The Moment

In 2008 a media firestorm erupted when snippets of Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr.'s sermons were picked up by media outlets around the world.

Since then-presidential candidate Barack Obama was a member of Wright's church, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Wright's words were frequently used to question Obama's patriotism. The scrutiny over Obama and Wright's relationship made Trinity UCC a flash point in the 2008 campaign.

The Moment tells the inside story of Trinity UCC during this time of turmoil. Authors Carl and Shelby Grant describe "the moment" as it unfolded, from Wright's first appearances in the media to Obama's resignation from Trinity Church. The authors provide helpful context for understanding the full impact of "the moment," including African American immigration to Chicago and black politics in the Windy City.

In addition to general background information on the black church, The Moment takes readers inside the founding of Trinity UCC and explores its famous motto "Unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian." In this context, the voices of Trinity UCC members come alive to show the impact of "the moment" within and beyond the presidential election, illustrating the thorny intersections of religion, race, politics, and the media in the United States.