The Moment

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 Wrights church, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Wrights words were frequently used to question the patriotism of Obama. The scrutiny over Obama and Wrights 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 Wrights first appearances in the media to Obamas 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.