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• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 2/7/2008 3:30 AM UTC

  Why did Yet with a Steady Beat take 25 years to write & Why did a White Man Journey into Black Histo
  

  NEW BOOK EXPLORES dangerous PSYCHOLOGICAL Aspects OF The bLACK cHURCH Experience

  Practical Advice, Resources Offered to Help Correct Mistakes, Heal Wounds

  By Genikwa Williams  (MMS Newswire)
  
  

  Powerful preaching. Soul-stirring singing. Social activism. And an all-consuming experience, typified by joyous shouting, dancing, and hand clapping. These are all well-known characteristics of the institution known as the “Black Church”—those denominations created by, established for, and stewarded by African Americans.

   

  Historically, the Black Church has been the most influential organization in the African-American community. Its message of hope, love, and unity has been a healing balm to the souls of a people still grappling with the harmful effects of slavery and racism. It has met multiple needs in the lives of its members—emotional, mental, spiritual, social, political, and economic, to name a few. Undoubtedly, the Black Church has progressively improved the lives of African Americans and the community at large.

   

  But, sadly, the same institution that has helped to mend so many shattered spirits has also unwittingly been the cause of tremendous psychological suffering, says Dr. Lee N. June, Ph.D., in his newly released book, Yet With a Steady Beat: The Black Church through a Psychological and Biblical Lens (MoodyPublishers/Lift Every Voice).  A psychologist and professor at Michigan State University, June spent more than 25 years researching and recording his observations of the Black Church experience and found many traditions to be detrimental to the psychological wellbeing of its members.

   

  A Christian and long-time member of a black congregation, June said he felt “led” to write Yet With a Steady Beat, which provides a comprehensive overview of the psychological impact of the Black Church throughout history.

   

  “It’s important for any organization to examine itself and be willing to look at the positive and negative and try to enhance its overall effectiveness,” said June. “We need to ensure that this institution continues to make the tremendous impact that it has made throughout history and that it still serves the needs of this community.”

   

  June said the book’s central purpose is to compel church members to consider some of the long-standing practices, tendencies, expressions, attitudes, and behaviors that may “do more harm than good.”

   

  For instance, one example June shares in the book is the popular saying among Black Church members, “I got Jesus and that’s enough.” The statement is intended to express faith in the supremacy and sufficiency of God, June said. But, without realizing it, people who make such comments can “innocently” trigger feelings of guilt and shame in other believers, making them “feel that they are not ‘Christian enough’” because they require natural assistance to manage their problems, he said.

   

  “But there are individuals in the congregation sometimes who are seeing therapists or on medications and they feel belittled,” said June, speaking from his years of experience as a counselor. “Many of these individuals will not tell you the negative impact (of such statements).”

   

  “I’m trying to get people to think a little more about statements that are made that sound good, but in actuality are very harmful,” he continued.

   

  Yet With a Steady Beat offers practical suggestions and resources to assist people in minimizing such consequences. It will appeal to pastors, other Christian leaders, seminary professors and students—anyone who wants to “help the institutional church live up to its enormous potential,” June said.

   

  June admits that the critical slant of his book may be considered “a little controversial.” But, he says, his primary concern is seeing God’s people become all that God created them to be.  

   

  “Because of my love for God and this institution, I want us to look for ways to maximize our potential, so that God will be thoroughly pleased with what we are doing,” said June, 62. “If a church setting or a Christian is really serious about Jesus Christ, then they would be willing to examine this and then do what is biblically correct.”

   

  “The Bible tells us to strive toward perfection. The word perfection doesn’t mean being perfect, it means moving toward full maturity. It also says to ‘study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,’” he said, quoting the essence of Matt. 5:48 and 2 Tim. 2:15 from the Bible. “That’s all I’m trying to get people to do.”

   

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Lee N. June, Ph.D., serves as associate provost for Academic Support Services and Multicultural Issues, vice president for Student Affairs and Services, and professor in the College of Education at Michigan State University. He has previously served in the role of director of counseling at MSU. Active in a local congregation, Lee and his wife are the parents of two sons. www.YetWithASteadBeat.com

  
  
  
  A WHITE MAN'S JOURNEY INTO BLACK HISTORY - Dr. Joel Freeman "An Eye Opening Experience That Transcends Race' www.FreemanInstitute.com
  
  

  For over 20 centuries, people gazed upon Egyptian hieroglyphics without comprehending their meaning. The Rosetta Stone was found in 1798. In 1822 Frenchman, Champollion, solved this puzzling language. Cracking the hieroglyphic code opened up a whole new understanding of Egyptian people, places and events. Even as the African Slave Trade was expanding from Europe to the Americas, ancient Egyptian secrets were unlocked, causing even greater interest in the magnificent treasures of this land of mystery. But how would the on-going archaeological discoveries define history’s view of the
  achievements of Black people?  Was there an anthropological cover-up?

  
  Behold the faces of Akhenaton, Shabaka, Tut, Queen Tiye and many other powerful African leaders while  Dr. Joel Freeman takes the participant on a unique, well-researched tour of ancient Egypt. Look into the eyes of the Nubian Pharaoh, Tarharka, who during the 25th Egyptian Dynasty used his military might to help Hezekiah, king of Israel. Follow the story line as ancient seers, Isaiah and Nahum, claim that the Egyptians and Ethiopians were respected and feared from the beginning and that their powers were limitless. How and why did the centuries of African dominance begin to diminish?

  Using recent scientific evidence from DNA mapping and applications from biblical and historical texts, Freeman also shares some fascinating, easy-to-understand insights regarding the Hebrew / Black connection.

  
  Dr. Freeman passionately presents this potentially explosive subject in a most reasonable, logical manner, using some powerful images and word pictures. This is one compelling, consciousness-raising presentation you just may be talking about for years to come!

  One of Return To Glory's (RTG) goals is to promote respect, understanding and cooperation between people of different cultures, races and ethnic groups. While the presentation, "A White Man's Journey Into Black History" is for everyone, this RTG resource is especially designed to encourage the non-black community to open their hearts and minds to receive the truth about the glorious history of people of African descent. Canadian-grown Joel Freeman (co-author of Return To Glory) presents a "truth-centric" overview of ancient African history with a number of contemporary applications.

   

  W h a t   P e o p l e   A r e   S a y i n g . . .

  "Return to Glory offers young people an opportunity to see history and themselves in a new light. By exposing the deceptions that we have come to accept as truth, Joel Freeman and Don Griffin challenge young people to think about who they are and what life is truly about."

  BILL COSBY
  ENTERTAINER AND EDUCATOR

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  "The book you now hold in your hands is the product of much research. I encourage every African American to read this powerful book. Don and Joel have captured the essence of the pain of the black experience in America and have given us a road map to wholeness. You will not exit this gripping book the same way you came in. I also encourage every non-African American interested in racial healing to read Return to Glory. It will enhance their understanding of what people of color deal with on a daily basis."

  JULIUS (DR. J) ERVING
  NBA HALL OF FAME

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  "Don Griffin and Joel Freeman have courageously revealed some little known facts that I think are relevant to the psyche of all Americans. With the ever-rising tide of suicides among African American males and other societal reflections of low self-esteem, this work is very timely and should provide all of us with pride and a desire to work together for the good of our entire society."

  BENJAMIN S. CARSON, SR., M.D.
  DIRECTOR OF PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGERY
  JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL

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  "Return to Glory packs a powerful punch! It’s a must-read book for the youth of today. It tells it like it is from the root to the fruit. It’s a true champion."

   

  SMOKIN’ JOE FRAZIER
  BOXING CHAMPION

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  "Return to Glory takes African Americans on a high speed trip to consciousness, history and self-worth…The work should serve as a component for the rites of passage to every young African American male who is in search of their heritage and destiny. With every turning of the page the reader is brought closer to enlightenment."

  REV. JAMAL-HARRISON BRYANT
  NATIONAL YOUTH AND COLLEGE DIRECTOR, NAACP

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  "Joel Freeman and Don Griffin have dared to navigate, those of us who really care about truth, through the often uncharted waters of race and healing. This well-written collaborative effort will do much to fill the void that is keeping a community from reaching its full God-given potential."

  DR. TONY EVANS
  SENIOR PASTOR
  OAK CLIFF BIBLE FELLOWSHIP

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  "It’s about time we had a book like this! It is going to be hard for some of us to read this because the truth is always hard to face up to in real life. But this is a real life book about how a nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal have dealt with their African American brothers. Understanding what is wrong is the first step to reconciliation and hope."

  DR. TONY CAMPOLO
  PROFESSOR AND AUTHOR

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  "Outstanding, Intriguing, Informative! This dynamic book will serve well in reaching our young minority men. Thank you Joel and Don!!!"

  BISHOP PHILLIP H. PORTER
  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PK

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  "We whites have done terrible things to black people, and racial friction in America is part of the price we must pay. It does no good to blame our ancestors; if we in this generation would only do what is right and just, friction between the races would end quickly. But how to change deeply ingrained patterns of thought, that is the problem. The place to begin is knowledge. To the extent that we know the truth, we are freed to change our ways. Return to Glory offers illuminating insights into the past. The book will do more than boost the self-esteem of African Americans. It will enlighten us whites and, one may hope, free us from the tyranny of ignorance and prejudice and cruelty."

  DONALD COLE
  HOST, OPEN LINE
  MOODY BROADCASTING

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  "One of the most impactful ways that we can invest in the future of this nation is by investing now in the development of African American young people. This book makes such an investment. I applaud Joel Freeman and Don Griffin in undertaking this very vital project."

  DR. RALEIGH WASHINGTON
  V.P. OF RECONCILIATION, PK

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  "After a few generations away from Africa, losing one’s culture means taking or killing the root of the tree, which deadens the tree. But God, the author of truth, will always reveal that which is hidden -- African History and it’s influence on the world. There has been a fight to regain the lost image of a rich history and gain the dignity of a nation that through its people were, in this country, forbidden to be African and not allowed to be American. Don Griffin and Joel Freeman have added another piece to the puzzle of all the hidden pieces that God is putting together. Thank you Don and Joel for this treatise!"

  LENNY MOORE
  NFL HALL OF FAME

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  "Return to Glory is an idea whose time has come. I believe that the work will be an effective tool for not only enlightenment to African American youth, but also healing in the church. Don Griffin and Joel Freeman have brought to the kingdom for such a time as this."

  DR. CLARENCE WALKER
  AUTHOR AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR

  ---

  "Return to Glory is an informative, thought-provoking book that everyone should read with openness."

  MELVIN FORBES
  PRESIDENT AND CEO, ACI

   

  www.ReturntoGlory.org and www.CreatetheDemand.com by Joel Freeman
  
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  • Dr. Lee June
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  • Yet With a Steady Be
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  • Bill Cosby Endorses
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