Luke [Fr. Joseph A. Brown, SJ], who holds advanced degrees in Afro-American and American Studies from Yale University, is director of the Africana Studies Department at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has also taught at Creighton University and the University of Virginia. An ordained Jesuit priest and poet, with an M.A. from The Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars, he has published the following books: Accidental Grace (poetry), A Retreat with Thea Bowman and Bede Abram: Leaning on the Lord, To Stand on the Rock: Meditations on Black Catholic Identity and Sweet, Sweet Spirit: Prayer Services From the Black Catholic Church. He lives in Carbondale, Illinois.

Listen to Jennifer Fuller interviewing Fr. Joseph A. Brown, SJ, on "In the Author's Voice," WSIU-Public Broadcasting.