Their stories were so alive in me, it was like I couldn’t write anything else. Simultaneously, I had these conversations with family to preserve my family stories. As I began to write, I realized that my strength as a writer is in storytelling. When I began Black Liturgies, I thought I was going to write a book of serious contemplative nonfiction. How did this book grow out of your Instagram account? This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Religion News Service spoke with Riley about her evolving spirituality and the vulnerable process of sharing her new book, set to be released by Convergent Books on Feb. “I think people will be surprised just how much of myself this book contains,” said Riley.Ĭiting influences such as James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Howard Thurman and Julian of Norwich, Riley explores spiritual questions about dignity, belonging, rage and rest through her family’s stories. “It’s a rare moment that I will show my face or bring my specific story into those spaces,” Riley told Religion News Service.īut with Riley’s debut in print, “This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us,” that’s about to change. Personal details about the author of the Instagram account, Cole Arthur Riley, have been surprisingly sparse, however. Today, 146,000 followers visit the feed for reflections on the Christian liturgical calendar, the sacredness of Black life and importance of breathing deeply. Images of white text strewn across earth-toned backgrounds were posted daily, sharing mantras, quotes and prayers written for and about the lived realities of Black readers. “Black Liturgies is a space where Black words live in dignity, lament, rage, and hope,” the first caption reads. (RNS) - In the cataclysmic summer of 2020, a new account called “Black Liturgies” quietly appeared on Instagram.

This here flesh cole arthur riley