Soul Care in African American Practice" is an insightful and thought-provoking book that delves into the crucial subject of mental health within the African American community. Written with clarity and empathy, the author, a prominent psychologist, brings to light the unique challenges and experiences faced by African Americans and offers a comprehensive guide to soul care.

Through a blend of personal narratives, historical context, and professional expertise, the book addresses the historical, cultural, and systemic factors that contribute to mental health disparities. It underscores the importance of cultural competency and the need for culturally sensitive approaches to therapy and healing. The author skillfully explores the impact of racism, discrimination, and intergenerational trauma on the African American psyche, while also highlighting the resilience and strength within the community.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its practicality. It provides tangible strategies, tools, and resources for promoting mental wellness, self-care, and community support. The author emphasizes the significance of incorporating spirituality and faith traditions into therapeutic practices, acknowledging their central role in African American culture.

"Soul Care in African American Practice" challenges the status quo and advocates for a more inclusive and equitable approach to mental healthcare. It serves as a vital resource for mental health professionals, counselors, and individuals seeking to understand and address the unique mental health needs of African Americans.

In conclusion, this book offers a compelling and compassionate exploration of soul care in the context of African American practice. It provides valuable insights, guidance, and encouragement for individuals and professionals alike, fostering a deeper understanding of mental health and well-being within the African American community.

This book focused a lot on different spiritual disciplines in the context of African American history. I really loved the chapters on spiritual direction. For some, it may be discipleship, for others they are mentors and elders. There is much talk on prayer and reading your bible, but not too much on seeking the wisdom of wise counsel. It was enjoyable and had a nice structure.

In Soul Care in African American Practice, Barbara Peacock retraces the history of spiritual practices among the Africana community, with an emphasis on spiritual direction and soul care.
The book's preface/introduction serve as a contextualization of the rest of the book. Rightfully so, Peacock points out that many figures of Christian tradition and spirituality have been of African descent : starting with major church fathers, like Tertullian, Augustine, and Athanasius, but also biblical characters (e.g, the Egyptian narratives from the Old Testament).
Note : a large portion of this chapter seems guided by ideas articulated in another book, [Beyond the Suffering : Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/526823.Beyond_the_Suffering) by R.W. Kellemen and K.A. Edwards. Readers would probably benefit from the context presented in Beyond the Suffering since Barbara Peacock cites it so heavily in her introductory material -- though it is by no means a prerequisite for reading Soul Care.
The rest of the book explores the lives of 10 major figures of Africana Christian spirituality. Beginning with Frederick Douglass, these include Martin Luther King, Howard Thurman, and others. Each portrait is accompanied by an examination of a specific spiritual practice. But these chapters turn out to be more celebratory, rather than analytical : these are clearly figures that have influenced and inspired Peacock, though little insight is gleaned from these biographies, and most of them merely serve as an illustration for a particular discipline (rather than a demonstration).
At the end of each chapter, there is a section for reflection - with questions, a visio divina, and prayer material. The visual content throughout the book appears to reflect the author's appreciation and gratitude for visual arts as means of spiritual encounter and reflection - and, to me, were truly friends of the soul as I read and engaged with the material. I've rarely found such abundant use of diverse media for engagement and reflection in spirituality books, and it was a tremendous gift to have these accompany me in my reading of Soul Care.