Jonathan C. David

Visit my website at ↪️ www.jonathancdavid.com

On my site, you can read reviews and purchase my books, find out about upcoming books, read my articles and bio, watch videos and listen to music by the Singing and Praying Bands, and lots more.

Starving the Beast: A Left Perspective Why the Left should begin a campaign of non-cooperation with the federal government

If you haven't read my article "Starving the Beast" yet, you can read it now for free on my Substack "Jon David Nails It".

Be sure to subscribe to my Substack because I will be publishing more stories there similar to this one.
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...

Here's a photo by Richard Holloway from our book, in which members of the Western Shore Singing and Praying Band march exuberantly between a chartered bus and two vendors' tents on Magothy's campground with Shawn Copeland leading the way.

Buy the book here:
jonathancdavid.com/books/togeth...

Starving the Beast: A Left Perspective Why the Left should begin a campaign of non-cooperation with the federal government

"Opponents of Donald Trump’s second term as president should not sit passively on the sidelines of American politics, waiting for toothless Congressional Democrats to take action."
medium.com/fourth-wave/...

YouTube video by The Kennedy Center Singing and Praying Band - Millennium Stage (August 23, 2012)

Watch a performance of the Singing and Praying Bands on the Millennium Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.

I had the honor to work with the Singing and Praying Bands for many years, and this video contains my introduction.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYNE...

But Just What IS Fascism? What does it have to do with us (or the U.S.)?

"Today, MAGA Republicans, in their unshakable alliance with the corrupt, criminal, serial rapist, have simply doubled down on their previous beliefs and exchanged conservatism for fascism in a sinister but farcical replay of the same Reagan Democrat song."
medium.com/.../but-just....

The Flower from a Poisoned Seed The Flower from a Poisoned Seed [Jonathan C. David] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Flower from a Poisoned Seed

After falling into long-term depression as a young adult, I embarked on a life-long quest, journeying into my inner world to understand the source of my unhappiness. Becoming increasingly at peace, I found a personal voice and wrote this memoir.
www.amazon.com/Flower-Poiso...

I was honored to be among and do research with the African American grassroots Methodist groups called the Singing and Praying Bands.

This photo is one of the incredible singers in the bands. It was marvelously shot by Lloyd Wolf, whose work is widely available online and in print.

The Flower from a Poisoned Seed: A Memoir of Childhood … In early adolescence, the author discovers that, withou…

"A well-written and highly profound read that touches on so many aspects of desire, inner life, and what it takes to find out WHY we are how we are."
- I. Merey, author

Read the full review on Goodreads! If you've read my book, I'd love a review from you, too.
www.goodreads.com/book/show/19...

Inside a temporary eatery at the camp meeting in Magothy, Maryland, two chefs proudly display food they have prepared to sell to those who attend. Photo by Richard Holloway.

Purchase our book about the Singing and Praying Bands "Together Let Us Sweetly Live" at: jonathancdavid.com/books/togeth...

The Flower from a Poisoned Seed The Flower from a Poisoned Seed [Jonathan C. David] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Flower from a Poisoned Seed

“Jonathan David’s searing memoir is written from the depths of his soul. With the precision of an investigative journalist and heart of a poet, he generously offers the reader an unflinching view of his desolation, despair, and his demons.”
- Dr. Ira Brenner

Buy it:
www.amazon.com/Flower-Poiso...

This photo feels to me as if it shows some of my melancholy and inner thought at work. Sometimes, the world is a terrible place, but we carry on. It is my writing that is my rebellion, my protest, and my progressive voice that always seeks the truth.

Jon David Nails It | Jonathan C. David | Substack Welcome to where I shed light on the truth of what's happening in today's world events and politics. Right now, we need all the truth we can get! Click to read Jon David Nails It, by Jonathan C. David...

It's past time to tell the truth about what's happening in the world! Subscribe to my Substack 'Jon David Nails It' now!

The events taking place are scary, so I want to help shed light on worldwide corruption and oppression and how to continue to have hope despite it.
jonathancdavid.substack.com

In addition to being a writer, I'm a classically trained musician. I studied South Indian classical music in India when I was younger. I studied at the music school of Madurai University and Kalakshetra College of the Arts and focused on an instrument called the veena. This is me and my veena.

But Just What IS Fascism? What does it have to do with us (or the U.S.)?

I'm happy to announce the publication of my first Medium story. Click to read my piece about fascism and the U.S.
medium.com/policy-panor...

Another beautiful photo by Richard Holloway from my book "Together Let Us Sweetly Live" about the Singing and Praying Bands. Many of these incredible photos are in my book, which can be purchased by going to: jonathancdavid.com/books/togeth...

The Singing and Praying Bands of Maryland Two centuries ago, in the tidewater regions of Maryland, traditional African worship practices merged with the beckoning Christianity of the Methodist Church. Born…

Two centuries ago, in the tidewater regions of Maryland, traditional African worship practices merged with the newly introduced beckoning Christianity of the Methodist Church. Born of that cultural intersection was a movement that came to be known as The Singing and Praying Bands.
vimeo.com/43111479

Tucker Lieberman wrote this review of my recent memoir 'The Flower from a Poisoned Seed':
"A brave, profound gay memoir. I haven’t read anything else quite like this."

Click on jonathancdavid.com/books/the-fl... to read the full review, learn more about my memoir, and buy it on Amazon.

I have excerpts from my books "The Flower from a Poisoned Seed" and "Together We Sweetly Live" on my website's blog page, and I will be publishing a new article about fascism soon. Enjoy the excerpts and some of my other writing here:
jonathancdavid.com/blog/

Raising his arms like the conductor of an orchestra, Joseph Spicer leads the Western Shore Singing and Praying Band in a give-out hymn. The photo is by Richard Holloway.

Listen to music by the bands and buy my book "Together Let Us Sweetly Live" by going to jonathancdavid.com/books/togeth...

The Flower from a Poisoned Seed The Flower from a Poisoned Seed [Jonathan C. David] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Flower from a Poisoned Seed

“With candor and care, tying his insights to Buddhist thought, he gives us a grand achievement of philosophy and personhood. 'The Flower from a Poisoned Seed' is vulnerable and vibrant.”
- Tucker Lieberman, author of 'Ten Past Noon'
Thanks for the great review, Tucker!
www.amazon.com/Flower-Poiso...

This photo by Lloyd Wolf is of the Singing and Praying Bands “marching around Jericho” outside a church in Dorchester County, Maryland, ​which was closely associated with Harriet Tubman​.

When I began researching the bands, I was intensely moved by their religious services.

You can purchase my first book "Together Let Us Sweetly Live" about the Singing and Praying Bands of the Mid-Atlantic by going to my website!
jonathancdavid.com/books/togeth...

The book is available through the University of Illinois Press and contains 80 amazing photos by Richard Holloway.

Then How Should I Begin - Jonathan C. David “And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin, When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall, Then how should I begin To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways? And how should I presume?” T.S. El...

My first blog is out on my new website. Read it here: jonathancdavid.com/coming-soon.

More new writing of mine is coming very soon, and it will include stories that shed light on the truth of what's happening in today's world events and politics. Right now, we need all the truth we can get.

Not today, Satan

This is Mary Stewart and Ricky Bailey with the congregation seated behind them succumbing to “hallelujah fire” as the Singing and Praying Bands march at Antioch A.M.E. in Frankford, Delaware.

This photo from my book "Together Let Us Sweetly Live" is one of 80 spectacular photos by Richard Holloway. This is Mary Stewart and Ricky Bailey with the congregation seated behind them succumbing to “hallelujah fire” as the Singing and Praying Bands march at Antioch A.M.E. in Frankford, Delaware.

"I felt as if my perception of reality had been turned upside down, and I realized that social, cultural, political, and economic customs that we took to be reality were arbitrary."

A sentence that was taken from my author bio on my website. Read the entire thing here:
jonathancdavid.com/bio/

My latest book "The Flower From A Poisoned Seed" is a memoir about childhood trauma, sexual masochism, and eventually, a good measure of wellbeing.

The book cover was finely illustrated by David Loebman & beautifully designed by Eric Dale.

Yes, you can buy it here:
www.amazon.com/Flower-Poiso...

Together Let Us Sweetly Live

I'm an author, so I'll be posting about my books and other writing. "Together We Sweetly Live" is my book about the Singing and Praying Bands of Maryland and Delaware. You can buy it here:
www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
I'm working on a 2nd book about the bands now called "On One Accord."