Take Back What the Devil Stole: An African American Prophet's Encounters in the Spirit World

In the streets of Boston, Ms. Donna Haskins battles structural injustice by entering a "spirit realm" where she is trained by the Holy Spirit to defy limitations on Black female bodies. She meets enslaved Africans, engages in spiritual warfare, and tends to the souls of murdered Black children. "Take Back What the Devil Stole" explores Donna's supernatural encounters, offering a narrative of how she reclaims her power from social violence. It sheds light on Black women's religious participation and creativity, blending Catholic, Afro-Caribbean, and Black Baptist traditions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Ms. Donna Haskins, an African American woman residing in the streets of Boston, faces the challenging reality of structural inequity. However, she finds solace and strength in a realm she refers to as the "spirit realm." Within this alternate dimension, she is prepared by the Holy Spirit to confront the limitations imposed upon Black female bodies in the United States. As Donna grows into her spiritual gifts of astral flight and time travel, she embarks on extraordinary journeys. She meets the spirits of enslaved Africans, engages in spiritual warfare against sexual predators, and tends to the souls of murdered Black children whose ghosts haunt the inner city.

Take Back What the Devil Stole is a captivating narrative that revolves around Donna's encounters with the supernatural. It explores her unwavering quest to reclaim her power from a lifetime of social violence. This book combines ethnographic insights with personal experiences, providing a profound portrayal of Donna's spiritual life. Onaje X. O. Woodbine, the author, delves into Donna's religious creativity and her sense of multireligious belonging as she seamlessly blends Catholic, Afro-Caribbean, and Black Baptist traditions. Through the captivating story of one local prophet, this book offers a unique and original account of the religious experiences of Black women in contemporary America. It explores their bodies, haunted landscapes, and spiritual worlds, shedding light on the complexities and resilience of this community.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231197175