Valerie Cooper

Awakening to Justice

History & Biography

“Sometimes God speaks to contemporary troubles with an answer given long ago. In an age when too many are afraid to tell the whole story of our history, this book invites the reader to understand that none of our contemporary issues of race are new. Indeed, in the example of Ingraham and his interracial circle, we can find a Christian model for moving forward toward racial justice and integrated congregational worship in our own time. Although Ingraham and his friends failed in their attemptsto create an enduring community of racial equity, their efforts, their vision, and even their mistakes can be instructive to us. From one age of tragic polarization in the nineteenth century, Ingraham's story is one answer to our own partisan divisions today. This is a much-needed story of vision, of community, and of hope, and as usual, God has given it to us right on time!”