CONTENTS
1. A Door of Hope for the Wounded Black Family
2. A Door of Hope in Forgiveness
3. A Door of Hope for a Positive Self-Image
4. A Door of Hope for Genuine Love
5. A Door of Hope Love For Those Who are Single
6. A Door of Hope for Married Couples
7. A Door of Hope for Overcoming Anger and Conflict
8. A Door of Hope for the Separated and Divorced
9. A Door of Hope for Parenting Black Children and
Teenagers
10. A Door of Hope for the Black Male
11. A Door of Hope for the Black Woman
12. A Door of Hope for Homosexuals
13. A Door of Hope for Being Single, Sexual, and
Celibate
14. A Door of Hope in our Savior and Friend
PREFACE
A number of features have been incorporated into
this book to provide African American families with a broad knowledge
about comprehensive strengths and about unresolved issues that influence
their family life. This book is designed to help Black individuals
to understand the origins and meaning of the feelings and behaviors
which they are continuously experiencing. Historical prejudices,
discriminations and racism did and does exist. It is essential for
African American individuals to be provided with a basis upon which
to build a positive self concept before they can effectively relate
positively with others in marriage and in families.
It is an enormous task to survey relevant literature,
sort out societal contributions that are likely to have produced
lasting influences on relationships and to integrate them into an
existing body of knowledge that can be useful in fostering a healthy
family life for Black Americans. A useful body of knowledge about
African Americans necessarily: increases the understanding of our
general human condition out of which we have developed; identifies
numerous continuing controversial, unresolved issues that impact
on spiritual, physical, mental, emotional and social health; and
incorporates some perspectives on the latest thinking about interventive
measures for strengthening Black families.
African American families are going through a period
of escalating conflict and chaos. A Door of Hope for the Wounded
Black Family seeks to acknowledge what has occurred historically
to African American families and to reinforce our sense of worth
which was instituted by God Himself in the beginning. In the beginning,
God through creation declared that Blacks, along with other nationalities,
were created in His image and Blacks were included in the evaluation
in Genesis 1:31 which stated, "And God saw everything that He made,
and behold, it was very good." The book also seeks to increase useful
relationship skills that can enhance effective coping and living.
In an effort to keep A Door of Hope for the Wounded
Black Family both informative and practical, the authors have tried
to design the book to meet the needs of African American families:
through the gaining of a better understanding of their spiritual
origins, through a knowledge of their historical and cultural roots,
through the cognitive acquisition of psychological concepts and
principles, and through the application of spiritual principles
of love, faith and forgiveness. Since it is not generally perceived
to be useful to repress bitterness and hostility, healing and intervention
have been postulated to begin with a need for forgiveness. Forgiving
another is not based on whether the guilty offender deserves it.
The act of slavery does not merit forgiveness. However, forgiveness
fosters the health and growth of the victim. It can reduce stress
and anxiety in African Americans so that their adaptive energy can
be used for their own growth.
Forgiveness is a process of letting go of the resentment
and bitterness that accompanies emotional hurt or wrongful offenses
against one's self. To forgive requires one to freely pardon another
who has been guilty of being immoral, unjust, unfair and evil against
you. Forgiveness releases repressed anger and bitterness that has
the potential, like cancer, to cause intense distress, anxiety,
physical and emotional illness and death. Forgiveness facilitates
the healing of the oppressed.
Throughout these passages the authors have sought
to encourage and inspire African Americans to think critically,
to intelligently assess needs, to develop plans and to act rationally
while implementing plans, so that they can make sound decisions,
solve their own problems and their families can become stronger
and function optimally. Mature decision making can foster success.
Impulsive emotional reactivity born out of anger can be destructive
to the victim.
While co-authorship has been a venture of togetherness,
both authors took turns in selecting areas that hey especially enjoyed
and felt comfortable with. The conceptual framework for A Door of
Hope for the Wounded Black Family initially gives a brief historical
overview which leads to a discussion of contemporary psychosocial
socio--cultural perspectives of the African American family. This
discussion is followed by some causal factors in problem behaviors
and finally some strategies for intervening in problem relationship
were added.
The authors write both as experts in the field of
family and marriage counseling and as African Americans. Alfred
R. Jones has a doctorate in Marriage and Family Counseling and works
as a family counselor and educator known nationally and internationally
for conducting seminars, workshops and conferences for singles,
couples and families. Since this work was originally his brain child,
he wrote a majority of the book--nine chapters--which include sections
on: The Black Family; Forgiveness; A Positive Self Image; Those
Who Are Single; The Separated and Divorced; The Black Male; Hope
for Homosexuals; Single, Sexual and Celibate; and Hope in Our Savior
and Friend. Doris M. Ewell Jones has a masters degree in counseling
and is a doctoral candidate in psychology. She has traveled widely
with her husband and alone and has a broad range of experience as
an educator, lecturer, counselor and conductor of marriage, parenting
and family seminars. She wrote the five sections on: The Black Woman;
Genuine Love; Married Couples; Parenting Children and Adolescents;
and Overcoming Conflict and Anger.
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