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knbee's review
5.0
I have a lot of respect for Dr. Barber and found enjoyment and inspiration in hearing about his history of organizing the poor and working class (even as it related to Biblical scripture despite not being Christian) and what’s needed to continue the momentum for a third reconstruction. North Carolina is lucky to have him. (A note: I listened to this one. The five stars are for the content, not the audio. Lots of mispronunciations and some other technical issues. Recommend a read over a listen.)
noahbw's review
4.0
I bought this book at the King Center, the first stop on our Civil Rights Movement / faith and social justice alternative break, and I read a few chapters each day of the trip. It felt very appropriate to read -- Barber very much sees himself as an extension of the civil rights movement, and I really appreciated his account of the Moral Mondays movement. I think I most appreciated this because of his position as a Christian faith leader who relays on building relationships, both within his own communities and to build coalitions.
drbobcornwall's review
5.0
I remember the first time I heard the Reverend William Barber II speak. It was right after the Trayvon Martin verdict came in. George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder. I was in Orlando for the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which was meeting in the same venue as the NAACP national convention. Rev. Barber came over to speak to us as a representative of the NAACP. His message that evening was powerful, calling for us to embrace the cause of racial justice. We still had a speaker to hear that night, and he was good, but it was Rev. Barber, a Disciple pastor himself, that caught my attention. I've had several opportunities to hear him speak since then, and I also was able to read his previous book [b:Forward Together: A Moral Message for the Nation|22351470|Forward Together A Moral Message for the Nation|William J. Barber II|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421012540s/22351470.jpg|41758361]. I have found his message of a Third Reconstruction to be a powerful one, and one that is needed at this moment in time.
In this book, Barber with the assistance of [a:Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove|238189|Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1442461529p2/238189.jpg], introduces us to the New Justice Movement that forms what he calls the Third Reconstruction. This is part memoir, part sermon, part history, and part call to action. Barber is the President of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP, a Disciples pastor, and founder of the Moral Monday Movement. His vision is one of a fusion politics that builds coalitions across racial, ethnic, political, religious lines. In his analysis this is the third such effort to emerge since the end of the Civil War.
The first Reconstruction was that effort to build a new society in the South that would enable former slaves to enter fully into society. A fusion politics emerged that elected numerous Black candidates to office, including the US Senate and governorships. This first Reconstruction came to an end beginning in the 1870s, with a final fall in the 1890s as Jim Crow emerged, segregating black and white, and putting an end to full participation of Blacks in the South. The Second Reconstruction was the Civil Rights Movement that emerged in the 1950s and led to monumental changes in American social policy, including laws that banned overt segregation and gave voting rights to Blacks. Jim Crow had its match. Then came a reaction, the Southern Strategy that found a new way of disestablishing African Americans. This time it was more covert, but it was just as effective in limiting the advancement of people of color. It was a divide and conquer effort that resegregated the South through private schools, reduced funding for public schools, diminished health care and so-called tough on crime legislation that impacted African Americans more than other community. This has led to what is known as the "New Jim Crow," or mass incarceration, often on disproportionate sentences on drug offenses.
The Third Reconstruction is now underway. Expressions of it include the election Barack Obama, which in turn led to new forms of reaction. The Moral Monday and Forward Together Movements are expressions of what Barber calls fusion politics. It is for him deeply rooted in his faith, but the partnerships cross faith lines. This isn't any set of victories. Political extremists on the right have found an effective way of obtaining power by playing fears of the other. Dividing and conquering people of color and whites, especially the poor, has allowed this to occur. We're seeing it in current politics, with attacks on Muslims and immigrants. Building walls rather than bridges is the politics of the day. In response, Barber is calling for the creation of new fusion alliances. What is important to note here is that he has no interest in helicoptering in as the "national voice." Success requires indigenous coalitions that build bridges. While class is part of the equation, we must not lose sight of the role race plays in the conversation.
This is a powerful book Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove has done a wonderful job transmitting Barber's vision of a Third Reconstruction. This is a must read book. It is prophetic! So take and read so that we might move into a new day, where fear no longer divides!
In this book, Barber with the assistance of [a:Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove|238189|Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1442461529p2/238189.jpg], introduces us to the New Justice Movement that forms what he calls the Third Reconstruction. This is part memoir, part sermon, part history, and part call to action. Barber is the President of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP, a Disciples pastor, and founder of the Moral Monday Movement. His vision is one of a fusion politics that builds coalitions across racial, ethnic, political, religious lines. In his analysis this is the third such effort to emerge since the end of the Civil War.
The first Reconstruction was that effort to build a new society in the South that would enable former slaves to enter fully into society. A fusion politics emerged that elected numerous Black candidates to office, including the US Senate and governorships. This first Reconstruction came to an end beginning in the 1870s, with a final fall in the 1890s as Jim Crow emerged, segregating black and white, and putting an end to full participation of Blacks in the South. The Second Reconstruction was the Civil Rights Movement that emerged in the 1950s and led to monumental changes in American social policy, including laws that banned overt segregation and gave voting rights to Blacks. Jim Crow had its match. Then came a reaction, the Southern Strategy that found a new way of disestablishing African Americans. This time it was more covert, but it was just as effective in limiting the advancement of people of color. It was a divide and conquer effort that resegregated the South through private schools, reduced funding for public schools, diminished health care and so-called tough on crime legislation that impacted African Americans more than other community. This has led to what is known as the "New Jim Crow," or mass incarceration, often on disproportionate sentences on drug offenses.
The Third Reconstruction is now underway. Expressions of it include the election Barack Obama, which in turn led to new forms of reaction. The Moral Monday and Forward Together Movements are expressions of what Barber calls fusion politics. It is for him deeply rooted in his faith, but the partnerships cross faith lines. This isn't any set of victories. Political extremists on the right have found an effective way of obtaining power by playing fears of the other. Dividing and conquering people of color and whites, especially the poor, has allowed this to occur. We're seeing it in current politics, with attacks on Muslims and immigrants. Building walls rather than bridges is the politics of the day. In response, Barber is calling for the creation of new fusion alliances. What is important to note here is that he has no interest in helicoptering in as the "national voice." Success requires indigenous coalitions that build bridges. While class is part of the equation, we must not lose sight of the role race plays in the conversation.
This is a powerful book Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove has done a wonderful job transmitting Barber's vision of a Third Reconstruction. This is a must read book. It is prophetic! So take and read so that we might move into a new day, where fear no longer divides!
twagner3's review
4.0
Reverend Barber lays out a vision of how communities can come together in what he calls "fusion coalitions" for social change. Fusion coalitions are intersectional, they lift up the voices of those who are most affected by justice issues and they organize and mobilize a broad cross section of people. Reverend Barber shares the powerful story of this work in North Carolina and shares an important way forward in this present moment. A quick read and important to read.
johnboscoreads's review
4.0
This was an interesting book. It gave a lot of insight into the fight in Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II's life, and the more recent struggle for equality in North Carolina, but there was not much in regard to the larger struggle in the country. A lot of that is due to the idea Mr. Barber espouses, that this fight can only happen in each state and we do not need the helicopter saviors like during the Civil Rights era, but every day people building coalitions in each state. The biggest struggle I have with that is if it is a state by state fight, states will be in different stages of equality at any given time. So the larger forces at work trying to keep African Americans, Latinos, LGBTQ people, etc. disenfranchised and their voice hidden from the public will be able to pour their money into any single place gaining ground. If this justice movement and coalition system worked more with national groups like Black Lives Matter or the reinvigorated NAACP that Mr. Barber has worked with, then there could be grassroots movements in every state at the same time so there were no single targets. Then we wouldn't have the issue of outside money coming in since every state would be worried about their own state legislatures. Just my two cents.
jdkeller1's review
3.0
Very interesting guy, and a good book if you want to hear his story about how he is bringing together disparate progressive organizations in North Carolina that became the "Moral Monday" protests. The problem is I have seen/heard him before and this book is basically his stump speech on paper. I was thinking it was a deeper dive, and I was wrong. If you don't know him, I'd suggest this easy read, but if you've seen him speak or heard his story, know this will be old news.
norma_cenva's review
5.0
This was just great! The appendix also has some good info for activists. It is refreshing to see a Christian perspective this cristal clear about the need for a dundamental change!
venneh's review
4.0
Thorough first person covering of the state level movement in NC in the 2010s tackling voting rights, incarceration justice, and desegregation from the POV of one of the ministers who was on the ground and led the Moral Mondays movement. He’s one of those religious leaders that you don’t see much anymore, who recognizes the actual socially revolutionary role of Christ. This cuts off right around 2016 by virtue of when it was published, which, oof. I would love to see a follow up five years later and see where they are these days.
micklesreads's review
5.0
This book is a must-read for anyone currently trying to raise their voice and join the resistance. It's a great model for coalition building and acting locally to make real change. Reverend Dr. Barber provides a clear historical background for his movement that positions local action against the history of the "southern strategy," and it's a useful background that all organizers, new and seasoned, should know.
The strategies for organizers at the end are fantastic, too, for starting action on the ground.
My one problem with this book is that he positions everything inside a religious framework. He is not overtly disrespectful of atheists, but he routinely equates moral objections with religious objections, stating that people keep going because they have faith that God will overcome the bad in this world. The nation is becoming less and less religious, and there needs to be room for people who don't believe in God within a moral movement. Morals do not equal religion, and atheists are more altruistic than their religious counterparts according to some studies. (Religious people tend to give to their churches more than they give to non-denominational or non-religious charities, interestingly.) So, I'm moral, I'm at least agnostic if not atheist...where does my faith come from, if not from God? That reassurance rings hollow to me, so what can I believe in to keep me going? How do I fit in? I don't have the answer, but I wish this book didn't make me feel a bit out in the cold in that regard.
The strategies for organizers at the end are fantastic, too, for starting action on the ground.
My one problem with this book is that he positions everything inside a religious framework. He is not overtly disrespectful of atheists, but he routinely equates moral objections with religious objections, stating that people keep going because they have faith that God will overcome the bad in this world. The nation is becoming less and less religious, and there needs to be room for people who don't believe in God within a moral movement. Morals do not equal religion, and atheists are more altruistic than their religious counterparts according to some studies. (Religious people tend to give to their churches more than they give to non-denominational or non-religious charities, interestingly.) So, I'm moral, I'm at least agnostic if not atheist...where does my faith come from, if not from God? That reassurance rings hollow to me, so what can I believe in to keep me going? How do I fit in? I don't have the answer, but I wish this book didn't make me feel a bit out in the cold in that regard.
rsteve388's review
5.0
This book was eye opening for how social.justce movements need to work in order to accomplish a shared goal.for everyone impacted by this current administration. which is all of us