In 2008 a media firestorm erupted when snippets of Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr.’s sermons were picked up by media outlets around the world. At that time 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 the patriotism of Obama. The scrutiny over Obama and Wright’s relationship made Trinity UCC a flashpoint in the 2008 campaign. The Moment tells the inside story of Trinity UCC during this time of turmoil. 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. They also provide helpful background information, including general history of the black church, African American immigration to Chicago, and black politics in the Windy City. 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.

"In 2008, the media broadcast snippets from the sermons of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, pastor of the church Barack Obama had attended for many years, in which he was heard to say “God damn America” and appeared to suggest the United States had brought the attacks of 9/11 on itself. The ensuing furor resulted in Obama publicly leaving Trinity Church, a move many believe saved his presidential candidacy. Messrs. Grant recount the media frenzy, question the adequacy and forthrightness of its coverage, and adjure the reader to go beyond the sound bites and listen to the complete sermons. They trace the historical development of African American churches—places that nurture dreams of freedom and equality for marginalized communities—and highlight the preacher’s role, inflammatory at times, in demanding justice. Finally, they allow members of Trinity’s congregation to share their views on the controversy, Reverend Wright, and Obama’s decision to leave. This is a worthwhile book simply because it presents a side of the story—more complicated than it might seem—many have likely not yet heard." - Booklist

"Revives a hot controversy during the 2008 presidential election. After relating the story of the 2008 political crisis over the fiery preacher's words and Obama's leaving the church (and the intense media coverage), the authors stand back to provide some context of Black migration north and the role of churches in that population." - Communication Booknotes Quarterly

"At a critical juncture during the 2008 primary elections, in which then-Senator Barack Obama emerged as the front-runner for the Democratic Party, the seemingly unstoppable momentum he had generated since the Iowa caucus stalled. His former minister, the formidable Jeremiah Wright, had made a series of controversial remarks, raising questions about the minister's patriotism. Obama, the first viable African American presidential candidate, likely could have ridden out the political firestorm Wright created. Instead, Obama's handlers encouraged him to deliver a forceful address that addressed issues of race in the 21st-century US; he also used the speech to sever his relationship with Wright. Carl (education, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison) and Shelby (teacher) Grant, two churchgoers from Wright's congregation, provide many layers of historical and sociological contexts. They explore the impact of the Great Migration and the emergence of the black church and provide interviews with several charter members of Trinity United Church of Christ. Not surprisingly, they arrive at a much more nuanced understanding of Wright's role in liberation theology and Chicago's black church. The book's most powerful and enduring lesson will be to not place great reliance on any one sound bite. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduates, graduates, researchers" - CHOICE