Permission to Be Black: My Journey with Jay-Z and Jesus

Embracing your Christian identity does not make you "soft." Embracing your Black identity does not make you less Christian.

Throughout American history, Black people were not given the freedom to acknowledge their suffering. A. D. Thomason believes that the Holy Spirit brings freedom and liberation as we're able to name our pain, recognize its roots in history and society, and seek healing.

While many saw a confident, six-foot-five Black man, A. D. "Lumkile" Thomason lived most of his life in...