In this definitive history of a unique tradition, Tyler D. Parry untangles the convoluted history of the “broomstick wedding.” Popularly associated with African American culture, Parry traces the ritual’s origins to marginalized groups in the British Isles and explores how it influenced the marriage traditions of different communities on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. His surprising findings shed new light on the complexities of cultural exchange between peoples of African and European ...

A theologically rich and pastorally grounded exploration of how art becomes a language of healing, resistance, and hope behind prison walls.Authored by a pastor with extensive experience in both military and correctional chaplaincy, this rigorous and illuminating study offers a theologically grounded examination of the ways incarcerated individuals employ artistic practice to negotiate trauma and imagine new possibilities for hope. Engaging personal narratives, con...

This wide-ranging interdisciplinary collection—the first of its kind—invites us to reconsider the politics and scope of the Roots phenomenon of the 1970s. Alex Haley’s 1976 book was a publishing sensation, selling over a million copies in its first year and winning a National Book Award and a special Pulitzer Prize. The 1977 television adaptation was more than a blockbuster miniseries—it was a galvanizing national event, drawing a record-shattering viewership, earning thirty-eight...

Since its founding in 1801, African Americans have played an integral, if too often overlooked, role in the history of the University of South Carolina. Invisible No More seeks to recover that historical legacy and reveal the many ways that African Americans have shaped the development of the university. The essays in this volume span the full sweep of the university's history, from the era of slavery to Reconstruction, Civil Rights to Black Power and Black Lives Matter. This coll...

How would you know if a chief of staff can benefit you or your organization? If you already have one, how can you thoughtfully evolve the role over time? To answer these and other questions, author and former corporate chief of staff Tyler Parris studied the role in depth and conducted scores of interviews with other chiefs of staff and with C-suite and HR executives globally and in different industries. Chief of Staff: The Strategic Partner Who Will Revolutionize Your Organization