Father James Page

This first-of-its-kind biography tells the story of Rev. James Page, who rose from slavery in the nineteenth century to become a religious and political leader among African Americans as well as an international spokesperson for the cause of racial equality. Winner of the Rembert Patrick Award by The Florida Historical Society, Florida Non-Fiction Book Award by the Florida Book Awards, Harry T. and Harrietter V. Moore Award by the Florida Historical Society James Page spent the majority of his life enslaved—during which time he experienced the death of his free father, witnessed his mother and brother being sold on the auction block, and was forcibly moved 700 miles south from Richmond, VA, to Tallahassee, FL, by his enslaver, John Parkhill. Page would go on to become Parkhill's chief aide on his plantation and, unusually, a religious leader who was widely respected by enslaved men and women as well as by white clergy, educators, and politicians. Rare for enslaved people at the time, Page was literate—and left behind ten letters that focused on his philosophy as an enslaved preacher and, later, as a free minister, educator, politician, and social justice advocate. In Father James Page, Larry Eugene Rivers presents Page as a complex, conflicted man: neither a nonthreatening, accommodationist mouthpiece for white supremacy nor a calculating schemer fomenting rebellion. Rivers emphasizes Page's agency in pursuing a religious vocation, in seeking to exhibit "manliness" in the face of chattel slavery, and in pushing back against the overwhelming power of his enslaver. Post-emancipation, Page continued to preach and to advocate for black self-determination and independence through black land ownership, political participation, and business ownership. The church he founded—Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee—would go on to be a major political force not only during Reconstruction but through today. Based upon numerous archival sources and personal papers, as well as an in-depth interview of James Page and a reflection on his life by a contemporary, this deeply researched book brings to light a fascinating life filled with contradictions concerning gender, education, and the social interaction between the races. Rivers' biography of Page is an important addition, and corrective, to our understanding of black spirituality and religion, political organizing, and civic engagement.

Stories Untold is a personal account of a family’s history from their earliest days in the United States to the 2020s. It demonstrates the many connections between people, especially in the Old American South, and illustrates the stories passed down among generations. Through the lens of a young woman in her 20s, edited by her grandfather, Stories Untold examines the journey of an American family through time.

This Sunday Times top ten bestseller is a heartfelt account of his son's murder and his fight for justice by Ralph Bulger. James Bulger was just a few weeks shy of his third birthday when, on 12 February 1993, he wandered away from his mum Denise in a shopping mall in Bootle. From his deeply personal perspective of his son's tragic murder to his relentless fight for justice, Ralph Bulger's poignant memoir, My James, delves into one family's harrowing journey following an incomprehensible act of violence. This heart-rending narrative, a top ten Sunday Times bestseller, masterfully communicates the profound sorrow of losing a child and the desperate pursuit for justice that followed. The chilling image of innocent James Bulger's trusting hand held by ten-year-old Jon Venables - a moment captured on security cameras before the horror unfolded - still reverberates across the nation. Ralph Bulger's account takes readers through his painful journey, marked by personal loss, a strained marriage, and an enduring quest for justice against the backdrop of an unimaginable evil. In My James, Bulger pays tribute to his son - a bright, joyful boy whose untimely death never dimmed his memory. Ralph's account combines grief, resilience, and the undying hope for justice to deliver a touching eulogy to James' short but impactful life.

Now with a new introduction and conclusion by Kavanaugh, here is the passionate book that caused great controversy in the 1970s. Kavanaugh eloquently appeals for the Church to surrender its antiquated, abusive position to become a community of compassion and love. "One of the most moving human documents I have ever read!"--Dr. Carl Rogers.