Author Discussion—Black and Buddhist: What Buddhism Can Teach Us About Race, Resilience, Transformation & Freedom. Buddhism is a way of life, a philosophy, a psychology, a set of ethics, a religion, or a combination thereof. Central to the many ways Buddhism is understood is the achievement of emotional, mental, and psychological wellness. African Americans are at perpetual risk of psychological imbalance and trauma due to the social realities of racism in the United States. The authors engage the question: What can Buddhism offer African Americans who want to be emotionally resilient in a context they cannot singlehandedly change?

Pamela Ayo Yetunde is co-editor of Black and Buddhist: What Buddhism Can Teach Us About Race, Resilience, Transformation and Freedom. Ayo is a Community Dharma Leader, Zen student, chaplain, pastoral counselor, and professor. She has written for Buddhadharma and Lion's Roar, and is the co-founder of Center of the Heart: www.centeroftheheart.org.