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Fat Luther, Slim Pickin's: A Black Catholic Celebration of Faith, Tradition, and Diversity
What does musical icon Luther Vandross—and his physical appearance—have to do with appreciating the people and cultures that make up the Catholic Church?
Marcia Lane-McGee and Shannon Wimp Schmidt, hosts of the Plaid Skirts and Basic Black podcast, explain that Christmas celebrations of Black Catholic families are not complete without the annual argument about which version of Luther—fat or skinny—created better music. The light-hearted debate is also about remembering the past and providing hope for the future.
In Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s, the duo share their faith and reflections on the liturgical year to honor the Black Catholic experience and to help other Catholics understand Black culture. With the humor, vulnerability, honesty, and pop culture references that their podcast is known for, Lane-McGee and Schmidt explore the Church as an important model for how to welcome diversity while maintaining and celebrating culturally distinct traditions and practices.
As our nation continues to confront racism, including within its churches, this ground-breaking book examines the intersection of faith, race, culture, and identity with hopefulness, humor, and joy. Lane-McGee and Schmidt share their experiences as Black women in the Church and invite Catholic women from all walks of life to look with new eyes at the feasts and seasons of the liturgical year through the lens of Black Catholic culture.
The Church is a communion of many cultures, languages, and ethnicities, yet it has been unified for more than two-thousand years. Black Catholics bring unique gifts of culture and history to the Church and the United States that provide an essential perspective on the work for racial justice, a strong framework for addressing the sin of racism, confident guidance for embracing diversity, and a beautiful demonstration of faith infusing even the darkest moments with hope.
In Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s, you will learn that:
You can embrace liturgical celebrations even if they’re a little janky—that is, haphazard and messy—by making do with what you have and focusing on actually doing something and being human rather than doing it perfectly.
Soul food epitomizes the genius of Black Americans who can make sustenance even from “slim pickin’s”—the scraps.
Ordinary Time offers us a chance to cultivate our “Catholic Shine”—finding beauty in the everyday stuff of life, revealing the mystery of God.
As we remember afresh Christ’s suffering on the Cross each Lent we see the parallel to how racism in America can be both history and an ongoing suffering.
The laity, especially women, have an important role as the “neck of the Church”—turning the head toward the most urgent needs of our time and working as Christ in the world.
Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s offers examples of holy people—including Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman, Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton, St. John XIII, St. Martin De Porres, and St. Joan of Arc—as companions for the liturgical journey. You will also learn more about Black history and experience, and your own faith, through primers on “one drop” laws, appreciation vs. appropriation, Black hair, the legacy of slavery, code switching, and the three-fifths compromise. Reflection questions are included in each chapter, making this book perfect for individual or group study.
Marcia Lane-McGee and Shannon Wimp Schmidt, hosts of the Plaid Skirts and Basic Black podcast, explain that Christmas celebrations of Black Catholic families are not complete without the annual argument about which version of Luther—fat or skinny—created better music. The light-hearted debate is also about remembering the past and providing hope for the future.
In Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s, the duo share their faith and reflections on the liturgical year to honor the Black Catholic experience and to help other Catholics understand Black culture. With the humor, vulnerability, honesty, and pop culture references that their podcast is known for, Lane-McGee and Schmidt explore the Church as an important model for how to welcome diversity while maintaining and celebrating culturally distinct traditions and practices.
As our nation continues to confront racism, including within its churches, this ground-breaking book examines the intersection of faith, race, culture, and identity with hopefulness, humor, and joy. Lane-McGee and Schmidt share their experiences as Black women in the Church and invite Catholic women from all walks of life to look with new eyes at the feasts and seasons of the liturgical year through the lens of Black Catholic culture.
The Church is a communion of many cultures, languages, and ethnicities, yet it has been unified for more than two-thousand years. Black Catholics bring unique gifts of culture and history to the Church and the United States that provide an essential perspective on the work for racial justice, a strong framework for addressing the sin of racism, confident guidance for embracing diversity, and a beautiful demonstration of faith infusing even the darkest moments with hope.
In Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s, you will learn that:
You can embrace liturgical celebrations even if they’re a little janky—that is, haphazard and messy—by making do with what you have and focusing on actually doing something and being human rather than doing it perfectly.
Soul food epitomizes the genius of Black Americans who can make sustenance even from “slim pickin’s”—the scraps.
Ordinary Time offers us a chance to cultivate our “Catholic Shine”—finding beauty in the everyday stuff of life, revealing the mystery of God.
As we remember afresh Christ’s suffering on the Cross each Lent we see the parallel to how racism in America can be both history and an ongoing suffering.
The laity, especially women, have an important role as the “neck of the Church”—turning the head toward the most urgent needs of our time and working as Christ in the world.
Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s offers examples of holy people—including Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman, Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton, St. John XIII, St. Martin De Porres, and St. Joan of Arc—as companions for the liturgical journey. You will also learn more about Black history and experience, and your own faith, through primers on “one drop” laws, appreciation vs. appropriation, Black hair, the legacy of slavery, code switching, and the three-fifths compromise. Reflection questions are included in each chapter, making this book perfect for individual or group study.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2022
11 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 23, 2022
This packed so much in one small book, and I’m so glad that it did! Shannon and Marcia bring all that is loved about their podcast and more to their first book, and I will never get tired of listening to them. This provided a crash course in black culture, while also integrating church teachings, pop culture references (the My Big Fat Greek Wedding one will always get me), Saint stories, and personal reflections all in one package. Reading this made me feel hopeful for our church and the people in it, which is something I really needed.
April 16, 2022
Wonderful book! This book was very insightful and gave very practical tips in approaching each liturgical season. The "Black History Primer" sections were very informative and important. I really liked all of the pop-culture references, it makes Catholicism way more approachable and fun. This book is structured in a way that is easy to reference as well, and I am going to keep referencing this as liturgical seasons change.
March 22, 2023
This book was moderately interesting but neither theologically substantive nor culturally comprehensive by any means. I think it has a lot of potential to develop into something more robust that could benefit the Church.
July 6, 2022
A brilliant and utterly necessary book; a must read for all Catholics
March 1, 2022
Funny, wise, insightful, heartfelt, inclusive, challenging, vulnerable, unique. . . just a few words that describe this book! When I finished reading, I felt inspired to bring my whole, authentic self to the Church, and now have a better understanding of how to help others do the same. Shannon and Marcia have written a timely, faithful and enjoyable book for anyone who wants to know better so they can do better. Both informative and inspiring, Fat Luther, Slim Pickin's walks the reader through the liturgical year. As with any year in the life of the Church, it's a journey with the Lord and it would be hard to finish this book the same person as when you started.
With solid scriptural understanding and church teachings, poignant personal stories, helpful explanations of Black culture and history, and holy companions as examples, Shannon and Marcia offer a way forward for us as individuals and for the Church.
Sometimes I feel discouraged that as a white mom in the middle of raising my kids in the suburban Midwest there is not much I can do personally to heal the divisions I see in America or in our Church. After reading this book, I feel hopeful. I will start where I am, with what I have, with the work that is in front of me. I pray that many others will pick up this book and both feel seen and see more clearly.
This is the right book at the right time, and I am grateful to Ave Maria press for publishing it, and to Shannon and Marcia for sharing their wisdom, their experiences and their honest selves so generously in this book.
With solid scriptural understanding and church teachings, poignant personal stories, helpful explanations of Black culture and history, and holy companions as examples, Shannon and Marcia offer a way forward for us as individuals and for the Church.
Sometimes I feel discouraged that as a white mom in the middle of raising my kids in the suburban Midwest there is not much I can do personally to heal the divisions I see in America or in our Church. After reading this book, I feel hopeful. I will start where I am, with what I have, with the work that is in front of me. I pray that many others will pick up this book and both feel seen and see more clearly.
This is the right book at the right time, and I am grateful to Ave Maria press for publishing it, and to Shannon and Marcia for sharing their wisdom, their experiences and their honest selves so generously in this book.
March 5, 2022
This book is SO GOOD. Not just good for Black Catholics, not just good for people who don't know a thing about Black Catholics, not just good for people who are anti-racist, not just good for people who are into the liturgical year. Honestly, no joke, good for everybody.
It's a celebration of Black Catholic culture and also a primer in how to let the liturgical year transform your relationship with Jesus and also a quick Black history lesson and also an invitation into the lives of Black Catholics who let you learn about their culture and their struggle and their joy. Such a gift and SUCH an important read.
It's a celebration of Black Catholic culture and also a primer in how to let the liturgical year transform your relationship with Jesus and also a quick Black history lesson and also an invitation into the lives of Black Catholics who let you learn about their culture and their struggle and their joy. Such a gift and SUCH an important read.
December 11, 2021
Co-presenters of the podcast “Plaid Skirts and Basic Black” Marcia Lane-McGee and Shannon Wimp Schmidt have written what might appear on the surface to be frivolous book, but which in reality is a remarkably modern and important study of the 21st century Black religious experience, taking in issues of racism, diversity and tolerance, particularly from a female perspective.
Naturally I was attracted to this book by the very quirky title, but I was fully aware that this was a book about religion. Although I am not a religious person, and this kind of book is normally far out of my comfort zone, but Marcia and Shannon are two very articulate ladies making this book a joy to read.
Referring to themselves as Black Catholic, a reference not to their race but to their rich culture, there is a concise section exploring the history and genesis of the term. And, of course, the relative merits of pre- and post-weight gain Luther Vandross are debated and dissected, although this is not a trivial discussion, but rather one that aims to teach us much about remembering the past.
The chapters feature stories from the authors’ lives, and at the end of each one are “reflection questions” relating to the chapter’s content; thought-provoking stuff to generate further discussion. Topics covered include soul-food, Black music, religious holidays such as Christmas and Advent, baptism and more, all discussed in Marcia and Shannon’s friendly and accessible way.
“Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s” is a fun, timely and inspiring triumph, which should give even the staunchest non-believer pause for thought.
Naturally I was attracted to this book by the very quirky title, but I was fully aware that this was a book about religion. Although I am not a religious person, and this kind of book is normally far out of my comfort zone, but Marcia and Shannon are two very articulate ladies making this book a joy to read.
Referring to themselves as Black Catholic, a reference not to their race but to their rich culture, there is a concise section exploring the history and genesis of the term. And, of course, the relative merits of pre- and post-weight gain Luther Vandross are debated and dissected, although this is not a trivial discussion, but rather one that aims to teach us much about remembering the past.
The chapters feature stories from the authors’ lives, and at the end of each one are “reflection questions” relating to the chapter’s content; thought-provoking stuff to generate further discussion. Topics covered include soul-food, Black music, religious holidays such as Christmas and Advent, baptism and more, all discussed in Marcia and Shannon’s friendly and accessible way.
“Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s” is a fun, timely and inspiring triumph, which should give even the staunchest non-believer pause for thought.
March 14, 2023
I've known Marcia since I was 18, so I was excited to finally read the book she wrote with her podcast co-host. Using the framework of the liturgical year, they share personal experiences and elements of Black culture to showcase how everyday Catholicism can help us move toward a more equitable and just world. I think the target audience is probably a little more comfortable with American Catholicism and a little less familiar with racial justice than I am (i.e., if you're cool with using exclusively male pronouns for God and you could really use some Black History 101, you will probably get more out of this book than I did), but I found it engaging to read nonetheless due to the authors' conversational style. I wish they'd opened with an explanation of the title — it comes during the Christmas chapter and is pretty brief and not very thoroughly explained — but otherwise I think the way they structured the book was valuable for tying together elements of Black American culture with parts of the liturgical year. I may not agree on every theological point, but I can get behind the larger message about celebrating the diverse cultures that make up the Church and living out our callings within our own unique life circumstances.
January 15, 2022
Thank you to Ave Maria Press for an ARC!
This book is gives us a delightful insight into something that many of us Catholics take for granted: the Liturgical Year, and how to celebrate it. Wimp-Schmidt and Lane-McGee invite us to truly experience our Catholic Church as how She should be experienced: as a universal church. Our Church is not just European and there is room for everyone, we just need to get outside of ourselves and make room for voices to be heard.
This book will make you giggle, it will bring a tear to your eye, but most of all it will make you ask yourself “am I truly bringing my WHOLE SELF to my Jesus and His Church?”
This book is gives us a delightful insight into something that many of us Catholics take for granted: the Liturgical Year, and how to celebrate it. Wimp-Schmidt and Lane-McGee invite us to truly experience our Catholic Church as how She should be experienced: as a universal church. Our Church is not just European and there is room for everyone, we just need to get outside of ourselves and make room for voices to be heard.
This book will make you giggle, it will bring a tear to your eye, but most of all it will make you ask yourself “am I truly bringing my WHOLE SELF to my Jesus and His Church?”
May 5, 2022
5 stars for this informative and innovative read. I am not a Black Catholic Woman. And yet I found many things in this book relatable, heart warming and undeniably funny. More importantly- as a white woman working in Catholic Ministry- I found this book to be extremely enlightening about the challenges my sisters in Christ are facing. It opened my eyes to ways I can support and walk with these women. I found the writing to be excellent, the stories to be relevant and heart warming and the information interesting. The format of using the Liturgical Year is a stroke of near brilliance and it helped me organize my thoughts. Well done, ladies. Simply spectacular.
December 27, 2023
4,5 stars for me! I've followed Marcia and Shannon both on Instagram and listened to a few of their podcast episodes over the years and find them to both be such delightful and warm and wonderful women. Their insights into Catholicism and into Black Catholicism are such a gift to the Church. The journey through the liturgical year and the explanations for each period were well laid out and explained. I particularly appreciated the in-chapter 'side notes' that explained various aspects of Black history and Black culture, some of which I knew but also a lot of which I did not know! I sincerely hope that another book (together, separate or both!) is in their futures.
May 30, 2022
While exploring the overarching “storyline” of the Catholic Liturgical Calendar, Marcia & Shannon share their own experiences, while also providing FYI/history about Black America and including a Saint or Blessed that represents the Church season. Besides being able to hear them read me their individual portions as a fan of the Plaid Skirts & Basic Black podcast, I felt the heart behind the purpose of this book - shenanigans included! ❤️
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November 11, 2022I had the absolute privilege of hearing Marcia speak at a conference I was working, and that made this book all the more enjoyable to read afterwards. It was everything I expected it to be and then some. I appreciated the way the book was broken down within the chapters, which wove personal, current experiences with scripture and history. This book is a challenge and call to action, an opportunity to reflect, and a gift to read.
April 10, 2022
Marcia and Shannon brought their beautiful and unique perspective to this entertaining and compelling book. Thankful for their experiences and encouragement for how to move forward in unity.
May 2, 2022
Loved it! I will be coming back to chapters in the coming months to spend more time digesting all the great stuff that is here
May 3, 2022
Wonderful book enjoyed reading this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2022
This book deserves an index!
October 14, 2022
What do Martha and Mary, Clint Eastwood, and Luther Vandros have in common? This book will tell you...and so much more!
May 10, 2023
This was a great exposure for me to the multicultural dimensions of the Church. As a white girl from a really white town in Iowa, it was such a gift to hear learn and understand how I can help to make my community more inviting to diverse populations. Both Marcia and Shannon are wonderful speakers and writers, and their life stories are a joy to listen to. The only thing that holds me back in really loving this book is the two anecdotes with each chapter. At times, they felt disconnected from one another, or the general theme of the chapter. Overall though, a really fun read!
June 6, 2022
Lots of interesting Black Catholic history and tidbits of Black history. Format was a bit hodgepodge.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews