Beverly Wallace, associate professor of congregational and community care, is coauthor of “African American Grief.” First published in 2005 by Routledge, the book was rereleased as one of the publisher’s classic editions in 2021. Routledge’s Classic Editions series comprises books in the field of mental health that “are recognized as timeless classics covering a range of important issues and continue to be recommended as key reading for professionals and students in the area.”
“African American Grief” serves both as a resource for professionals in fields such as counseling and social work and as a reference guide for teaching and research. The book is based on extensive research, including interviews with African Americans who have experienced the loss of a loved one. It covers topics such as racism as a cause of death; visitations, wakes, and funerals; grief soon after a death and over the long run; the family grief process; and the importance of God and the church in dealing with grief.
The late Ronald K. Barrett, who was professor of psychology and African American studies at Loyola Marymount University, wrote, “Rosenblatt and Wallace provide an insightful portrait of racism and African American grief in America. This portrait does not simply start with the death of a loved one, but includes consideration of how racism frames and affects quality of life and the manner and rate of death for many African Americans. These moving, real-life stories also illustrate the role of faith for many African Americans coping with racism and grief.”