Keeping the Faith: Stories of Love, Courage, Healing and Hope from Black America [Hardcover]

Tavis Smiley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2002

An inspiring collection of personal narratives about love, loss, and faith by African Americans from all walks of life, edited and introduced by the popular author, NPR talk-show host, and PrimeTime contributing correspondent Tavis Smiley.

In Keeping the Faith, Tavis Smiley, commentator, advocate, and the author of several acclaimed books, brings together a collection of almost one hundred original accounts drawn from the lives of ordinary African Americans.

Written by African Americans from all walks of life, with a sprinkling of more famous individuals (Cornel West, Iyanla Vanzant, Danny Glover, and eight stories from Tavis himself), the stories, reminiscences, and testimonies in Keeping the Faith share lessons learned about family, heritage, and the celebration of black culture, illuminating moments that touched the contributors' lives in special ways. Organized into specific themes, the book explores such vital topics as black love, overcoming challenges, grief and loss, healing and hope. Smiley provides a heartfelt story of his own to each chapter, revealing insights from his own life.

A stirring celebration of the abiding and profound inner strength, passion, and spirituality that nurture and sustain so much of the African American community, Keeping the Faith is a book of affirmation and inspiration for all.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Author (How to Make Black America Better), NPR talk-show host and PrimeTime correspondent Smiley assembled this collection of essays to celebrate the inner strength of black Americans. There are testimonials from the famous, including Cornel West, Danny Glover and eight stories from Smiley himself, but most of the collection comprises anecdotes from regular folks. Kaye Barrow Ziglar, an ordained deacon, tells of getting through Christmas a few months after losing her young daughter, while journalist Sandra R. Bell recounts how she was "dragged through the mud" over a building project, yet prevailed, thanks to her persistence and hope. Smiley has organized these vignettes thematically around topics such as faith, grief and healing; education; hope and overcoming; and "Black love." It's this last subject that Smiley is most emphatic about. "I'm not just talking about their ability to love their own, but also the ability to love others," he writes. Besides the love of God, "Black love is the most powerful force in the universe," Smiley says, and this collection showcases that power.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Compiled by radio commentator and TV correspondent Smiley (How To Make Black America Better), who also contributes a number of pieces, this is a collection of inspirational reminiscences from mostly unfamiliar African Americans. The familiar voices include Princeton professor Cornel West, who explains how love lifted him through three painful crises; motivational speaker Iyanla Vanzant, who talks of overcoming adversity; and actor Danny Glover, who offers his thoughts on conquering dyslexia.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1 edition (October 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385505140
• ISBN-13: 978-0385505147
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,190,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faith has always been the key to success!, March 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Keeping the Faith: Stories of Love, Courage, Healing and Hope from Black America (Hardcover)

Tavis Smiley's Keeping the Faith is a true collective testament of what faith can do in the Black Community. It is no secret how cruel the world can be, but this book will have you laughing, crying, moving, shaking and most importantly, keeping the faith within yourself. If you've been yearning for a good ole' sit-down storytelling, grab hold of Keeping the Faith!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Love of All, January 24, 2003

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keeping the Faith: Stories of Love, Courage, Healing and Hope from Black America (Hardcover)

Keeping the Faith is a collective group of reflective essays written by famous and not-so famous writers to celebrate African Americans and our strong resolve as a people. Tavis Smiley has written the foreword, along with eight essays that begin each section of the book. The sections of the book delve into black love, grief and healing, overcoming challenges and hope. A favorite was Love and Self Love, a poetic essay that touched my spirit.

The various reflections will inspire and empower the reader and remind one that we have come a long way. This book highlights the inner strength of African-Americans as we deal with day-to-day issues. This book is a welcome addition to a family library.

Reviewed by Robilyn Heath
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

1.0 out of 5 stars This book that I recieved is in terrible shape. I will be sending it back for a repalacment., May 10, 2010

By 

AAMU89 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Keeping the Faith: Stories of Love, Courage, Healing and Hope from Black America (Hardcover)

Keepint the Faith that I recieved is in terrible shape and I will
be sending it back for a replacememy. I can not send this copy to
have Mr. Smiley to autograph in this condition. It would be a slap
in his face.