Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Black and Buddhist

By: Pamela Ayo Yetunde - editor, Cheryl A. Giles - editor, Gaylon Ferguson - foreword
Narrated by: Kamilah Majied
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.49

Buy for $17.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Leading African-American Buddhist teachers offer lessons on racism, resilience, spiritual freedom, and the possibility of a truly representative American Buddhism.

What does it mean to be Black and Buddhist? In this powerful collection of writings, African-American teachers from all the major Buddhist traditions tell their stories of how race and Buddhist practice have intersected in their lives. The resulting explorations display not only the promise of Buddhist teachings to empower those facing racial discrimination but also the way that Black Buddhist voices are enriching the dharma for all practitioners. As the first anthology comprised solely of writings by African-descended Buddhist practitioners, this book is an important contribution to the development of the dharma in the West.

With contributions by Pamela Ayo Yetunde, Cheryl A. Giles, Acharya Gaylon Ferguson, Cheryl A. Giles, Gyōzan Royce Andrew Johnson, Ruth King, Kamilah Majied, Lama Rod Owens, Lama Dawa Tarchin Phillips, Sebene Selassie, and Pamela Ayo Yetunde.

©2020 Pamela Ayo Yetunde, Cheryl A. Giles; Respective authors of all material within (P)2021 Shambhala Publications
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“In this excellent anthology, meditation instructor Yetunde and psychologist Giles collect works by Black Buddhist practitioners that explore racial trauma and resilience through the practices of Buddhism. This timely exploration brings a much-needed contribution of Black voices to Buddhist popular literature." (Publishers Weekly)

“Wow! Black and Buddhist grounds meditation in naked truth-telling, showing that awakening to intergenerational rage and trauma liberates from the inside out. These searing accounts confirm the radical capacity of Black dharma teachers to show the way to freedom both ancient and now.” (Judith Simmer-Brown, author of Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism)

“Black lives that are Buddhist matter, and the new anthology edited by Pamela Ayo Yetunde and Cheryl A. Giles sees to it that the world knows about it. Being Black and Buddhist has been a movement of awakening for decades. In this book, teachers share their experiences and teachings, unapologetically, of leaning into Blackness while walking the ancient path of Buddha, a mystic who questioned the inequity of despair in his country. As you read, it becomes clear that these heart-filled essays serve as a new mandala of truth, love, and resistance. May the dharma wheel continue to turn.” (Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, author of The Deepest Peace: Contemplations from a Season of Stillness and The Way of Tenderness: Awakening Through Race, Sexuality and Gender)

What listeners say about Black and Buddhist

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great book; exactly what I needed

I enjoyed listening to this audio. representation matters when practicing Buddhism in the West. I too am black, female and LGBT so although no two stories are the same hearing this perspective validates an experience not held by many in my sangha. Thanks.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Compelling

Really great book that explores so many things including racism in the Dharma practice, healing and triumph. There were some great and actionable takeaways that can be easily applied in one’s meditation practice, in addition to calls to action around how we can make spaces safer for PoC. If you are a Buddha, yogi or value meditation and contemplative practices at any level, this book is for you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Extraordinary Insights “Cast off the Transient & Reveal the Truth “

As a SGI Nichiren Black Buddhist, Author Pamela Ayo Yetunde “Black and Buddhist “ book has awaken a deeper understanding of why and how melanated people are uniquely qualified as Peace Activists to emboldened leaders towards our mission to manifest and activate a qualitative advancement for Peace, Culture and Education. A MUST READ & TAKE ACTION BOOK 📕!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The book Black and Buddhist is life altering and affirming

First the narrator Kamilah Majied does a wonderful job. Her narration is warm, accessible and you can hear her love for the words of each author. She shines particularly bright when she tells her own story ..... naturally. But she uses the same care in telling the other authors stories and she makes their words take flight and sing. I purchased the book and decided to get the Audible version also. It has been a great source of joy and comfort.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

For all BIPoc practitioners.

This book has opened my eyes to love and appreciate my Thai/Asian Buddhism. I gained a lot more understanding of my practice and reasons why I am angry at the sangha and American western Buddhism. There is many ways to practice Buddhism. I appreciate all the authors to share their challenges, vulnerability and liberation!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Terrible Narration: Unpleasant voice

This wonderful book is sadly impossible for me to listen to on Audible. Why this narrator? Squeaky and shaky voice. Buy the book in print and read it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great introductory Buddhist book from some of the best Buddhist teachers today!

Highly recommend this book for many reasons. It gives a great example of the sphere of the dharma with a core that is the same across it, and from some of the best teachers today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Deserves better production quality

the thoughts here are enlightening, sad, joyful, &full of wisdom. performance &technical issues detract somewhat.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

insightful

A well thought out book. I appreciated the contributions from different individuals and sharing so much of themselves.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!