New version of Bible targets African-American teens, includes 'Negro National Anthem' lyrics

[Blue_Tires]

A new version of the Good Book may help African-American teens gain a better understanding of religion.

The just-published “Our Heritage and Faith Holy Bible for African-American Teens” will try to answer the difficult questions kids have, according to TheGrio.com. The tome, published by Zondervan, is selling on Amazon for $20.15.

Co-author Wade Hudson says it’s aimed at helping readers who may believe that questioning statements like “God is able,” can mean one is “un-Christian.” Hudson’s company, Just Us Books, and Zondervan Publishng House partnered up on the book.

“We came up with the concept and idea because we feel that often in our churches we tend to miss young people,” Hudson, president and CEO of Just Us Books, told TheGrio.com. “They’re not getting the necessary information about the tenets of faith.”

Hudson — whose wife, Cheryl Willis Hudson, worked with him on the book — added, “Some Sunday School teachers are doing a wonderful job, but so many of our young people don’t even go to church. So we developed some concepts to engage them, interest them and motivate them to learn more about God’s words.”

The new Bible looks a lot like any New International Version edition, but it’s different in that the covers are in dark green, yellow, orange and black for males, and pink and purple for girls.

The color photos show young blacks, and a 100-page addendum starts off with a full page consisting of the lyrics to “The Negro National Anthem.”

Wade Hudson, who is a deacon at his church in New Jersey, notes that some 50 questions are answered in the back of the book. The book also has eight pages of maps so teenagers can visualize biblical lands, and a presentation page that includes a family section.

Among the supporters of the book is the Rev. Charlotte McSwine-Harris, pastor of the Charles City Community Church in Charles City, Va., who said she views the book more as commentary since she feels that Bible in its original form was not targeted to a specific race.

“When we move away from the traditional language , we move from original to translation or interpretation,” McSwine-Harris told The Grio.com. “The Bible is for everybody. It’s up to the interpreter to for a particular audience. I don’t think you can have a black Bible or a white Bible.”




Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/03/15/2010-03-15_new_version_of_bible_targets_africanamerican_teens_includes_negro_national_anthe.html#ixzz0iXQ4N6cm