Remembering Dr. Barbara Holmes, Author of “Race and Cosmos”

by Clifford Berrien

Dr. Barbara Holmes‘ work was an essential part of my development in consciousness, as well as the catalyst for me to inquire more deeply about how cosmology might inform our thinking, behavior and activism. Her books “Race and the Cosmos” and “Liberation in the Cosmos,” inspired by her conversations with Brian Swimme explored cosmology, race, and social justice and are a unique blend of spirituality, science, and African American experience in ways that are not widely explored. Her integration of quantum theory, liberation theology, and African cosmological traditions provide a needed perspective in both scientific and theological discussions about the Cosmos and humanity’s place in it.

Dr Holmes died last Tuesday. You can read her obituary here. A dear friend, colleague and mentor, Dr B, as she liked to be called, was responsible for me becoming a student in the DTN Leadership Course. She believed that science and cosmology had something significant and beneficial to contribute to the idea of “Beloved Community”, revisioning that idea as, “The-community-called-beloved” – “a geo-spiritual space where people seek and do justice because they remember all of their connections: cosmic, social, and divine. Once they have worked out the particulars of egalitarianism, they name this voluntary and sometimes difficult association desirable, healing, and beloved.”

I thought of Barbara Holmes’ work last week when we discussed the 4 wisdom traditions that Thomas Berry’s considered as requirements for our development towards such community. As I recall they were;

  • Classical
  • Women
  • Scientific
  • Indigenous

Inspired by the power and potential of the work of Dr. Barbara Holmes, I am compelled to wonder about the possibility of including in this list, the voices of the other scholars and thinkers, from the African diaspora, who have touched on these intersections, cosmic, social, and divine, for millennia. If I included Indigenous African voices and traditions, the list would be long, but, thanks to Dr B’s work, I have also become aware of contemporary voices such as;

Dr. Theophilus Kofi Gokah – He has engaged with African cosmologies and spirituality in relation to contemporary social justice issues, with particular emphasis on the African worldview, community cohesion, and the environment.

Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs is a Black feminist scholar, poet, and activist whose work centers on Black feminist thought, queer theory, and ecological consciousness. Like Dr Holmes, her work draws heavily on the intellectual and spiritual legacies of Black women, especially from the African diaspora, and explores themes of community, care, healing, and survival and explores the connections between Black liberation, ecological wisdom, and the deep interdependence of all life forms. Gumbs’ work is both scholarly and poetic, inviting readers to engage in a practice of reflection and radical love.

John S. Mbiti – Known for his work on African cosmology and philosophy, Mbiti wrote extensively on African religious traditions and how they inform understandings of time, space, and the human relationship to the cosmos. While his work is not directly tied to social justice in the same way as Holmes’, his theological reflections have opened doors for more nuanced conversations around cosmology.

Dr. Ama Mazama – A scholar of African religion and cosmology, Mazama has focused on the role of African-centered perspectives on the world and how they inform notions of power, spirituality, and resistance, especially in the context of African American identity and liberation.

Dr. Charles H. Long – His work in African American religious history often included reflections on cosmology and the sacred, especially as it relates to concepts of power, suffering, and survival for Black communities in the U.S.

Malidoma Patrice Somé – An author and teacher from the Dagara people of Burkina Faso, Somé’s work focused on African spiritual traditions and cosmologies, particularly as they relate to healing, community, and the environment, bridging traditional African worldviews with contemporary social issues, including the need for societal transformation.

To these names I could also add a long list of artists in the Afro-Futurist movement, from Sun Ra To Janelle Monet, Erykah Badu, Octavia Butler and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. These artists’ deeply philosophical work, inspired by African cosmology, blends social critique and quests for Black liberation with mytho-poetic inquiries related to time, existence, and the Cosmos.

These voices represent diverse aspects of African and African American spiritual traditions, cosmologies, and thought systems. While they may not have combined these elements with social justice in exactly the same way as Dr. Holmes, they contribute significantly to expanding the conversation around cosmology, race, and liberation.

Dr. Holmes was a rare voice in these fields, and it’s clear that her legacy will continue to resonate as scholars and practitioners increasingly explore the connections she brought to light. If you have not read any of her work, I hope you’ll take this invitation to do so as part of your/our journey through Cosmogenesis.