"Wait—Is This Racist? A Guide to Becoming an Anti-racist Church" by Kerry Connelly is a game-changer in the conversation about racism within the church. Connelly's writing is like having a compassionate friend gently guide you through the uncomfortable terrain of addressing racism in a faith community. With humor and humility, she navigates the complexities of this important journey.

The book is not just a theoretical discussion; it's a practical guide filled with actionable steps for individuals and congregations. Connelly doesn't shy away from tough questions, providing real-world scenarios and encouraging self-reflection. Her approach is refreshing, making the topic accessible and dismantling the barriers that may make some hesitant to engage in this vital conversation.

Whether you're a seasoned activist or someone just starting to explore anti-racism, this book meets you where you are. It's a roadmap for churches committed to genuine transformation. "Wait—Is This Racist?" is a must-read, offering hope, insight, and a sense of shared purpose for those striving to build truly inclusive and anti-racist faith communities.

This book wasn’t exactly what I expected but if you need insight or are a person confused by racism at all then please give this book a try especially if you attend church.

My Thoughts:
I think this book is a very helpful resource on a topic that is vital to the church's love for all people. The book addresses being anti racist and does a good job at presenting how to start doing this. I don't think this book set out to be in depth, rather it presents the topic and gives jumping off points that churches can use as they work on becoming anti racist. I love the categories thought of, I love the worksheet/action plan at the end, and I love that a glossary was added to define terms.

Who is this for:
This book is primarily for a church congregation to work through. Maybe your church has a team focused on justice or a committee working on becoming anti racist. This book would be a perfect resource to start developing that plan. I think there are also sections of this book anyone could use for instance a youth leader, small group host, graphic designer, and so on.

Questions/Comments/Critique:
I think this book did a good job doing what it set out to do. It presented the topic, gave discussion questions, and an action plan to move ahead. I hope people who use this resource don't stop with this resource but continue to evaluate their approaches.

If you’re white and in ministry in any capacity, add this to your reading list. Our job is to do the work. Wrestle with the “uncomfortable.” Plain and simple.

A detailed guide to step by step ways to assess racism in your church and take steps to make effective change. The beginning is a little simplistic and I at first thought this was not a useful tool. But after viewing all of the sections I think it is a helpful way to break down ideas and viewpoints and create actionable change. Some of these concepts and question lists could also be effective outside of a church setting and be a tool that leadership in other organizations could use. Or simply as a way to evaluate oneself. The chapters are organized effectively and the questions are extremely thought provoking and in some cases will challenge your concept of self.

This book is a very helpful guide and critique for thinking about faith and anti racism — and issue I have considered and begun confronting in my own faith tradition. Food for thought and inspiration for change.