Rock of Ages: A Tribute to the Black Church. (children's reviews).

Rock of Ages: A Tribute
to the Black Church
by Tonya Bolden
Knopf, January 2002, $16.95
ISBN 0-679-89485-3, Ages 5 to 9

In this book, author Tonya Bolden rediscovers the legacy of the black church, and illustrates its importance as part of black history. With names like Mother Zion Baptist, St. Mary's Lutheran and Bethel Full-Gospel, Rock of Ages explains how these institutions have served as the bedrock for African-American resistance movements and political activities.

As much a part of the abolitionists movement as Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, the black church has always had a laudable reputation for raising money for schools and spearheading community improvement. Bolden demonstrates how the church is also a cradle of African-American culture by paying homage to legends, such as James Baldwin, Dr. Martin Luther King and Aretha Franklin, whose inspirations were rooted in the black church.

Bolden demonstrates passion for the black church and its legacy, and communicates it to young adults. Although the subject matter could have been better explored with a centralized theme, Bolden provides substantial footnotes, including a chronology of events. The illustrations by R. Gregory Christie provide snapshots of culture expressions in the black church.

--Latasha Long is a writer based in Detroit.