Nothing Can Separate Us

Howard Thurman (1899–1981) was a spiritual mentor to civil rights leaders. A grandson of slaves, he graduated as valedictorian from Morehouse College in 1923 and was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1925. Later studies with Quaker theologian Rufus M. Jones and an encounter with Mohandas K. Gandhi informed his writings on segregation, nonviolence, and spirituality. Myles Werntz is an associate professor of theology and the director of Baptist Studies at Abilene Christian University. He is the author of several books, including A Field Guide to Christian Nonviolence and From Isolation to Community. He lives in Abilene, Texas. Vincent Lloyd is a professor of theology and religious studies and the director of the Center for Political Theology at Villanova University.

Howard Thurman’s writings have become, for me, sacred texts—ground I return to again and again for wisdom, clarity, and renewal. I am especially grateful to encounter his voice in this remarkable collection created with such care. Each reading deepens my understanding and reorients my spirit, challenging me to live more faithfully into the demands of love, compassion, honesty, and courage. Thurman's words never leave me unchanged; and I suspect you may find yourself transformed by these pages too.—Michelle Alexander, author, The New Jim CrowHoward Thurman asks us to look inward – deeply and contemplatively inward – so that we can look outward towards human division and social injustice around us. This book provides nine examples of how Thurman addressed this fundamental message of his life. It is a most valuable contribution both to Thurman studies and to anyone wishing to access some of Thurman's most profound points about our spiritual journeys. —Paul Harvey, author, Howard Thurman and the DisinheritedBoy, could we use a Howard Thurman today, in a world in which our spiritual needs and political realities have rarely been more askew. But we can still learn from Thurman, and Nothing Can Separate Us is a lovely, succinct introduction to some of the major themes of his religious and social thought.—Peter Eisenstadt, author, Against the Hounds of HellWith both courage and wisdom, Howard Thurman tackles the underlying questions that have plagued humanity across the ages. Nothing Can Separate Us is both a personal roadmap for survival and a way forward for a civilization in crisis. —Martin Doblmeier, founder, Journey FilmsIn an era of hostilities, hatred, and violence, this book provides a bracing invitation to a different way of life. Thurman asks us to see that nonviolence is more than just a set of tactics; it is a recognition that ultimately there are no enemies because we are all neighbors and each of us is seen, known, and beloved by God. This love of the Father for us, his prodigal children, forms “the context, the climate, the atmosphere” in which each of us can truly love God, each other, and ourselves. —Anthony M. BarrAppreciation for Howard Thurman:I have read Howard Thurman and been informed, influenced, and girded by his courage, intelligence, and abiding love.—Maya AngelouIf you are a serious person about your own journey, especially if you are in the struggle for human rights, you've got to meet Howard Thurman. —Otis Moss Jr., in the documentary Backs Against the WallI carried [Thurman's] book with me, Jesus and the Disinherited, every day just as a reference.—Jesse Jackson, in the documentary Backs Against the WallIn those long midnight hours when morning seems weeks away, the words of Howard Thurman have kept watch with me.—Alice Walker, in the audiobook The Living Wisdom of Howard ThurmanNothing in Thurman’s large and magnificently varied body of work ever yielded itself to superficial readings.—Vincent Harding, in his forward to the 1996 edition of Jesus and the Disinherited