Overview

Are you Black and in love? Strengthen your bond and discover true intimacy with your partner before you jump the broom. Before the Broom is an indispensable workbook-the resource you need to facilitate self-reflection and communication between you and your partner to equip you for lifelong marital happiness. Renowned psychologists and couples therapists Erica Holmes, Ronecia Lark, and Jessica M. Smedley have collaborated to provide easy-to-follow exercises that explore many common areas of relational conflict, examined through a historic lens specific to the Black American experience of the past, present, and future. The authors use the concept of Sankofa, a metaphorical symbol used by the Akan people of Ghana, as a guiding principle-it's the idea that reaching back to knowledge gained in the past and bringing it into the present will fuel positive progress. Before the Broom shows couples how reflecting on past experiences, current practices, and future desires will improve connection, fuel understanding, and reveal areas for growth. Full of practical tools and strategies to navigate relationships within the context of racial identity and past experiences with racism, Before the Broom guides couples to see that together, with open hearts and honest communication, they can ensure a strong foundation for ongoing contentment. Whether you're about to make a marriage proposal, already engaged and hoping to build a strong foundation for the future, or newly married and realizing there are areas in your relationship that could use extra attention, make your way through this collaborative workbook together. With eight main topical lessons, this book offers journal prompts and quizzes along with professional guidance from experts who keep it real. Get ready to set yourself up for a happy and satisfying marriage that lasts for life.

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9781733232029

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The authors have created a workbook for 'engaged' Black couples, designed to help them reflect on and discuss beliefs each partner holds. Completing the workbook together will help both partners understand the other on a deeper and more transparent level to determine whether their belief systems align as much as their intense physical attraction. -William E. Cross Jr., professor emeritus in Counseling Psychology, University of Denver It is rare to find a resource that helps couples explore the intersection of spirituality, practicality, psychology, and ethnicity as a starting point for a meaningful, God-honoring marriage. Such is the case in this valuable ministry tool for pastors, counselors, and lovers. Here is helpful, instructional, and inspirational roadside information on the journey to the altar. Read it, share it, practice it before the vows, before the altar, Before the Broom. -Kenneth C. Ulmer, DMin, PhD, senior advisor to the president at Biola University The collective wisdom of the psychologists who have penned this book is definitely at work! They understand the effects of historical trauma and use their knowledge to buttress our understanding of the nuances of Black culture in relation to Black love. They highlight the status of Black love and relationships, provide a blueprint to avoid the pitfalls that lead to heartache, and offer an honest view of the complexity of Black love. The authors also skillfully help us deal with and work to heal the crippling malady we collectively grapple with because of intergenerational racial trauma. In so doing, they carefully guide us toward a path paved with the sanctity of love. As the doctors masterfully step out of the intellectual space, they make concepts and interventions practical, affirming the beauty of Black love! -Kamilah Marie Woodson, PhD; author of Colorism: Investigating a Global Phenomenon; chair of the Department of Human Development and Psychoeducational Studies, School of Education, Howard University Psychologists Erica Holmes, Ronecia Lark, and Jessica M. Smedley have filled a much-needed void with this outstanding workbook for Black couples! The authors have simplified complex therapeutic concepts, making them accessible to couples by providing exercises that make generational connections. This is an indispensable resource for Black couples and therapists who work with Black couples. -Yamonte Cooper, EdD, professor of counseling, El Camino College A most remarkable and timely tool for clinicians working with African American couples, for the couples themselves, and for African Americans desiring to be coupled! This culturally responsible achievement is a treasure. It not only investigates the relationship dynamics unique to African American couples, but it also discusses the sociohistorical factors that foster African American couples' development and the ways these factors currently impact the couples' relational patterns-down to the nuanced language. Doing transformative work with this population requires both a working knowledge of the cultural and contextual realities of African Americans and the skills to help couples explore, navigate, and negotiate these realities to curate healthy and sustainable intimate connections. This workbook charts the course for such necessary work. Bravo! -Jannis Moody, PhD; clinical psychologist; owner of Dr. Jannis Moody PLLC

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