a homogeneous Black culture. Diverse voices -- including those of Zora Neale Hurston, Dawn Turner Trice, and Frederick Douglass -- tell our stories of beginnings, wisdom, patience, hard work, excellence, joy, and miracles. Stories about love, healing, and atonement are told with insight, humor, and gritty honesty. Arising from these distinct voices is the call for hope. Enjoy these stories and let them guide your soul to a place where you can find solace and draw nourishment, a place that can warm and soothe you, like a bowl of black-eyed peas.

Donna Marie Williams, author of Sister Feelgood, is a freelance writer and editor. She lectures throughout the country and lives with her two children in Chicago.

Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Step 1: Buying the Peas Our heroine begins her lesson in the fine art of cooking a decent pot of black-eyed peas. WORLD UP! P. K. McCary WHEN SOULS WERE MADE Zora Neale Hurston SESSION NINE Estella Conwill Majozo ULTIMATE FRONTIER Ari Brown HOW TO GROW A BUSINESS AND A FAMILY FOR LOVE, LIVELIHOOD, AND THE REVOLUTION Chavunduka and Steve Cobb THE DARKNESS OF SPACE PRODUCED LIFE Honorable Elijah Muhammad BIRTH PAINS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT Rosa Parks and E. D. Nixon ONE DROP CAN CHANGE AN OCEAN Mary T. Carr HOW SKY AND EARTH BECAME ONE: A YORUBA CREATION STORY Ralph Cheo Thurmon (Babaorisamola) Step 2: Sorting the Peas Our apprentice is taught how to discern the difference between a rock and a pea. RITUAL Iyanla Vanzant FINDING A LEG TO STAND ON Dwight Anthony McKee MEETING THE GOD WITHIN Gettye Israel A LESSON IN CONSCIOUSNESS Haki R. Madhubuti BACK TO THE COMMUNITY Geoffrey R. Pete HOW THE 40oz CAN IMPAIR GOOD JUDGEMENT Alfred "Coach" Powell THE 42 PRINCIPLES OF MA'AT Bandele Publications WHAT YOU THINK IS WHAT YOU GET Janice C. Hodge How To SEARCH FOR TRUTH George Washington Carver THE BUS RIDE HOME Jauqo Kelly A MOTHER'S REAFFIRMING LOVE Ron Mitchell LESSONS LEARNED FROM FAILURE James L. Lasenby LESSONS ON THE PLAYGROUND OF LIFE Michelle R. Dunlap IN MY IMAGE James Williams Step 3: Soaking the Peas Our cook learns patience as the peas soak in water. CROWING GLORY Kecia Lynn SHAKE IT UP! Stephanie J. Gates AUNTIES AND MAMAS To THE RESCUE Jacqueline Joyner Cissell A PLACE TO CALL MY OWN Beverly Phillips McLeod BREAKING THE RULES Shirley Chisholm MARRIAGE 101 Edward Allen, Jr. TAMING THE FIRE INSIDE Ben Mtundu HOW TO PICK A MANGO WHEN THERE'S A LIZARD IN THE WAY Hyacinth A. Williams TO BOLDLY GO Nichelle Nichols Step 4. Cooking the Peas Our cook learns the fine art of putting her foot in the pot. FROM WELFARE TO SELF CARE Debora Tutterrow WATCHI (RECIPE) Soul Vegetarian Cookbook My FATHER, JOHN NORTON Ken Norton TEACHING SELF-WORTH THROUGH DANCE Ruth Beckford ME AND THE HEARTBEATS Yvonne Butchee PICTURES ON THE WALL Moni Azibo PLANTING SEEDS IN MY NEICES' GARDEN Darline R. Quinn BASIC BLACK-EYED PEAS (RECIPE) Nora Young Turner OPENING NIGHT Harry Lennix SEXUAL BEATITUDES Gloria Wade-Gayles NEW DIRECTIONS Maya Angelou Step 5: Eating the Peas At the table, our cook learns the true meaning of nourishment and joy. A REMEDY FOR RACISM Dick Gregory LESSONS IN JOY FROM THE BIONIC WOMAN Ruth Beckford A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL Stephanie J. Gates FINDING THE PROPER JOY Bertice Berry HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! John Turk A WELL EARNED JOY Frederick Douglass CREATING JOY Sarah and Bessie Delany THE SUMMER THE FATHER BECAME A MOTHER Ralph Cheo Thurmon MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH Morrie Turner Step 15: Napping Our cook sleeps and dreams after a satisfying meal. A WAY OUT OF NO WAY Andrew Young GRANNY'S BAG Atara ANGELS OF LIGHT AND LOVE Y. A. Folayan Two WOMEN AND A LITTLE OLIVE OIL Rita Coburn Whack GOD AND YOUR DREAMS Wintley Phipps A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN Marian Wright Edelman A MIRACLE OF LOVE JoAnn Long SOMETHING WONDERFUL TO BEHOLD Dawn Turner Trice A WARNING DREAM (SPRING 1984) Jocelyn Rials OPENING THE SPIRIT Karen M. Hurley A PYRAMID PROPHECY Gail Erskine THE NGUZO SABA FOR A NEW MILLENNIUM THE PEOPLE CAN STILL FLY Donna Marie Williams Credits