Undivided

by Jael Silliman · 2004

Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church explores the efforts of Crossroads, a white-dominant evangelical megachurch, to address racial injustice from within. Political scientist Hahrie Han investigates the complexities of racial reconciliation by following four participants through a program designed to bridge racial divides. The book examines whether an institution built on historical racial hierarchy can effectively dismantle it, or if such efforts are limited by the need to maintain congregational cohesion. Han uses the metaphor of a garden to illustrate that true solidarity requires changing the underlying 'soil' of structural systems rather than just addressing individual attitudes. The narrative highlights the imperfect, often uncomfortable, and ongoing nature of this work, challenging readers to consider the limits of institutional interventions in the face of deep-seated societal issues.