Survival & Liberation is a book whose time has come. Watkins Ali effectively engages the work of Seward Hiltner as she tests his theories in light of contemporary pastoral theological theory and practice. In particular, she calls for womanist pastoral theology that takes seriously the context and narrative of the client as the ground upon which the client and therapist become co-laborers in the therapeutic enterprise.

Marsha Foster Boyd Payne Theological Seminary

I commend this book unreservedly. Dr. Watkins Ali has taken the next step in freeing pastoral theology from bondage to the Anglo-European culture, showing pastoral theology in the African American culture, and thus giving us that part of pastoral theology that informs all cultures. James Gordon Emerson San Francisco Theological Seminary, Southern California

Carroll Watkins Ali has written a very wise book. She brings together womanist theology and traditional (male) black theology; hands-on compassion and hard-nosed thinking about social justice, psychological theory and spiritually informed clinical practice. This is a "must-read" for anyone interested in the urgent issues facing contemporary African Americans. Arthur C. Jones University of Denver