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Troubling the Water: The Urgent Work of Radical Belonging
Can you imagine a future that includes your enemies? If not, what happens next?
From one of the most courageous and visionary leaders of our time comes Troubling the Water, an immersive book about the violence and injustice that threaten to drown us all. Activist Ben McBride recounts how he first waded into the from the Kill Zone in Oakland, where he moved with his young family, to the uprising in Ferguson, to the moral impoverishment of the white evangelical church. In the truth-telling tradition of Bryan Stevenson and Bishop William Barber, McBride leads us right into the fury and fragmentation of our moment, and then steadies us once we're there.
What would it take to truly belong to each other? Radical belonging, McBride argues, means looking at our implicit biases, at our faulty understandings of power, and at how we "other"--or "same"--people. Sometimes it even means troubling the waters—speaking hard truths in situations that appear calm but that cloak injustice.
With a blend of provocation and good humor, McBride leads us beyond inaction on the one hand and polemic on the other. What results is an indelible manifesto--a troublemaking reverend's call to the most urgent task of our time. As inequality, racism, and alienation weaken our common life, well-meaning people What do I need to do to create a world where all can belong? But McBride asserts that instead, we need to Who do I need to become?
Building a shared humanity is hella messy. "Peacemaking" sounds cloying and staying apart seems safer. But unless we want violence to intensify, we are running out of options. In this unforgettable book, McBride reminds us that wading into conflict and stirring up truth is the only way to find real healing.
From one of the most courageous and visionary leaders of our time comes Troubling the Water, an immersive book about the violence and injustice that threaten to drown us all. Activist Ben McBride recounts how he first waded into the from the Kill Zone in Oakland, where he moved with his young family, to the uprising in Ferguson, to the moral impoverishment of the white evangelical church. In the truth-telling tradition of Bryan Stevenson and Bishop William Barber, McBride leads us right into the fury and fragmentation of our moment, and then steadies us once we're there.
What would it take to truly belong to each other? Radical belonging, McBride argues, means looking at our implicit biases, at our faulty understandings of power, and at how we "other"--or "same"--people. Sometimes it even means troubling the waters—speaking hard truths in situations that appear calm but that cloak injustice.
With a blend of provocation and good humor, McBride leads us beyond inaction on the one hand and polemic on the other. What results is an indelible manifesto--a troublemaking reverend's call to the most urgent task of our time. As inequality, racism, and alienation weaken our common life, well-meaning people What do I need to do to create a world where all can belong? But McBride asserts that instead, we need to Who do I need to become?
Building a shared humanity is hella messy. "Peacemaking" sounds cloying and staying apart seems safer. But unless we want violence to intensify, we are running out of options. In this unforgettable book, McBride reminds us that wading into conflict and stirring up truth is the only way to find real healing.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2023
8 people are currently reading
1545 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 13, 2024
After having the fortune of hearing Ben talk at my school and reading this book, I feel more empowered, equppied with more skills, and ready to begin my journey of personal transformation in order to help create a better world. His life experience and the stories he tells of others are eye opening and his words are inspiring. He keeps both a realistic and optimistic perspective. Highly reccomend.
November 29, 2023
Ben McBride is a faith leader and public safety activist who I learned about in The Four Pivots by Dr. Shawn Ginwright. I put the following quote by McBride on my coaching website: "The wrong first question is, What do we need to do? The right first question is, Who do we need to become?" This book is a powerful reflection on the work of radical belonging. There a bunch of other reflections in the book that I'll continue to hold:
"Becoming is about challenging the ways we think and feel; instead of judging our thoughts, we get on the road to changing them." (31)
"There's actually more blessing in the following of others than there is in the leading." (62)
"Activist Glenn E. Martin reminds us--that people closest to the pain are the people closest to the solution. If only we, the Powerful and the Privileged, would just shut up on ad list." (62)
Be "color brave" instead of "color blind." Color brave, according to Mellody Hobson, president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments and chairwoman of Starbucks, writes, "We have to be willing , as teachers and parents... to have proactive conversations about race with honesty and understanding."
How to build a bridge: 1) Gain awareness of the power you, personally, hold in any given situation; and 2) Seek to understand the other beyond what you think you know
"Our past wants us to make meaning of our present by using things that have happened previously as points of reference. Our past shapes that way we see the world. It gives us an ability to see certain people and certain stories, but it also hampers our ability to see them for more than what we perceive them to be. We cling instead to the stories we've create about them in our minds." (93)
Bishop T.D. Jakes says, the enemy "in-a-me." (95)
"... our implicit bias tells us stories about who belongs at that table and the value they bring or lack." (95)
"John Henryism: Black people working so hard to beat an unfair scenario and enduring such prolonged stress and discrimination that they experience chronic disease or health problems and die prematurely." (153)
"Becoming is about challenging the ways we think and feel; instead of judging our thoughts, we get on the road to changing them." (31)
"There's actually more blessing in the following of others than there is in the leading." (62)
"Activist Glenn E. Martin reminds us--that people closest to the pain are the people closest to the solution. If only we, the Powerful and the Privileged, would just shut up on ad list." (62)
Be "color brave" instead of "color blind." Color brave, according to Mellody Hobson, president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments and chairwoman of Starbucks, writes, "We have to be willing , as teachers and parents... to have proactive conversations about race with honesty and understanding."
How to build a bridge: 1) Gain awareness of the power you, personally, hold in any given situation; and 2) Seek to understand the other beyond what you think you know
"Our past wants us to make meaning of our present by using things that have happened previously as points of reference. Our past shapes that way we see the world. It gives us an ability to see certain people and certain stories, but it also hampers our ability to see them for more than what we perceive them to be. We cling instead to the stories we've create about them in our minds." (93)
Bishop T.D. Jakes says, the enemy "in-a-me." (95)
"... our implicit bias tells us stories about who belongs at that table and the value they bring or lack." (95)
"John Henryism: Black people working so hard to beat an unfair scenario and enduring such prolonged stress and discrimination that they experience chronic disease or health problems and die prematurely." (153)
March 11, 2024
“Good trouble” was the phase coined by the late civil rights activist John Lewis to describe the work of activism. It’s work that’ll get you into trouble with the principalities and powers of the age, you’ll draw the ire of empires, but it’s work that is holy and good. Ben McBride is the next generation of good troublers and he’s continuing Lewis’s legacy with a number of initiatives that all call for justice, conciliation, and radical belonging. Troubling the Water: The Urgent Work of Radical Belonging is part-memoir, part-manifesto. McBride chronicles his own beginnings in activism and share the lessons he’s learned along the way which includes the necessity of wading into violence and injustice to bring peace and belonging.
Integral to McBride’s work is a framework he describes as the four Ps: the Powerful, the Privileged, the Persecuted, and the Prevented. The Powerful are the decision-makers who sit at the top. The Privileged come next. They may not make decisions, but they benefit from them, from the status quo, and being proximate to power. The Persecuted are those restricted from full belonging even if they might occasionally benefit from the status quo, and the Prevented as those who do not experience a sense of belonging at all. This framework helps readers understand the position of those who are Powerful and Privileged and how they might use that position to help others.
Another key part of Troubling the Water is McBride’s insistence that we must know our community and be part of it in order to change it. I see this mistake being made quite often in the white evangelical church. Middle-class and wealthy predominantly white churches love to go into the city to preach in urban areas, offer support and ministry, and so on, but then retreat back to the suburbs for worship. They go into rather than live within the community. That really changes the message. McBride’s calls for radical belonging means we must be within the communities we serve.
Troubling the Water also challenges readers to confront their own biases. McBride handles this in a loving, gentle way talking about his own experiences with biased thinking and making the case that, scientifically, we’re hardwired for implicit bias. Biases happen to everyone. We’re not bad for having biases, but it’s our failure to recognize our biases that can destroy or inhibit our work.
A specific section that I appreciated most personally about the book was a frank and blunt section called “What White Folks Can Do.” As someone who is white, I want to make sure that my desire for justice is worked out in a way that is actually helpful, responsible, and deferent to those who have been in this work for generation. McBride acknowledges that white folks have privilege and a voice toward certain audiences that Black folks will not have. He encourages white folks to go back into that space of Christian nationalism or alt-right groups and boldly challenge the othering they witness head-on.
Finally, near the end of Troubling the Water, McBride takes time to recognize the burden of activism and need for self-care. He encourages people to burn brightly, but not get burnt out, and offers both practical tips and quiet assurances that it’s okay to step back and take care of yourself.
Troubling the Water is much like the prophecies of Amos: an unpopular message in a popular time. For so many, things are good. So why rock the boat? Why trouble the water? For others, things aren’t great, but retreat is easier than conflict. So why rock the boat? Why trouble the water? McBride’s vision of radical belonging is a Kingdom vision that tears down empires. It is an encouragement to live as part of the community of God. And the only way to get there is to upset the status quo and do the hard work of making good trouble.
Integral to McBride’s work is a framework he describes as the four Ps: the Powerful, the Privileged, the Persecuted, and the Prevented. The Powerful are the decision-makers who sit at the top. The Privileged come next. They may not make decisions, but they benefit from them, from the status quo, and being proximate to power. The Persecuted are those restricted from full belonging even if they might occasionally benefit from the status quo, and the Prevented as those who do not experience a sense of belonging at all. This framework helps readers understand the position of those who are Powerful and Privileged and how they might use that position to help others.
Another key part of Troubling the Water is McBride’s insistence that we must know our community and be part of it in order to change it. I see this mistake being made quite often in the white evangelical church. Middle-class and wealthy predominantly white churches love to go into the city to preach in urban areas, offer support and ministry, and so on, but then retreat back to the suburbs for worship. They go into rather than live within the community. That really changes the message. McBride’s calls for radical belonging means we must be within the communities we serve.
Troubling the Water also challenges readers to confront their own biases. McBride handles this in a loving, gentle way talking about his own experiences with biased thinking and making the case that, scientifically, we’re hardwired for implicit bias. Biases happen to everyone. We’re not bad for having biases, but it’s our failure to recognize our biases that can destroy or inhibit our work.
A specific section that I appreciated most personally about the book was a frank and blunt section called “What White Folks Can Do.” As someone who is white, I want to make sure that my desire for justice is worked out in a way that is actually helpful, responsible, and deferent to those who have been in this work for generation. McBride acknowledges that white folks have privilege and a voice toward certain audiences that Black folks will not have. He encourages white folks to go back into that space of Christian nationalism or alt-right groups and boldly challenge the othering they witness head-on.
Finally, near the end of Troubling the Water, McBride takes time to recognize the burden of activism and need for self-care. He encourages people to burn brightly, but not get burnt out, and offers both practical tips and quiet assurances that it’s okay to step back and take care of yourself.
Troubling the Water is much like the prophecies of Amos: an unpopular message in a popular time. For so many, things are good. So why rock the boat? Why trouble the water? For others, things aren’t great, but retreat is easier than conflict. So why rock the boat? Why trouble the water? McBride’s vision of radical belonging is a Kingdom vision that tears down empires. It is an encouragement to live as part of the community of God. And the only way to get there is to upset the status quo and do the hard work of making good trouble.
March 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Really 4.5 Stars!)
Troubling the Waters" is the kind of book that stays with you. It made me reflect on belonging, justice, faith, and the reality of what it means to stand for change. McBride doesn’t just talk about these concepts—he challenges us to live them out, even when it’s uncomfortable or costly.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was the difference between being invited into a space and belonging. I’ve been in places that preach inclusion but still make people feel like outsiders—churches, book clubs, community groups. McBride put into words what I’ve experienced: true belonging isn’t about trying to fit in—it’s about being in spaces that make room for you as you are.
His discussion on bridging vs. knowing when to walk away also stood out to me. Not every conflict can or should be bridged. That was a necessary reminder. Some people and institutions are not willing to change, and spending energy trying to "fix" something that resists change can be draining.
I also appreciated the way McBride ties faith and justice together. Too often, these topics are treated separately, but this book reinforces that Jesus didn’t just preach love—He practiced radical belonging. He didn’t just invite people in—He centered the ones the world ignored. That’s the kind of faith I want to embody, not one that stays comfortable but one that truly stands with the marginalized.
The only reason I’m not giving this a full 5 stars is that some concepts felt familiar to me, but that’s likely because I’ve already been on this journey for a while. For someone newer to these ideas, this book would be a game-changer.
✨ Biggest takeaways:
✔️ Justice isn’t just about awareness—it’s about action.
✔️ Bridging doesn’t mean fixing everything—it means making space for real conversations.
✔️ Belonging is something we build, not something we wait to be given.
I’d recommend this to anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider in “inclusive” spaces, anyone questioning what justice truly looks like, and anyone who wants to live out their faith in a way that reflects love and inclusion.
Troubling the Waters" is the kind of book that stays with you. It made me reflect on belonging, justice, faith, and the reality of what it means to stand for change. McBride doesn’t just talk about these concepts—he challenges us to live them out, even when it’s uncomfortable or costly.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was the difference between being invited into a space and belonging. I’ve been in places that preach inclusion but still make people feel like outsiders—churches, book clubs, community groups. McBride put into words what I’ve experienced: true belonging isn’t about trying to fit in—it’s about being in spaces that make room for you as you are.
His discussion on bridging vs. knowing when to walk away also stood out to me. Not every conflict can or should be bridged. That was a necessary reminder. Some people and institutions are not willing to change, and spending energy trying to "fix" something that resists change can be draining.
I also appreciated the way McBride ties faith and justice together. Too often, these topics are treated separately, but this book reinforces that Jesus didn’t just preach love—He practiced radical belonging. He didn’t just invite people in—He centered the ones the world ignored. That’s the kind of faith I want to embody, not one that stays comfortable but one that truly stands with the marginalized.
The only reason I’m not giving this a full 5 stars is that some concepts felt familiar to me, but that’s likely because I’ve already been on this journey for a while. For someone newer to these ideas, this book would be a game-changer.
✨ Biggest takeaways:
✔️ Justice isn’t just about awareness—it’s about action.
✔️ Bridging doesn’t mean fixing everything—it means making space for real conversations.
✔️ Belonging is something we build, not something we wait to be given.
I’d recommend this to anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider in “inclusive” spaces, anyone questioning what justice truly looks like, and anyone who wants to live out their faith in a way that reflects love and inclusion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2025
Not "what will we do" but "who we will become." I'm encouraged by this book as it highlights the decades of learning that it takes to become the type of person I'd like to be. McBride urges us to bridge with people are who different than us - and in the bridging, imagine we are all more alike than different. The 5As - awareness, accountability, articulation, advocacy, and activation - are a good framework for learning how to be an advocate for Black communities.
In bridging, I have to realize that I come from a place of privilege, having experienced safety relative to my background. He maps this idea out in quadrants, which is an interesting tool to frame power dynamics.
3/5 because the book was rather preachy. Shocking, from a preacher.
In bridging, I have to realize that I come from a place of privilege, having experienced safety relative to my background. He maps this idea out in quadrants, which is an interesting tool to frame power dynamics.
3/5 because the book was rather preachy. Shocking, from a preacher.
May 2, 2023
Essential reading for anyone seeking to build community no matter your race or religious affiliation. Rev. McBride shares insights from his own experiences bridging connections with others in order to “widen the circle of human concern.” Inspiring and engaging.
April 24, 2024
Was more autobiographical than guiding. I would say it's a little too preachy as well...but it was written by a preacher! So can't hate on that
August 11, 2024
I picked up this book because the author was the best key-note speaker at a conference I recently attended
The author is a peace-maker, brings communities together, reducing violence etc. The book is partly auto-biographical in sharing anecdotes and makes some interesting points.
Pick up this book if you work with conflict in your communities
The author is a peace-maker, brings communities together, reducing violence etc. The book is partly auto-biographical in sharing anecdotes and makes some interesting points.
Pick up this book if you work with conflict in your communities
September 23, 2024
A fresh look at how to heal the racial wounds in our country. I appreciated Rev McBride's willingness to be vulnerable and share his own journey.
October 18, 2024
Ben McBride speaks my language and is able to articulate belonging and the work that it takes that resonate with my soul. I hope to use this as an inspiration for my own work and for my community.
November 17, 2024
Troubling the Water
is a thoughtful, accessible life-perspective on the continuing effects of race and social class and other forms of other-vs-same tribalism on individuals' choices and especially their likelinesses to tend toward violence, as well as what approaches might both improve individuals' options and choices and the overall social environment.
Persistent and optimistic, but realistic and very cognizant of what hasn't worked, McBride outlines his simply inclusive "radical belonging" philosophy, the experiences than led him there, and his hopes for a better future for everyone.
Persistent and optimistic, but realistic and very cognizant of what hasn't worked, McBride outlines his simply inclusive "radical belonging" philosophy, the experiences than led him there, and his hopes for a better future for everyone.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews