To tell a story well, you have to live a story well -- with courage, persistence, and faith that everything's going to turn out all right. <I>Black-Eyed Peas for the Soul</I> is a collection of stories that reveals universal themes, as well as the unique perspectives of African Americans. The first collection of its kind, <I>Black-Eyed Peas for the Soul</I> boldly dispels the myth of a homogeneous Black culture. Diverse voices -- including those of Zora Neale Hurston, Dawn Turner Trice, and Frederick Douglass -- tell our stories of beginnings, wisdom, patience, hard work, excellence, joy, and miracles. Stories about love, healing, and atonement are told with insight, humor, and gritty honesty. <P> Arising from these distinct voices is the call for hope. Enjoy these stories and let them guide your soul to a place where you can find solace and draw nourishment, a place that can warm and soothe you, like a bowl of black-eyed peas.