Books

Rev. Dotson’s ‘Soul Reset’

THE AFRO — The Soul Reset series was created to address the stigma of depression, suicide, burnout, and grief as it relates to personal and professional roles. Most of the time, people who are in leadership positions feel that vulnerability is a weakness, and that they have to “be strong for others,” when in actuality, there is power in testimony and transparency.

Published

7 years ago

October 1, 2019

Oakland Post

Rev. Junius B Dotson’s Soul Reset, boldly speaks about depression, suicide, and mental health. (Courtesy Photos)

By Jessica Dortch

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and the Rev. Junius B. Dotson tackles that topic, along with many others, in his latest book, Soul Reset. As the current CEO of Discipleship Ministries in Nashville, Tenn., Rev. Dotson has been in ministry for almost three decades, however, his journey to holistic spirituality started early in his priesthood.

Starting out as the pastor of a local church, Rev. Dotson beared all of the responsibility and pressure that comes with any startup business. In exclusive with the AFRO, Dotson revealed that about three or four years after the church opened, he experienced an emotional breakdown. This episode would later lead to a diagnosis of clinical depression and come as a complete shock to the pastor.

“That’s really when my journey to wholeness began,” recalled Dotson.

The Soul Reset series was created to address the stigma of depression, suicide, burnout, and grief as it relates to personal and professional roles. Most of the time, people who are in leadership positions feel that vulnerability is a weakness, and that they have to “be strong for others,” when in actuality, there is power in testimony and transparency.

“Sometimes we super spiritualize everything, so if a person is in need of therapy or even medication, it is looked down upon as if Jesus can’t heal it all,” the author explains. As a disclaimer, the reverend is not saying that Jesus isn’t enough, but rather that the Lord works through people. “The source of healing is God, but God heals in various ways,” he clarified.

“Part of my rationale, impotence, and desire to write this book is to encourage our churches to be a safe place, and to be places that create authentic community where people can share honestly. Sometimes it’s okay not to be okay.”

In the book, Rev. Dotson shares several stories of his personal struggles with depression, suicide, and, specifically, grief. The author shared an anecdote with the AFRO about one of the lowest points in his life, the year 2012. Tragedy struck back to back in the passing of his grandmother, his mother, and his close friend in a short span of nine months. The pastor recalls having difficulty navigating through his grief, especially as the holiday season approached. Prayerfully, Rev. Dotson was able to overcome his debilitating grief through self love and self care. The book includes spiritual practices geared toward self care and spiritual discipline to let readers know that “there is hope beyond your grief, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Rev. Dotson also writes about having an activity that helps you to stay balanced. The Rev. was not a musician, but he admits that listening to music has always helped him stay calm and grounded, which is what inspired him to learn to play piano. As it turns out, this skill was a hidden talent for the Pastor. “When I’m stressed or in the midst of a long meeting, I’ll walk out and find a piano and that will calm me down,” he adds.

In addition to the Soul Reset series, Rev. Dotson expresses powerful and helpful spiritual nuggets in his 90-second daily radio series called “See All The People.” The show, which is featured on more than 40 radio stations across the country, answers the question, “What if we stopped trying to fix the church, and instead we started seeing all of the people who God has called us to reach?”

The act of seeing someone for who they are is a dialogue without words. Taking the time to get to know someone and being able to positively speak into their lives is a different level of relationship and intimacy. According to Rev. Dotson, “See All The People” is an invitation for the church to have a conversation with their neighbors of every race and creed. “It’s about building relationships that are authentic, organic, and consistent,” he stated.

The Soul Reset series is the ultimate tool for team meetings, small groups, book clubs, and other gatherings. Each chapter ends with an invitation to a spiritual practice that will act as a guide on your journey to wholeness. Rev. Dotson explains that “[This] book is dedicated to the people who did not or refused to give up on their dark days, and for the people in their lives who encouraged them.”

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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Black History

Michael Shiner: The Enslaved Man Who Wrote His Way into American History

Born into slavery in 1805, Michael G. Shiner became an essential eyewitness to 19th-century America by documenting over five decades of history in a private journal. Working at the Washington Navy Yard, Shiner recorded monumental events ranging from the British invasion during the War of 1812 to the complexities of labor and racial discrimination. His writings offer a rare, first-person perspective on the nation’s transformation from the eyes of a man who navigated both bondage and liberty. Read more to learn how Shiner secured his legacy.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 3, 2026

Post News Group

By Tamara Shiloh

Long before African Americans could freely tell their stories, Michael G. Shiner was quietly documenting history.

Born into slavery in 1805 in Piscataway, Maryland, Shiner became one of the most remarkable eyewitness chroniclers of nineteenth-century America. His writings preserved more than five decades of Washington, D.C., history, providing an extraordinary perspective on slavery, freedom, labor, and the nation’s transformation.

He was born to William Pumphrey Jr., whose family owned property in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Around 1812, Shiner was brought to the nation’s capital, where he eventually worked at the Washington Navy Yard. Although denied the educational opportunities available to White Americans, he learned to read and write, likely through religious instruction at Washington’s First Presbyterian Church.

His literacy became a powerful instrument of historical preservation. Beginning with recollections of events in 1813, Shiner recorded significant happenings in a handwritten journal he called his “book.” His observations included the British invasion of Washington during the War of 1812, particularly the burning of the Capitol and other government buildings in August 1814. His descriptions captured the fear, destruction, and confusion surrounding one of America’s most devastating wartime attacks.

However, his writings extended far beyond military events.

In 1828, Thomas Howard, chief clerk of the Washington Navy Yard, acquired Shiner and hired out his labor. He worked in the Navy Yard’s paint shop, observing the everyday experiences of enslaved and free workers. His diary documented ship launches, workplace accidents, labor disputes, racial discrimination, and political developments.

One of his most heartbreaking experiences occurred in 1833 when slave traders threatened to separate his family. His wife, Phillis, and their children faced the possibility of being sold away. Through determined intervention and assistance from influential individuals, Shiner obtained their release from enslavement.

He petitioned for his own freedom in 1836 and subsequently lived as a free man. By 1850, census records identified him as free, living with his second wife, Jane, and their children.

His writings continued through the Civil War, documenting the changing political landscape and the struggle for African American freedom. His manuscript also revered the Emancipation Proclamation, demonstrating the importance of this historic declaration to someone who had personally experienced enslavement.

Following the Civil War, he became active in Republican politics and advocated for African American rights. His remarkable memory and detailed observations made him a respected figure throughout Washington.

Shiner died of smallpox on January 16, 1880, at approximately seventy-five years old.

Today, his 186-page manuscript, The Diary of Michael Shiner Relating to the History of the Washington Navy Yard, 1813–1869, is preserved at the Library of Congress.

What makes his achievement extraordinary is that an African American laborer, once considered property under American law, became an invaluable recorder of the nation’s history.

Shiner never achieved fame during his lifetime as a writer. Yet his determination to document the world around him ensured that future generations could understand American history through the eyes of someone who experienced both slavery and freedom.