Passionate for Justice

Catherine Meeks, PhD, is the former Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, the retired Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies from Wesleyan College, and the former Founding Executive Director of the Lane Center for Community Engagement and Service. Dr. Meeks is the author of six books, including The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning, the editor of Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America, and the co-author of Passionate for Justice: Ida B Wells as Prophet for Our Times. She is the winner of The President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award, and was one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s notable women in 2022. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University, and a PhD from Emory University. She is the founder of Turquoise and Lavender, an institute for transformation and healing. Dr. Meeks lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

A resource for social justice and resilience, Wells was a powerful churchwoman and witness for justice and equity from 1878-1931. Born enslaved, her witness flowed through the struggles for justice in her lifetime, especially in the intersections of African Americans, women, and those who were poor. Her life is a profound witness for faith-based work when the forces of injustice stand in opposition to progress.

Foreword An Introduction to Ida B. Wells from Her Great-Granddaughter Preface 1. "To the Seeker of Truth" 2. "Crusade for Justice" 3. "To Tell the Truth Freely" 4. "My Name Is Legion" 5. "At the Crossroads: Just Trying to Be Human" 6. "Order Our Steps" 7. Seeking the Beloved Community