A Balm in Gilead

Funeral sermons by notable African American clergy and public speakers situate the inevitable end of life within the larger context of Christian hope. Contributions by: Winston George Bennett, III, George and Shirley Burke, Robert O'Keefe Hassell, Gerald J. Joiner, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nicole Danielle McDonald, Barack Hussein Obama, II and Pompey helped listeners cope with the deaths of loved ones and move forward in a variety of circumstances. Each selection includes an introduction in which the editor elucidates the sermon's historical situation, rhetorical techniques, and possible outcomes.