The Substance of Things Hoped for: A Memoir of African-American Faith [Paperback]

Marian Wright Edelman (Adapter), Samuel D. Proctor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1999

The noted theologian and educator reflects on the role of faith in his own life and in the lives of African-Americans, chronicling his family history from the time during which his grandmother was a slave.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Proctor-pastor emeritus of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, an ex-professor and college administrator and former associate director of the Peace Corps-has lived a life sustained by faith and clear-eyed optimism about the possibilities and problems faced by American blacks. His warm, lucid memoir covers so much ground that it seems skimpy in places. However, his anecdotes resonate: they relate to the backbone he gained from family, church and black society in the segregated South; his role as mentor to Martin Luther King Jr. and many others; and his conviction, after trips to Africa and other foreign lands, that black Americans are inherently American. Though a man of tradition, he calls for the black church to liberalize its attitudes toward women. He has strong policy suggestions to reclaim lost youth: reinvest in teaching; have black churches link up to gain clout; establish a Peace Corps-like National Youth Academy at deactivated military bases to educate youngsters whom schools haven't helped. That would cost much less than prisons, he warns. Literary Guild alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Proctor, the grandson of a slave, became the president of two black colleges, a top administrator in the Peace Corps and at Rutgers University, and pastor of Harlem's huge Abyssinian Baptist Church. He reminisces here about his tireless lifetime struggle to better the lot of blacks through education and religion. He devotes a major portion of this work debunking both racist stereotypes held by whites and what he views as futile separatist agendas among blacks. He outlines an ambitious plan, grounded in education, religion, and traditional values, to rescue blacks from poverty, ignorance, and despair. Proctor's work is a passionate and eloquent call to action, founded on a lifetime of fulfilling achievement. Highly recommended for undergraduate and public libraries.?Richard S. Watts, San Bernadino Cty. Lib., Cal.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Judson Press (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817013253
• ISBN-13: 978-0817013257
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #713,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passionate memoir from one of America's greatest preachers., May 25, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Newark, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Substance of Things Hoped for a Memoir of African-American Faith (Audio Cassette)

I checked out The Substance of Things Hoped for from the Newark Public Library and have listened to it three times during the past three days. I was always deeply moved whenever I heard Rev. Proctor preach and hearing his voice read his text was marvelous. I was a bit uncomfortable with some of his observations about accountability, and the reasons why Blacks are not doing as well as they should. I also find his points difficult to reconcile with Dr. Beerly Tatum Daniels' book "Why do all the Black kids sit together in the cafeteria." Rev. Proctor is unapologetic for his views and has the moral authority to advocate them. A remarkable book.

5.0 out of 5 stars An examination of morality, hope, and faith, August 20, 2002

By 

E C Johnson (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Substance of Things Hoped for: A Memoir of African-American Faith (Paperback)

The best thing next to having heard the late Dr. Proctor speak is reading this memoir. This is the story of Proctor, and his journey from a young man to becoming the beacon of hope and faith that he was, and in our memories and hearts still is for so many. It is a story of survival, faith, hope, and progress which speaks not only through the black community, but through all of humanity.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent., June 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Substance of Things Hoped For (Hardcover)

The text was so mesmorizing that I read it in 2 days. I read it in 2 days. Dr. Proctor should have written more. I am glad that I have heard him speak before he was laid to rest. Reading the book was like hearing him preach and extended sermon non-stop.