Written by Soma Fuxreiter
It is the year 2001 when a white police officer in the United States, named Stephen Roach, shot and killed a 19-year-old unarmed Black young man, Timothy Thomas. This event shocked many American residents making them realize the phenomenon of institutionalized racism, including a Black evangelical pastor, Chuck Mingo. This was a turning point in Chuck’s life; it was the first time he felt that God was calling him to fight for racial justice. At that time, Chuck was a new member of an evangelical community, Crossroads, where he began his fight against everyday and institutionalized racism. He organized prayer meetings, dedicated special attention in his speeches to racism and acceptance, and from these efforts, the foundation of the Undivided program was born.
In Undivided – The Quest for Radical Solidarity in an American Church, Hahrie Han presents this program through three vastly different perspectives: Chuck Mingo, the Black pastor who was one of the founders of Undivided; Sandra, a black woman; and Jess, a former drug addict whose family embraces white supremacy.
But what exactly is the Undivided program, and how is it more effective than the typical identity driven corporate approach (DEI training)?
The author came across the Crossroads evangelical congregation in connection with a 2016 referendum campaign, which aimed to introduce new taxes in the city of Cincinnati (Ohio) to make preschool education accessible to all children. This campaign became the most successful educational initiative in the city’s history, which is particularly interesting because it primarily impacted the lives of disadvantaged, mostly black children and families. The Crossroads organization played a major role in the campaign, which was also surprising because a predominantly white evangelical population rarely becomes a champion of social justice and diversity.
Han thus discovered the Undivided anti-racist program, organized by Crossroads, which spans six weeks for a dedicated group. The author followed the participants of the Undivided program for seven years, and the chapters of the book showcase emotional and sometimes dramatic interviews in which participants talk about their daily frustrations and traumas related to experiencing racism.
A significant portion of Undivided participants remained active in politics in the long run—not merely as political consumers who buy T-shirts, post Instagram hashtags, or attend demonstrations to show solidarity, but as people who built real relationships and engaged in community work.
Without downplaying the importance of fighting racism—especially because, due to our historical context, we in Europe are arguably relatively behind in terms of social awareness.
I believe that Han’s striking interviews do not only teach us about the struggle against racism but also about what we can learn from religious leaders in terms of organizing and mobilization.
People often seek ways to engage in the fight for social change. However, they have become deeply alienated from institutionalized political parties. A significant portion of society feels unrepresented on the political stage— feeling that their interests and struggles are ignored and unimportant.
This sense of disconnection creates opportunities for various actors, including religious communities and NGOs, but unfortunately for populist rightwing leaders as well. Political movements can not be one-time events or spectacles but built on practical participation. This is not just about individual activism—it is also about ensuring that when a young person, or anyone feeling lost, wants to join a party, movement, or organization, they do not face a faceless, bureaucratic monolith but instead find a welcoming and supportive community.
A group of people with whom they can connect, where they feel at home. These small communities can later unite into a larger movement, once the sense of belonging has developed.
In the Undivided discussions, it also becomes clear how important it is for people to talk about their problems face-to-face and to feel that they truly have a say and influence over different processes—that their presence carries weight in the community.
This is not to say that physical presence alone is the only factor. Digital organizing is a key factor as well. In 2025, we have all the tools necessary to build strong communities between people living in Europe enabling them to take action for social justice.
Another crucial statement in the book is "belonging before belief", which means that people first connect with communities and only later fully identify with their values and worldview. The success of Crossroads Church and the Undivided program also lay in the fact that they first brought people into a communal space and, through personal relationships and shared experiences, participants became more open to deeper dialogue and learning.
If movements first create the experience of belonging rather than immediately pushing full ideological alignment, we could have a much wider impact. This rigidity likely deters many potential activists and supporters.
Finally, decentralization and autonomy. Han argues that societal problems are decentralized, and so must be their solutions. Just as racism is not confined to laws or institutions but appears everywhere—in schools, workplaces, and interpersonal relationships, other major issues like climate change, housing crises, and economic inequalities are also felt locally.
Han believes that instead of massive, centrally directed campaigns, local organizing efforts are needed, where people can decide for themselves how to address the issues in their own communities.
Han argues that if we adopt these principles, we can fight for our social causes more effectively.
As the oldest and first organizing practitioners, we can learn a great deal from religious groups. They have a unique ability to speak to people’s hearts and emotions. They teach their community a complete, all-encompassing way of life, not just encourage occasional activism or one single issue of focus. Their leaders are charismatic, their rhetorical skills are often unparalleled, and they excel at fostering a nurturing community.
Religious communities have a long history collaborating with civil society groups to drive change. Progressive movements would see great benefit from investing in similar strategies to strengthen grassroots engagement and build lasting, connected communities.
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