Throughout the history of the African American people there has been no stronger resource for overcoming adversity than the black church. From their role in leading a group of free Blacks to form a colony in Sierra Leone in the 1790s to helping ex-slaves after the Civil War, and from playing major roles in the Civil Rights Movement to offering community outreach programs in American cities today, black churches have been the focal point of social change in thier communities. Based on extensive research over several years, Mighty Like A River is the first comprehensive account of how black churches have helped shape American society.

Climbing Jacob's Ladder traces the history of the black family from its roots in Africa, through slavery, Reconstruction, the Depression, and the civil rights movement, to the present, arguing that black families cannot be measured against white norms. This groundbreaking, provocative work dispels some of the most common myths, misconceptions, misunderstandings, and misinformation about African American families. Climbing Jacob's Ladder takes a fresh look at the evolution of Black families, describes the forces that have shaped them, and examines their resiliency in the face of difficult conditions, and the strengths that help them endure.