"Black Religion in the Madhouse" is a timely and crucial read. As a social worker striving to dismantle stigma within a field historically rife with it, I found Judith Weisenfeld's examination of how racial bias shaped psychiatric practices in the post-slavery South deeply disturbing, yet essential. Weisenfeld exposes how white psychiatrists used "religious excitement" to pathologize African American spiritual practices, leading to disproportionate institutionalization and reinforcing harmful stereotypes about Black people's capacity for self-determination. This book provides vital historical context for understanding the ongoing disparities in mental healthcare and underscores the urgent need for culturally competent, anti-racist practices. It's a must-read for anyone in the mental health field and anyone seeking to understand the roots of systemic racism in healthcare.