Faith, Health, and Healing in African American Life (Religion, Health, and Healing)

Black Americans are more likely than Whites to die of cancer and heart disease, more likely to get diabetes and asthma, and less likely to get preventive care and screening. Some of this greater morbidity results from education, income level, and environment as well as access to health care. But the traditional medical model does not always allow for a more holistic approach that takes into account the body, the mind, the spirit, the family, and the community. This book offers a better understanding of the varieties of religiously-based approaches to healing and alternative models of healing and health found in Black communities in the United States. Contributors address the communal aspects of faith and health and explore the contexts in which individuals make choices about their health, the roles that institutions play in shaping these decisions, and the practices individuals engage in seeking better health or coping with the health they have. By paying attention to the role of faith, spirit, and health, this book offers a fuller sense of the varieties of ways Black health and health care are perceived and addressed from an inter-religious perspective.Community and religion-based initiatives have emerged as one key way to address the health challenges found in the African American community. In cities such as Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, and Oakland, residents organize exercise groups, teach one another how to cook with healthy ingredients, and encourage neighbors to get regular checkups. Churches have become key sites for health education, screening, and testing. Another set of responses to the challenge of Black health and healthcare in the United States comes from those who emphasize the body as a whole―body, mind, soul, and spirit, often drawing on religious traditions such as Islam and African-based religions such as Spiritism, Santeria, Vodun (aka Voodoo), Candomblé, and others. Understanding the issues and the various approaches is essential to combating the problems, and this unique volume sheds light on areas often overlooked when considering the issues. This Book Offers A Better Understanding Of The Varieties Of Religiously Based Approaches To Healing And Alternative Models Of Healing And Health Found In Black Communities In The United States. Contributors Address The Communal Aspects Of Faith And Health And Explore The Contexts In Which Individuals Make Choices About Their Health, The Roles Institutions Play In Shaping These Decisions, And The Practices Individuals Engage In When Seeking Better Health Or Coping With The Health They Have. By Paying Attention To The Role Of Faith And Spirit, The Book Offers A Fuller Sense Of The Varieties Of Ways Black Health And Healthcare Are Perceived And Addressed.--book Jacket. Ancestral Songs -- Natural And Supernatural : African American Hoodoo Narratives Of Sickness And Healing / Yvonne P. Chireau -- Holistic Health And Healing : Environmental Racism And Ecological Justice / Dwight N. Hopkins -- Health And Healing Across The Diaspora -- Bodies In Time And The Healing Of Spaces : Religion, Temporalities, And Health / Charles H. Long -- Spiritual Illness And Healing : If The Lord Wills / Arvilla Payne-jackson -- The Arts Of Ritual And Practice -- The Marking Of The Body, Memory, And The Meaning Of Suffering In Phyllis Alesia Perry's Stigmata / Carolyn M. Jones -- Just Awailing And Aweeping : Grief, Lament, And Hope As We Face The End Of Life / Emilie M. Townes -- Honoring The Body : Ritual Of Breath And Breathing / C. S'thembile West -- Analyzing Social Realities -- The Destruction Of Aunt Ester's House : Faith, Health, And Healing In The African American Community / Terri Baltimore And Mindy Thompson Fullilove -- The Unspoken, The Spoken, And Affirmed : Meanings Of Healing, Same-gender-loving African Americans, And Black Churches / Linda L. Barnes -- Finding And Making Wellness -- Seeking Help For The Body In The Well Being Of The Soul / Rosemary D. Gooden -- Too Gay For The Church, But Always At Home In The Club : Health, Spirituality, And Social Support Among Adult Black Gay Men At Oakland's Cable Reef / Mark Wilson -- Spiritual Wellness In The Lives Of African American Women / Stephanie Y. Mitchem. Edited By Stephanie Y. Mitchem And Emilie M. Townes. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [193]-200) And Index. Black Americans are more likely than Whites to die of cancer and heart disease, more likely to get diabetes and asthma, and less likely to get preventive care and screening. Some of this greater morbidity results from education, income level, and environment as well as access to health care. But the traditional medical model does not always allow for a more holistic approach that takes into account the body, the mind, the spirit, the family, and the community. This book offers a better understanding of the varieties of religiously-based approaches to healing and alternative models of healing and health found in Black communities in the United States. Contributors address the communal aspects of faith and health and explore the contexts in which individuals make choices about their health, the roles that institutions play in shaping these decisions, and the practices individuals engage in seeking better health or coping with the health they have. By paying attention to the role of faith, spirit, and health, this book offers a fuller sense of the varieties of ways Black health and health care are perceived and addressed from an inter-religious perspective. Community and religion-based initiatives have emerged as one key way to address the health challenges found in the African American community. In cities such as Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, and Oakland, residents organize exercise groups, teach one another how to cook with healthy ingredients, and encourage neighbors to get regular checkups. Churches have become key sites for health education, screening, and testing. Another set of responses to the challenge of Black health and healthcare in the United States comes from those who emphasize the body as a wholebody, mind, soul, and spirit, often drawing on religious traditions such as Islam and African-based religions such as Spiritism, Santeria, Vodun (aka Voodoo), Candombl, and others. Understanding the issues and the various approaches is essential to combating the problems, and this unique volume sheds light on areas often overlooked when considering the issues. Ancestral songs -- Natural/supernatural : African American hoodoo narratives of sickness and healing / Yvonne Chireau -- Holistic health and healing : "environmental racism and ecological justice" / Dwight N. Hopkins -- Health and healing across the diaspora -- Bodies in time and the healing of spaces : religion, temporalities, and health / Charles H. Long -- Spiritual illness and healing : "if the Lord wills" / Arvilla Payne-Jackson -- The arts of ritual and practice -- The marking of the body, memory, and the meaning of suffering in Phyllis Alesia Perry's Stigmata / Carolyn M. Jones -- Just awailing and aweeping : grief, lament, and hope as we face the end of life / Emilie M. Townes -- Honoring the body : ritual of breath and breathing / C. S'thembile West -- Analyzing social realities -- The destruction of Aunt Ester's house : faith, health, and healing in the African American community / Terri Baltimore and Mindy Thompson Fullilove -- The unspoken, the spoken, and affirmed : meanings of healing, same gender-loving African Americans, and Black churches / Linda L. Barnes -- Finding/making wellness -- "Seeking help for the body in the well being of the soul" / Rosemary Gooden -- Too old for the club, but always at home in the club : health, spirituality, and social support among adult Black gay men in Oakland's Cable Reef / Mark Wilson -- Spiritual wellness in the lives of African American women / Stephanie Y. Mitchem Ancestral songs Natural/supernatural : African American hoodoo narratives of sickness and healing / Yvonne Chireau Holistic health and healing : "environmental racism and ecological justice" / Dwight N. Hopkins Health and healing across the diaspora Bodies in time and the healing of spaces : religion, temporalities, and health / Charles H. Long Spiritual illness and healing : "if the Lord wills" / Arvilla Payne-Jackson The arts of ritual and practice The marking of the body, memory, and the meaning of suffering in Phyllis Alesia Perry's Stigmata / Carolyn M. Jones Just awailing and aweeping : grief, lament, and hope as we face the end of life / Emilie M. Townes Honoring the body : ritual of breath and breathing / C. S'thembile West Analyzing social realities The destruction of Aunt Sster's house : faith, health, and healing in the African American community / Terri Baltimore and Mindy Thompson Fullilove The unspoken, the spoken, and affirmed : meanings of healing, same gender-loving African Americans, and Black churches / Linda L. Barnes Finding/making wellness "Seeking help for the body in the well being of the soul" / Rosemary Gooden Too old for the club, but always at home in the club : health, spirituality, and social support among adult Black gay men in Oakland's Cable Reef / Mark Wilson Spiritual wellness in the lives of African American women / Stephanie Y. Mitchem.