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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
This is a strong piece of sociological storytelling from a scholar of social movements. While Han tries to thread a needle between the Undivided process — one where many participants found themselves confronting difficult truths about race and racism in themselves, their church, and society — and the fact these learnings took place in a church known for its relationships with far Right evangelical politics.
It’s a fascinating read for anyone wondering about how we find our way through, and perhaps out of, a political moment characterized by purity politics at both poles of the political spectrum, and how rigor and compassion can work together to transform themselves as they transform society.
I received and read this book as part of my paid work and did an interview with the author for a podcast.
It’s a fascinating read for anyone wondering about how we find our way through, and perhaps out of, a political moment characterized by purity politics at both poles of the political spectrum, and how rigor and compassion can work together to transform themselves as they transform society.
I received and read this book as part of my paid work and did an interview with the author for a podcast.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, Classism
Minor: Homophobia
This book deals frankly with its subjects’ experiences with race, racism, and prejudice, and tells those stories as part of a narrative about organizing and transformation.
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
unlike some of Han's other books, Undivided is a less academic and much more narrative-driven work that serves as a much-needed reminder about the importance of grace, personal relationships and perseverance. Han infuses ethnographic and historical details to develop a compelling view of the ways that persistent *and intentional, action-oriented* anti-racism work holds profound impacts for both the individual and their surroundings. She rightfully levies criticism on hollow, often corporate, DEI initiatives and anti-racism grifts that leave no lasting marks while demonstrating how proper engagement about race in America can have positive affects for all people regardless of race.
In addition to insightful micro/macro perspectives, Han also leaves space to examine how internal, individual change can impact your relationship to institutions of power and the tensions that misalignment or downright rejection can create. In doing so, and in writing a well-detailed accounting of interviewees' lives, she provides a vision of a path forward for those interested in doing the work. Work that is persistently and sorely needed. Work that serves as a stark reminder of the importance of relational organizing and personal relationships.
Definitely worth the read~
In addition to insightful micro/macro perspectives, Han also leaves space to examine how internal, individual change can impact your relationship to institutions of power and the tensions that misalignment or downright rejection can create. In doing so, and in writing a well-detailed accounting of interviewees' lives, she provides a vision of a path forward for those interested in doing the work. Work that is persistently and sorely needed. Work that serves as a stark reminder of the importance of relational organizing and personal relationships.
Definitely worth the read~
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I read about half ,then skipped through. The big picture that had drawn me was that Cincinnati mega church brought members together to learn about racism through a program called Undivided. They then participated in a local election, the results of which supported funding for preschool programs that would particularly benefit the Black families of the city , which made up close to half of the city’s residents. I became less interested in hearing more details about the individual lives of the church members and more about the actions they took to create change.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
At age nineteen I married a seminary student with a student pastoral charge in rural Ohio. For most of the next forty-two years I was a pastor’s wife.
The seminary professors and dean of the school had been active in the Civil Rights movement. We were Social Gospel progressives by education and inclination. My husband served in the Philadelphia area and in Michigan, with churches in the inner city, a large city, the suburbs of a large city, and in rural churches in small towns and resort towns. All but one church was exclusively white and leaned conservative.
The last church split over the church’s social creed on abortion, which read that it was a regrettable but sometimes necessary choice to save the life of the mother. They were anti LGBTQ. This was an area where the KKK was still present and that voted for Trump in 2016. The element that left the church had been vicious and divisive, more intent on harm than transformation.
When Undivided was offered to me by the publisher I thought I would check it out but was uncertain about it. I found it fascinating, inspiring, and frustrating.
The book’s start was in an academic project by Hahrie Han, who was studying grassroots organizing campaigns. She was struck by the idea of a Protestant evangelical megachurch, predominately white in “numbers and culture,” had become involved with promoting a policy that added the Black community. Issue 44 addressed racial disparities and universal preschool in Cincinnati. “Thousands of voters who supported Trump must have also supported Issue 44,” she knew. She traced the movement to a group of volunteers from the Crossroads church, all of whom had participated in a racial justice program called Undivided. Not only had the participants talked about race, they were impelled to put what they had learned into action.
This book, based on seven years of reporting, is a history of how Undivided came to be, the people whose lives it impacted, and its legacy. We learn about the transformative power of communicating and befriending people across the color line, and about the limits of any organization–or church–to change.
It began when an African American pastor knew it was time to stop avoiding the hard conversations, and in a Sunday morning sermon shared his anger and frustration. He was supported to create a small group experience that brought together black and white members of the parish. The book takes us into the lives of some of these people, showing how they were transformed because of Undivided.
She originally thought the goal of the six-week program was to inspire people’s journey toward antiracism. But Jess realized that the true impact of Undivided was not as a prejudice reduction program, but rather as a learning experience that lit the tinder. from Undivided by Hahrie Han
The success stories are inspiring. But the book also shows how hard it is for any institution to change. The lack of their church’s action to take a stance against police violence against black men and to support the Black Lives Matter movement angered some of the Undivided members. The church leaders were trying to keep to the middle ground so as to not alienate anyone.
The program, Han writes, didn’t work by converting committed white supremacists, but by equipping “the other evangelicals” to understand “the interpersonal and systemic dimensions of racial injustice and offered them tools to have difficult conversations around race.”
I was interested to learn that other Evangelical church adopted the Undivided program, including one a few miles away from where I live.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.
The seminary professors and dean of the school had been active in the Civil Rights movement. We were Social Gospel progressives by education and inclination. My husband served in the Philadelphia area and in Michigan, with churches in the inner city, a large city, the suburbs of a large city, and in rural churches in small towns and resort towns. All but one church was exclusively white and leaned conservative.
The last church split over the church’s social creed on abortion, which read that it was a regrettable but sometimes necessary choice to save the life of the mother. They were anti LGBTQ. This was an area where the KKK was still present and that voted for Trump in 2016. The element that left the church had been vicious and divisive, more intent on harm than transformation.
When Undivided was offered to me by the publisher I thought I would check it out but was uncertain about it. I found it fascinating, inspiring, and frustrating.
The book’s start was in an academic project by Hahrie Han, who was studying grassroots organizing campaigns. She was struck by the idea of a Protestant evangelical megachurch, predominately white in “numbers and culture,” had become involved with promoting a policy that added the Black community. Issue 44 addressed racial disparities and universal preschool in Cincinnati. “Thousands of voters who supported Trump must have also supported Issue 44,” she knew. She traced the movement to a group of volunteers from the Crossroads church, all of whom had participated in a racial justice program called Undivided. Not only had the participants talked about race, they were impelled to put what they had learned into action.
This book, based on seven years of reporting, is a history of how Undivided came to be, the people whose lives it impacted, and its legacy. We learn about the transformative power of communicating and befriending people across the color line, and about the limits of any organization–or church–to change.
It began when an African American pastor knew it was time to stop avoiding the hard conversations, and in a Sunday morning sermon shared his anger and frustration. He was supported to create a small group experience that brought together black and white members of the parish. The book takes us into the lives of some of these people, showing how they were transformed because of Undivided.
She originally thought the goal of the six-week program was to inspire people’s journey toward antiracism. But Jess realized that the true impact of Undivided was not as a prejudice reduction program, but rather as a learning experience that lit the tinder. from Undivided by Hahrie Han
The success stories are inspiring. But the book also shows how hard it is for any institution to change. The lack of their church’s action to take a stance against police violence against black men and to support the Black Lives Matter movement angered some of the Undivided members. The church leaders were trying to keep to the middle ground so as to not alienate anyone.
The program, Han writes, didn’t work by converting committed white supremacists, but by equipping “the other evangelicals” to understand “the interpersonal and systemic dimensions of racial injustice and offered them tools to have difficult conversations around race.”
I was interested to learn that other Evangelical church adopted the Undivided program, including one a few miles away from where I live.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I might be rating a bit based on topic more than writing style, but I liked this book. I appreciate the digging the author did to understand everyone featured, their back story and their journey. It wasn't quite what I expected from the title and I'm glad I read it.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Fascinating and so very well researched and written.
Undivided asks can Americans ever come together and unify on the issues of race. It specifically focuses on those in the Crossroads Evangelical Mega Church in Cincinnati, Ohio just before and during Trumps first term as President.
It is truly a rare, up close look at the mindset and workings of the religious organization and some of it's members as they grapple with fake news, long held prejudices, a true desire to do God's work for all and for some, a willing to listen to and learn from the Black members of their community ... all with hope of bringing change.
Hanrie Han explains through her research how white supremacy has always been a fundamental part of Evangelical teachings. Her look at Crossroads and very specifically two white members and two Black - shows how the church tried to reconcile with it's white supremacy roots - esp during the Amaud Aubry and George Floyd murders and following outrage. The measure of it's efforts often falling short.
BUT! Despite the short comings and often baffling blindness to the long held institutional racism this is a book of HOPE. There is change and there is proof that humans can come together to work for equality and justice for all.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Undivided asks can Americans ever come together and unify on the issues of race. It specifically focuses on those in the Crossroads Evangelical Mega Church in Cincinnati, Ohio just before and during Trumps first term as President.
It is truly a rare, up close look at the mindset and workings of the religious organization and some of it's members as they grapple with fake news, long held prejudices, a true desire to do God's work for all and for some, a willing to listen to and learn from the Black members of their community ... all with hope of bringing change.
Hanrie Han explains through her research how white supremacy has always been a fundamental part of Evangelical teachings. Her look at Crossroads and very specifically two white members and two Black - shows how the church tried to reconcile with it's white supremacy roots - esp during the Amaud Aubry and George Floyd murders and following outrage. The measure of it's efforts often falling short.
BUT! Despite the short comings and often baffling blindness to the long held institutional racism this is a book of HOPE. There is change and there is proof that humans can come together to work for equality and justice for all.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.