Nik Kroushl
Nonfiction written so closely and compellingly it reads like a novel, but you couldn't make some of this up. I delighted in the Philly references and cringed at the sticky parts of white progressive churches dealing with racism (which hit a little close to home). Complex but never villainous, deeply human but never heroic. I am deeply fascinated by the commitment and near obsession that Circle of Hope members held for their church (so different from mine -- there is no Jesus freak style devotion to keep you at a UU institution). And how that powered them to do so much community work.... And also kept them from evolving after their founding pastors left (although let's be real, they refused to leave).
It does feel like Rachel came out on top on the portrayals and Jonny on the bottom. I'm not sure if this is because their actions were just not equal or the author's own closeness / biases / judgments involved. (For example: the narrative definitely sides with Rachel on the idea of "hearing all voices of color in the congregation including those who say that racism is not a problem here", and frames Julie's disagreement as slightly ridiculous. In truth, Griswold gives multiple interviews to dissenting BIPOC who cast doubt on the racism of the church but does not spend comparatively much time exploring experiences of the dozens of BIPOC who joined committees/groups aimed at anti-racism, who presumably DID see racist problems at COH. the problem of the dissent is that of magnitude. Do you listen to the 3 people who say "I'm a POC and there's no racism" or the 30 people who say "I'm a POC and there is"? Anyway -- it is sticky....)
Nonfiction written so closely and compellingly it reads like a novel, but you couldn't make some of this up. I delighted in the Philly references and cringed at the sticky parts of white progressive churches dealing with racism (which hit a little close to home). Complex but never villainous, deeply human but never heroic. I am deeply fascinated by the commitment and near obsession that Circle of Hope members held for their church (so different from mine -- there is no Jesus freak style devotion to keep you at a UU institution). And how that powered them to do so much community work.... And also kept them from evolving after their founding pastors left (although let's be real, they refused to leave).
It does feel like Rachel came out on top on the portrayals and Jonny on the bottom. I'm not sure if this is because their actions were just not equal or the author's own closeness / biases / judgments involved. (For example: the narrative definitely sides with Rachel on the idea of "hearing all voices of color in the congregation including those who say that racism is not a problem here", and frames Julie's disagreement as slightly ridiculous. In truth, Griswold gives multiple interviews to dissenting BIPOC who cast doubt on the racism of the church but does not spend comparatively much time exploring experiences of the dozens of BIPOC who joined committees/groups aimed at anti-racism, who presumably DID see racist problems at COH. the problem of the dissent is that of magnitude. Do you listen to the 3 people who say "I'm a POC and there's no racism" or the 30 people who say "I'm a POC and there is"? Anyway -- it is sticky....)