I learned of the online Be the Bridge group in 2016 after hearing Tasha Morrison speak at an IF: Gathering. There was a lot of polarization then, none of which seems to have eased any in the intervening years (and there's certainly cases to be made that tensions have exacerbated this divide). I joined the online community because I was seeking to learn more about how to bridge the divisiveness around race in the church and the world at large. One key component of the group is that all new members are to be silent for the first three months, engaging and learning by reading and by completing tutorials.

My knowledge has grown markedly, and I've been shaped by witnessing moments of lament in that arena. Through that experience, LaTasha Morrison has written this book, Be the Bridge, to be a resource for others wanting to grow.  

Her Christian faith was very much the impetus for undergoing this journey, which will make this text a welcome one in churches as they reflect on ways they can encourage believers to come together and speak on sensitive topics.

The book is arranged into three sections (Lament, Confession and Forgiveness, Restorative Reconciliation), each of which contains a liturgy. Every chapter ends with a series of discussion questions, all the more reason to encourage use of it in a group setting. Morrison uses history and faith to both reveal reality and also show a path of reconciliation.

Morrison models how to navigate this process humbly and faithfully, using frequent examples from her life and the lives of those around her as they themselves learned to have frank, honest conversations. This volume is a relevant addition to the conversations happening nationwide as we reckon with injustice and racism as well as reimagine a better future.

(I received a digital ARC from WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

This is one of the most important books I have read in recent years. Morrison discusses racism in the Christian church, both overt and hidden, and proposes ways for people of all races to come together to be a true reflection of The Church as God intended it to be.

We have been in a crazy season where we’ve been confronted with hard conversations. This book challenged my perspectives while reminding me of Jesus’ heart. It allowed me to have some really incredible but hard conversations with several close friends and brought a lot of healing.

Well written and necessary book for anyone.

Such a well-written, much-needed book. It’s given me much to think about, and I thank the author for sharing her thoughts and experiences with us. I need to read through it again, so that I clearly and completely absorb the tremendous message to all of us in these pages. After I read through it again, I may come back to update this review. I will also be publishing a blog post at that time.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

We often say, "We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it." We've come to it. Not only to cross it, but to BE it. This book is a great place to understand how to do that.

LaTasha Morrison lays out steps for us to get to the other side:

* The bridge to lament
* The bridge to confession and forgiveness
* The bridge to restorative reconciliation (includes repentance, making amends, and reproducing)

LaTasha speaks from her Christian worldview. She talks about Jesus and the Bible and love. It’s talk we know. It’s actions we need to take.

Her personal experiences are sprinkled throughout the book. This is a powerful book, a necessary book.

Here are some excerpts.

"We can come to know the true facts, come to recognize our brokenness, yet not do anything about it. Awareness of the truth is useless without acknowledgment of our complicity or its effects on us."

~ * ~

"The Black table. If there’s one thing non-White students know, it’s that the school cafeteria is the second-most-segregated place in our country, behind only church."

~ * ~

"Imagine the pain this causes Black Americans when we’re invited to plantation weddings, the very place where our people were so thoroughly dehumanized."

~ * ~

"In the love of the family of God, we must become color brave, color caring, color honoring, and not color blind. We have to recognize the image of God in one another."

~ * ~

"But you can identify racial wrongs in the world around you and take one step toward making them right. That’s the work of reparation. That’s the work of the gospel."

~ * ~

"If this book serves to highlight just one truth, I hope it’s that real beauty can come from the ashes of our country’s history with racism."

My thanks to Net Galley, WaterBrook & Multnomah for the review copy of this book.

There are not enough books based on race that comes from a Christian perspective. While there was some good content and history, it’s missing looking through race through the lens of the gospel, and while I appreciate others experiences, we can’t forget Jesus.

Like many of us in recent months, Sarah has found herself forced to confront her own privilege and her complicity in the current state of our union. In order to understand how to be anti-racist, instead of simply not being racist, many of us are reaching to favorite authors and speakers for guidance. For Sarah that comes this month in the form of Latasha Morrison.

Be the Bridge is told from the perspective of Latasha’s own journey with race and colorism, alongside her spiritual journey. She does not mince words when it comes to historical moments that most people have not heard of. She does not mince words when it comes to the directions we need to move in to reconcile our society. The book is not political, the only side it takes is that of addressing the hostile climate we find ourselves in.

Latasha provides examples of racial dialogue, how to have hard conversations, and how to listen within those conversations. Latasha is committed to educating people, all people, on cultural intelligence and racial literacy. Her book is a great place to start if you aren’t sure what to do with everything that is going on around you.

This is a timely book and one of the best I've read on racial; reconciliation. The author is gentle, yet firm and gives a manageable action plan for confronting racism in your own life. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to make a change!

Absolutely READ THIS BOOK!!!

If you read only ONE book about race right now, this is the one to choose. This is the one that will leave you with a desire to love God and love others with your whole heart. (Of course, I would recommend reading more than one book about race, but since I have done that I will tell you by far this is the MOST helpful.)

The "Bridges" of Lament, Confession, Forgiveness, and Reconcilliation can only be crossed by thoughtfulness and introspection about yourself, our society, and the Word of God.

Latasha Morrison shares her struggles as a Black woman in a White church. She allows others to learn from her pain. If you are white (as I am), I especially ask you to reflect on her experiences and ask yourself what God is teaching you from them. Don't shy away from the questions at the end of each chapter. She is coming from a place of LOVE and true humility to God, and all we can do is come before God with the same attitude.

Latasha Morrison gently guides the reader through the necessary steps of racial reconciliation in today's church. She uses stories from her own life as well as biblical connections to support each step, and she follows each chapter with some hard-hitting reflection questions and a liturgy meant to guide you along this journey.

This is an excellent overview of the reasons that race should matter to the church. It directly addresses not only the problems faced by a system of racism within the church but provides concrete solutions for overcoming those problems. I thoroughly appreciate this book.

This book was exactlywhat I needed at just the right time. Morrison is honest about the issues in the world and the church around the topuc of race and she also gives tangible ways for us to heal our own hearts, our churches and our communities. The prayers of lament,confession, repentance and reconciliation are such great ways to reset our hearts so that our hands, feet and mouths can bring justice anfd hope to our world.

Aside from tackling a difficult topic with grace, I totally want to be Latasha’s friend after reading this book. Her love and dedication to healthy, honest, Biblical reconciliation is evident in every word she pens to the page. It is evident, after reading this book, that she is pursuing both truth and the path the God has laid before her. Bravo, girl! When it comes to the topic at hand, the first half of the book blew me away. There was so much that, as a white woman, I had never heard before. I also really enjoyed the reflection/prayer section at the end of each chapter, particularly the questions included to help you work through your own beliefs and have a meaningful dialogue within yourself or with others. I really wish the second half would have dealt more with the topic of sin and how it drives the narrative of racism (and the disregard of others, in general), but I held on because of the practical steps to achieve reconciliation both in the church and in society. This book made me THINK, which was worth its weight in gold. I’d recommend it to any of my friends.

I was given a copy of this manuscript from the publisher, via NetGalley, for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book has humbled me in ways I cannot begin to describe. It’s the beginning of a learning journey for me toward transformation that I have been so blind to. I’m so thankful for this book and the impact it is having in this time. I’m recommending it to many!

It would be foolhardy in the extreme to fail to recognize the impact of Latasha Morrison's work through her organization, Be the Bridge, on the Church in America. That the impact has been so profound for so many in such a short period of time is nothing less than astonishing. In her book, Morrison lays out the framework on which Be the Bridge is built, the framework that has facilitated racial reconciliation and bridge-building among thousands of people. Reading the book felt very much like listening to a friendly guide and mentor - the personal and historical anecdotes, the explanations of each piece of the framework that are educational without being preachy or condescending. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter offer opportunity for further reflection and through that the potential for further growth. The prayers offer words where those dipping their toes into this work for the first time may not have them yet and the liturgies offer beautiful opportunities for communal engagement.

Latasha Morrison founded an organization called Be the Bridge which seeks to promote racial unity in America across all ethnicities.

This book is primarily written to the church and is for people of all ethnicities. Morrison weaves together her personal experience, and American history to help lay the foundation for the importance of becoming a Bridge Builder. Each section begins with a prayer and ends with questions to ask yourself or talk about within a group.

The idea of gathering a small group of believers together from multiple ethnicities is a good one. I think that when paired with Scripture as the focus this could lead to many healthy discussions.

While this book was repetitive at times, it is definitely important. I read it quickly because reading in an ebook format is difficult for me. As soon as this book is back in stock I will be ordering a hardcopy so I can go back through with a pen (and maybe a friend).

While most of what she talked about was familiar to me, I realized I need to do more research. I have added a few books to my TBR so I can continue to grow, and move forward. I also went out to her website, and it is full of information and action steps for those who want to begin to make changes.

I think this would be a great book you to go through alone, with a friend or family member or in a small group setting. The discussion questions are laid out for you.

Thank you to netgalley for my e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This book by Latasha Morrison has been everywhere lately - and for good reason. Her work on racial reconciliation is exactly what is needed in our world during this time. Latasha'a words are powerful, compassionate, humble and educational. Anyone who is interested in the work of racial reconciliation, and who is looking to learn and understand should read this book. The discussion questions and liturgies are a beautiful part of the book that really allowed me to go deeper. I am so thankful for the many people who recommended this book to me - we need to listen to Latasha's voice and others who are speaking like her. Highly, highly recommend.

With everything going on in the culture these days I was happy to be able to get this book to read. I saw it online as a recommendation by Beth Moore and when I saw it on Netgalley I quickly requested it. It's definitely not an easy book to read but it was eye opening and I think I'll need to re-read it again soon.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. Opinions are all my own.

An important book for today. Latasha Morrison writes about one of the most pressing issues in our society and how we can work to be agents of change.

“The truth is that each ethnicity reflects a unique aspect of God’s image. No one tribe or group of people can adequately display the fullness of God. The truth is that it takes every tribe, tongue, and nation to reflect the image of God in his fullness.”

This book was on my ‘want to read’ list for quite some time. As the granddaughter of a Cuban immigrant while also benefiting from the white privilege that comes from my Irish heritage, I have made it a goal of mine to learn more about racial reconciliation. What does it look like for whites and non-whites to sit down together and reconcile past and present hurts and prejudices?

I am SOLD on Be the Bridge. Be the Bridge was started by Latasha to teach people of all colors what it looks like to gain awareness of the truth behind racial injustice, lament, confess and forgive, and ultimately move to a place of restoration and reconciliation. This is all done while sitting around a table of those who are both alike and different from ourselves. This book is such a beautiful representation of what that looks like. I was drawn by the personal stories of members of Be the Bridge and also the stories of injustice throughout time - both those that have been reconciled and also the examples where we can do better.


It doesn’t matter if you work in church ministry, if you’re a teacher, if you live in a diverse or not-so-diverse neighborhood... if you are a human being designed by our Lord, this means something to everyone. This is important - crucial - for everyone to be a part of.

I highly recommend grabbing yourself a copy of this book while also looking into Be the Bridge groups near you. And if there isn’t one, maybe you can be the one that starts building that bridge.

Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability, Latasha.