Criticism
Consolation & Return by Malik Wilson
December 2026
The ideas around ‘recovery’, even the language used to discuss recovery, include profound moral, spiritual, physical, social, communal, and familial questions central to human living, human thriving.
What are we seeking to recover from? Where are we seeking to return to? What does redemption look like? How does one atone, forgive, make amends? How can one be forgiven? In a post-religious, secular age, such notions can be psychologized, made to be questions of 'health', or explained away. The reality behind ideas of recovery can quiver between the prospect of easy absolution or no absolution at all.
But these ideas comprise the essential questions of human living itself. And a culture well-versed in such ideas is at root a healthy culture. In examining African American traditions, Malik Wilson shows that there has always been an indigenous concept of ‘recovery’ within Black culture itself – one that seeks to hold an individual accountable while stitching him within the lines of forgiving, mending, restoring gestures. It is a tradition, downriver of religious beliefs, that is apt to apply the ointments of personal and communal healing and the binding raiments of principled ideals and long-established routes. Such a process helps the individual situate himself near the ancient landmarks, in line with the goodness that has been established before, at the root of the goodness that is happening now and can occur tomorrow.
Memoir
3 Weeks, 3 Months, 3 Years by Rodney Wilson
November 2026
Oral History / Documentary
The Recovery Project by Takoma/The African American Institute
2026-2029
In this joint venture by Takoma and the African American Institute, we look at indigenous African American traditions around issues of human restoration, return, atonement, and acceptance. How these ideals are described, discussed, avoided, implemented, and onboarded carry profound possibilities. In The Recovery Project, we examine the successes and failures, blind spots and noble provisions of a particular culture, and how its attempts and descriptions of a thriving life provide a follow-able grammar for success.
Though our effort looks at notions and perceptions of recovery in the African American community, we believe its found truths are timeless and can apply to all peoples everywhere. With The Recovery Project, we are gathering inspiriting stories, uplifting traditions, and well-documented wrong paths - anything, and everything that might help our community - and all communities - to thrive and grow.
For information on how to join us, please email recovery@takoma.us