The Black Trans Prayer Book

by J Mase III (Co-Editor), Dane Figueroa Edidi (Co-Editor)

The Black Trans Prayer Book is an interfaith and beyond faith collection of poems, spells, incantations, theological narrative, and visual offerings by Black Trans, Non-Binary, and Intersex people. Re-claiming our divinity and celebrating our essentiality, this text demands space for the brilliance of the many healers and spirit workers in our community.

Genres: Poetry, Queer, Nonfiction, LGBT, Spirituality, Race, Anti Racist

231 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

J Mase III is a Black/Trans/queer poet & educator based in Seattle by way of Philly. As an educator, Mase has worked with community members in the US, UK, and Canada on the needs of LGBTQIA+ folks and racial justice in spaces such as K-12 schools, universities, faith communities and restricted care facilities. He is founder of awQward, the first trans and queer people of color talent agency.

He was raised by a Baptist Mother and Nation of Islam father.

J Mase is author of And Then I Got Fired: One Transqueer’s Reflections on Grief, Unemployment & Inappropriate Jokes About Death as well as White Folks Be Trippin’: An Ethnography Through Poetry & Prose.

As a performer, he has shared stages with world renowned artists like Chuck D, Billy Porter, MJ Rodriguez and the Indigo Girls. His work and musings have been featured on MSNBC, NBC OUT, Essence Live, Atlanta Black Star, GO Magazine, Believe Out Loud, Everyday Feminism, Black Girl Dangerous, Upworthy, the New York Times, Buzzfeed, Blavity, the Root, the Huffington Post and more.

Currently, he is head writer for the theatrical production Black Bois and is co-editor of the Black Trans Prayer Book alongside Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi.

Find him on Instagram (@jmaseiii) and www.jmaseiii.com!

Reviews

[Grant Showalter-Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world where the enforced norm for life and existence marginalizes all identities that don’t ‘fit,’ identify-affirming practices are a form of life-giving resistance. As a result, ‘The Black Trans Prayer Book’ is a site of life creation and salvific resistance with God by offering interfaith prayers, poems, visual art, and a variety of other spiritual practices, created by Black Trans, Intersex, and Non-Binary authors, that demonstrate the belovedness, sacredness, and blessedness of all people to God, but specifically the people most marginalized by the powers and principalities of this world.

This text is sacred and vital space necessary for the holistic self-care and divine strength necessary for the Spirit-driven transformation work of dismantling white supremacy, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and all of the other violent sins that harm and exclude in our society, toward the evermore creation/embodiment of God’s Kin(g)dom here on our precious and physical earth. Amen

[Paige McLoughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good down-to-earth poetry by trans people of color. Beautiful and evocative passages that many trans can relate to and also rich in references to African, African-American, and modern sensibilities. I enjoyed it I enjoy most poetry but I especially like it when it has more relevance and this collection does for me.

[Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich offering of generational wisdom; divine, truly

I will come back to this and find new light