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We Are Called to Be a Movement
It's time for everyone who cares about the state of our nation to heed the call and join forces to redeem the soul of America.
It's time to come together and renounce the politics of rejection, division, and greed. It's time to lift up the common good, move up to higher ground, and revive the heart of democracy.
In a single, rousing sermon, the celebrated Reverend William J. Barber II of the Poor People’s Campaign makes an impassioned argument whose message could not be It's time for change, and the time needs you.
It's time to come together and renounce the politics of rejection, division, and greed. It's time to lift up the common good, move up to higher ground, and revive the heart of democracy.
In a single, rousing sermon, the celebrated Reverend William J. Barber II of the Poor People’s Campaign makes an impassioned argument whose message could not be It's time for change, and the time needs you.
96 pages, Paperback
Published June 9, 2020
77 people are currently reading
771 people want to read
About the author
William J. Barber II
17 books110 followersWilliam J. Barber II is an American Protestant minister and political activist. He is a member of the national board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the chair of its Legislative Political Action Committee. Since 2006 he has been president of the NAACP's North Carolina state chapter, the largest in the Southern United States and the second-largest in the country.[1] Barber has served as pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Goldsboro, North Carolina since 1993.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 15, 2020
This book contains a powerful sermon by Rev. Dr. Barber that forms the foundation of his movement to bring about what he calls a moral revival in America. Barber use the Psalms and the words of Jesus to inspire the people he calls the "rejected stones" to bring about this movement for justice and economic equality. I think the title of this book could have been different, I would change it to "The Politics of the Rejected Stones". Overall, it's good, I could hear Barber's voice as I was reading it. It can be read in under an hour.
Favorite quotes:
"Rejected stones make the best cornerstones."
"If you're not careful. you'll get caught up in the words of racism and miss the works of racism because some people who engage in the works of racism never use the words."
"Truth is, whenever the ones who've been rejected have come together down through history and stood together to lead us, justice has never lost. Now, I didn't say justice has never been fought and justice hasn't been beaten up. But justice has never lost."
Favorite quotes:
"Rejected stones make the best cornerstones."
"If you're not careful. you'll get caught up in the words of racism and miss the works of racism because some people who engage in the works of racism never use the words."
"Truth is, whenever the ones who've been rejected have come together down through history and stood together to lead us, justice has never lost. Now, I didn't say justice has never been fought and justice hasn't been beaten up. But justice has never lost."
June 11, 2025
My interest was piqued immediately when I read that the “Psalms were the freedom songs of the movement Jesus was born into.” I'm familiar with the Psalms but hadn't looked at them quite this way. “The context in which the Psalmist wrote and Jesus preached was one of a politics rooted in greed and not grace; a politics rooted in lust and not love.” Doesn't that sound a lot like our politics today?!
One phrase that was repeated was “Rejected stones make the best cornerstones.” Why are people rejected? Well, it is usually "because somebody needed to hate to try to feel good about themselves."
People are not rejected because of any failing of their own “but because of a society that had decided some people could be overlooked and left behind.”
If I was to hazard a guess as to why the rejected make the best cornerstones I would say that their experience has made them stronger in character and resourcefulness and more empathetic to others. They have realized that we are stronger when we join together against our oppressor.
I was interested to learn that “More than two thousand times in Scripture, the Spirit of God speaks about how the rejected and their allies in the faith must prophetically challenge religious and political institutions. It is one of the most consistent themes throughout the Bible.”
Another key point is that “America will never complete the work of reconstruction – will never even get close to being a more perfect union – until we are honest about her past and the politics of rejection.” When I think of being honest about the past I think of genocide and slavery, both of which tend to get 'swept under the carpet' in America. I found the opposite when I visited Berlin, Germany in 2015 and visited the museums and places of remembrance of the Holocaust there.
Meanwhile, “Policies that benefit the rich while deregulating companies and neglecting the poor are steering the country toward a dramatic change of direction, blocking poor people from accessing even the most meager necessities.”
I was shocked to learn that “Child poverty in America is worse than any other industrialized nation.” Let that sink in for a minute - America is one of the richest nations in the world and it is truly failing its children - our future.
People have a right to clean air and water, yet “Indigenous people on reservations face cruel decisions that trace all the way back to wartime treaties; when corporations frack and drill on their sacred lands and poison their aquifers.”
Then, there is the way we are treating immigrants, most particularly black and brown immigrants. America is a nation of immigrants - a marvelous melting pot of backgrounds and cultures, yet our current administration "is weaponizing deportation and ripping families apart – even losing the children of migrant families while they brag about doing God’s will.”
We are stripping money away from programs and pouring more money into defense. “A war economy drains social programs and impoverishes communities here at home to destroy and pollute poor communities around the world.”
“The distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism doesn’t follow the call of Jesus that asks nations, “When I was hungry, did you feed me? When I was naked, did you clothe me? When I was a stranger – when I was an immigrant, when I was undocumented – did you care for me?” but instead preaches a false gospel of division and building walls.”
All children are precious - they are our future. However, “Far too many do not see that a Palestinian child is just as important as a Jewish child, and the black child as precious as the white child.”
Finally, “When the rejected get together in love and in truth and are willing to build a movement with our bodies on the line, we can in fact redeem the soul of the nation from greed, hate, and discrimination.” Every single person should be "respected and treated with dignity. Together, the rejected must redeem and revive the heart of society.”
One phrase that was repeated was “Rejected stones make the best cornerstones.” Why are people rejected? Well, it is usually "because somebody needed to hate to try to feel good about themselves."
People are not rejected because of any failing of their own “but because of a society that had decided some people could be overlooked and left behind.”
If I was to hazard a guess as to why the rejected make the best cornerstones I would say that their experience has made them stronger in character and resourcefulness and more empathetic to others. They have realized that we are stronger when we join together against our oppressor.
I was interested to learn that “More than two thousand times in Scripture, the Spirit of God speaks about how the rejected and their allies in the faith must prophetically challenge religious and political institutions. It is one of the most consistent themes throughout the Bible.”
Another key point is that “America will never complete the work of reconstruction – will never even get close to being a more perfect union – until we are honest about her past and the politics of rejection.” When I think of being honest about the past I think of genocide and slavery, both of which tend to get 'swept under the carpet' in America. I found the opposite when I visited Berlin, Germany in 2015 and visited the museums and places of remembrance of the Holocaust there.
Meanwhile, “Policies that benefit the rich while deregulating companies and neglecting the poor are steering the country toward a dramatic change of direction, blocking poor people from accessing even the most meager necessities.”
I was shocked to learn that “Child poverty in America is worse than any other industrialized nation.” Let that sink in for a minute - America is one of the richest nations in the world and it is truly failing its children - our future.
People have a right to clean air and water, yet “Indigenous people on reservations face cruel decisions that trace all the way back to wartime treaties; when corporations frack and drill on their sacred lands and poison their aquifers.”
Then, there is the way we are treating immigrants, most particularly black and brown immigrants. America is a nation of immigrants - a marvelous melting pot of backgrounds and cultures, yet our current administration "is weaponizing deportation and ripping families apart – even losing the children of migrant families while they brag about doing God’s will.”
We are stripping money away from programs and pouring more money into defense. “A war economy drains social programs and impoverishes communities here at home to destroy and pollute poor communities around the world.”
“The distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism doesn’t follow the call of Jesus that asks nations, “When I was hungry, did you feed me? When I was naked, did you clothe me? When I was a stranger – when I was an immigrant, when I was undocumented – did you care for me?” but instead preaches a false gospel of division and building walls.”
All children are precious - they are our future. However, “Far too many do not see that a Palestinian child is just as important as a Jewish child, and the black child as precious as the white child.”
Finally, “When the rejected get together in love and in truth and are willing to build a movement with our bodies on the line, we can in fact redeem the soul of the nation from greed, hate, and discrimination.” Every single person should be "respected and treated with dignity. Together, the rejected must redeem and revive the heart of society.”
June 14, 2020
Having never read/heard a sermon before, and being non-religious and having no religious background I was incredibly sceptical to pick up this read, although I don't regret it in this slightest. This sermon radiated passion and I loved it, I felt so inspired by the words and feel as though I have a new education of the bible and religion through this text. The passion concerning the inequality in modern day America is so prevalent here and I would have to recommend this text to anyone who is also concerned.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2020
Required civic and social justice reading. Beautiful.
June 15, 2020
This is a sermon turned into a short book that can be read in a couple of hours. The original version of the sermon was given June 3, 2018 at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. The sermon is prophetic as we are witnessing a movement in America two years after the initial hearing of these powerful words. Dr. Barber weaves biblical text, historical accounts, personal narratives and research to show who is called to be a movement. His commanding oratory style comes through on the pages as he delivers points about the movement America needs to move forward from its harmful past sins.
I was given the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.
I was given the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.
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June 30, 2020I think this would be a great book to give to someone that you are wanting to discuss politics and religion with. I think it is a light way to start into a deep conversation. I liked the message of this book but it was pretty basic. I think it would be best for an Evangelical Christian that needs to be challenged into a different perspective but in a non-invasive way. So this book is a good intro to something deeper. An easy place to start if you need to check your unconscious bias. I think I might share this one with Christians I know that have gotten caught up in politics and forgotten their compassion for people. Wish me luck, this could be messy.
July 22, 2020
Moving and oh so powerful, you can practically hear the Reverend speaking through the book. We are all called to make a change and be the difference in the world!
January 17, 2021
Motivated
June 13, 2020
"We Are Called to Be a Movement" is a short (for a Kindle read) sermon calling people to action who have been discriminated against, underserved, and underresourced by American government and society. I love listening to William Barber speak, and I have never felt like I have wanted to listen to an audio version of a written work until reading this. I'm not sure when in 2020 Barber compiled the sermon that is featured in this book, but I could not have read it at a more pertinent time - when the health of many poor Americans is ravaged by Covid and there are major protests across America as a result of continuing police brutality. Barber exclaims that it is time to organize those who have been unjustly served and demand things like equal human rights, health care, quality education, and a nonviolent society. I hope everyone who reads this hears Barber's message and is motivated to act.
April 4, 2021
Based on scripture, individual narratives, American history, and economics, Rev. Dr. Barber creates a powerful sermon and call to action and introduces the fundamental values of “The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival” - an intersectional, nonviolent movement he co-chairs. It picks up what Dr. King’s Poor People’s Campaign (1968) started prior to his assassination. It reminds us that Jesus lived amongst the marginalized; that “the rejected must lead the revival for love and justice”.
August 27, 2020
powerful.
March 20, 2022
Whether you are religious or not, this written sermon is phenomenal. This is a must read for anyone interested in social justice or politics!!
October 16, 2020
We Are Called to Be a Movement is a sermon delivered Sunday, June 3, 2018, at the National Cathedral in Washington by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II. He is the President and Senior Lecturer at Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.
He begins his sermon by citing two passages from The Bible, part of “Psalm 118 and a bit from “the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 4.” The message is that the poor, the rejected, the broken, and the unaccepted must lead the revival for love and justice. Those who have been made poor by economic systems of exploitation must seek their own remedy.
He recites a pantheon of leaders from the past who have taken leadership roles including Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Staton, Lucretia Mott, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bayard Rustin, Nelson Mandla, and Desmond Tutu.
Barber employs a common and powerfully effective rhetorical device often used in sermon oratory. The refrain is an often-repeated phrase used to and emphasize a thematic idea. In this case the phrase is, “The politics of rejection and policy violence against the poor are still far too real.”
The refrain punctuates a list of issues, charges and injustices. Reminiscent of the enumeration of grievances cataloged in “The Declaration of Independence,” Barber cites a list of grievances against poor people perpetrated by systemic racism, injustice, and violence. His stirring oratory echoes the style of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are powerful and eloquent voices to be heard, but quite often we have to be concerned that few are listening.
He begins his sermon by citing two passages from The Bible, part of “Psalm 118 and a bit from “the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 4.” The message is that the poor, the rejected, the broken, and the unaccepted must lead the revival for love and justice. Those who have been made poor by economic systems of exploitation must seek their own remedy.
He recites a pantheon of leaders from the past who have taken leadership roles including Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Staton, Lucretia Mott, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bayard Rustin, Nelson Mandla, and Desmond Tutu.
Barber employs a common and powerfully effective rhetorical device often used in sermon oratory. The refrain is an often-repeated phrase used to and emphasize a thematic idea. In this case the phrase is, “The politics of rejection and policy violence against the poor are still far too real.”
The refrain punctuates a list of issues, charges and injustices. Reminiscent of the enumeration of grievances cataloged in “The Declaration of Independence,” Barber cites a list of grievances against poor people perpetrated by systemic racism, injustice, and violence. His stirring oratory echoes the style of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are powerful and eloquent voices to be heard, but quite often we have to be concerned that few are listening.
May 24, 2021
Far too often the words from religious leaders come across as both myopic and hypocritical. William J. Barber II, "the son of a son of a preacher" delivers a testimony in a sermon that is honest, compelling, and motivating. He uses the words and stories from The Bible in such a way that I, an agnostic on a good day, am both inspired and uplifted by Jesus's words and actions, and the words of the Apostles, but the words of the Holy Spirit in Psalms 118: "This is the day the LORD has made--let us rejoice and be glad in it" when he describes how the stones that had been rejected are the cornerstones to the church and the faith practiced within the walls Barber II also uses words from the gospel of Luke, saying Jesus is there "to Preach the message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, "This is God's time to shine..."
After the past week's conflict in Gaza and my recent reading of an excellent but chilling book on religious nationalism, I really needed William J. Barber II's words to relieve many of my fears and grievances about religion. Barber II, inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others, preaches words of such power and meaning that it calls to my soul. The Poor People's Campaign truly seems to follow Jesus's words and may propel a path of "the rejected" to save our country, from the vast inequality and gulf of problems we are drowning in. Every citizen of this country should read these words, especially every elected representative. This is a movement and a man I can get behind.
After the past week's conflict in Gaza and my recent reading of an excellent but chilling book on religious nationalism, I really needed William J. Barber II's words to relieve many of my fears and grievances about religion. Barber II, inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others, preaches words of such power and meaning that it calls to my soul. The Poor People's Campaign truly seems to follow Jesus's words and may propel a path of "the rejected" to save our country, from the vast inequality and gulf of problems we are drowning in. Every citizen of this country should read these words, especially every elected representative. This is a movement and a man I can get behind.
July 28, 2020
Full review over on my blog Bottles of Books --> https://erikabalban7.wixsite.com/bott...
We Are Called to be A Movement is a sermon by Reverend William J. Barber II, who is known for his political activism in the face of modern America. As co-chairman of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, he uses his position to elevate the voices of the working class and those on the fringes of society, using biblical references to reinforce the idea that outcasts in the Bible, and throughout history, have been the ones to bring about societal change.
Throughout, the real driving force of the sermon is Barber’s clear and well-presented passion for the movement, evident in his political activism and the changes he’s made in his community throughout the years. The relevance of his sermon today, especially in America, where he preaches, is explicit from the beginning. It would be difficult for the listener to experience this speech in isolation to current events and while the origins of the sermon might not stem from the events of 2020, the content only reveals how timeless his message is and how Christian teachings can be applied to many situations.
We Are Called to be A Movement is a sermon by Reverend William J. Barber II, who is known for his political activism in the face of modern America. As co-chairman of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, he uses his position to elevate the voices of the working class and those on the fringes of society, using biblical references to reinforce the idea that outcasts in the Bible, and throughout history, have been the ones to bring about societal change.
Throughout, the real driving force of the sermon is Barber’s clear and well-presented passion for the movement, evident in his political activism and the changes he’s made in his community throughout the years. The relevance of his sermon today, especially in America, where he preaches, is explicit from the beginning. It would be difficult for the listener to experience this speech in isolation to current events and while the origins of the sermon might not stem from the events of 2020, the content only reveals how timeless his message is and how Christian teachings can be applied to many situations.
July 5, 2020
Rev Dr William Barber wrote this book based on his sermon at the National Cathedral based on Psalm 118 and Luke, Chapter 4. The rejected in our society must lead the revival for love and justice. We should be wearing sackcloth and ashes (what was worn in the Bible to show you are in mourning) to publicly mourn extreme inequality in America today. He talks about The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival. This is a quick read packed with ways to join the Poor People's campaign, listen to the poor, and to do something toward restoring a better system in our economy, our treatment of black and people of color, our awareness that constant war and militarism is killing our people.
June 18, 2020
Imagine, if you can, a Black preacher preaching a sermon about the "rejected" ones being at the center of the kingdom of God and of the movement of justice. Imagine that he pulls in startling statistics about governmental spending and the abandonment of the poor, and that he uses inspiring quotes from Dr King and other leaders. Imagine that the sermon begins with scripture passages and ends with a rallying cry.
THAT is this book. It is a transcription of a sermon Rev Dr Barber preached in 2018, and if anything, it's even more applicable today.
My thanks to #NetGalley, the author, and publisher, who gave me this book in exchange for my honest opinion. #WeAreCalledToBeAMovement
THAT is this book. It is a transcription of a sermon Rev Dr Barber preached in 2018, and if anything, it's even more applicable today.
My thanks to #NetGalley, the author, and publisher, who gave me this book in exchange for my honest opinion. #WeAreCalledToBeAMovement
July 6, 2020
The author of this brief book is a minister, MacArthur Fellow, and co-director of the the Poor People's Campaign. I learned about him and his work from a recent NY Times article. This volume (wonderfully available as an eBook from my public library via Hoopla) consists of a transcript of a sermon and information on the Poor People's Campaign. The sermon is powerful. Reverend Barber points out that Jesus and the psalms tell that loving change will come when the poor and powerless become the cornerstone. Time and again, it's rejected people who lead the way for justice and mercy.
"The rejected must lead the movement for love and justice." He gives me hope for a better world.
"The rejected must lead the movement for love and justice." He gives me hope for a better world.
August 2, 2020
A wonderful sermon about the rejected and how only the rejected can set things right.
“There is no way to mend the flaws of the nation and be one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all unless the rejected are at the center.”
“I fly the flag so that people will look at the flag and then look underneath the flag and see the rejection that’s happening here in America.”
“America will never complete the work of reconstruction—will never even get close to being a more perfect union—until we are honest about her past and the politics of rejection.”
“The Bible — a book my father said you can’t read honestly without also making a commitment to work for justice.”
“There is no way to mend the flaws of the nation and be one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all unless the rejected are at the center.”
“I fly the flag so that people will look at the flag and then look underneath the flag and see the rejection that’s happening here in America.”
“America will never complete the work of reconstruction—will never even get close to being a more perfect union—until we are honest about her past and the politics of rejection.”
“The Bible — a book my father said you can’t read honestly without also making a commitment to work for justice.”
October 13, 2020
This book is a sermon given by Reverend William Barber at the National Cathedral in Washington DC. Reverend Barber is one of the foremost civil rights leaders of our country right now and deserves to be placed in the pantheon of other great civil rights leaders of past and present. His connection to social justice with scripture is masterful and his words give me hope. This sermon connects two verses of scripture one from the book of psalms and one from the gospel of Luke to show that the people that society shuns and rejects are the ones Jesus calls on to be a movement for change. So in rejecting the rejected, we are going against the teachings of Jesus and scripture.
August 17, 2022
I became familiar with the Poor People's Campaign through Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice. I was recommended this reading by a church member, and it has lit a fire in me. The reverend draws you in with his combination of biblical knowledge and history. He points to the hypocrisy of those who use the Bible to oppress rather than ally with and empower vulnerable populations. The reading was invigorating, and I cannot imagine what it was like to hear it live. It is a short read, and one can finish it in a day.
June 20, 2020
I mean, I'm sure it's not surprising that this is very religion-focused, being a sermon from Reverend William J. Barber II, but it does make this short read a bit less accessible by a secular audience. That being said, there is a strong, clear and rousing message about leaving behind the politics of rejection, division, and greed. In addition, as it contains quotes from scripture, it has the potential to be a very useful tool in dismantling any attempts by bigots to claim support for prejudice based on religion.
August 28, 2020
Very powerful. This should touch everyone and raise us to action, especially those of us who are white and live comfortable lives. It does not matter your religious beliefs or even if you have non, it is a wake-up to what needs to happen to make the United States the great country many profess that it is but where equality of the races and in use of resources just isn't there. It does not scold, just gives a push as to where change is needed to get there.
December 4, 2020
I am trying to read a Christian sermon with non Christian eyes, listen with universal ears. And it is all right here. And I hope I remember every word when I need them. And I need them.
William Barber is a minister in the “old style,” never straying too far from the biblical stories but perfectly blending the old stories with the new reality. He lifts up, inspires and makes possible the dream that is American democracy.
William Barber is a minister in the “old style,” never straying too far from the biblical stories but perfectly blending the old stories with the new reality. He lifts up, inspires and makes possible the dream that is American democracy.
January 30, 2023
This is a beautifully written and powerful speech/sermon. Unfortunately, some of the inherent magic of a public speech is lost in translation when it is turned into a book. While it did the best it could, it couldn't quite grasp the power of Barber's voice, the influence of his emotions, or the energy of the crowd. If you haven't heard the speech before, this is not the most effective or affecting introduction to the topic. However, I am thrilled to have a hard copy to refer back to.
August 23, 2023
This is a great sermon from Rev. Barber that differs greatly from what many people may experience in American churches. While being critical of the Christian Right, he uses Biblical evidence to show how Jesus was a champion of the poor and those on the margins of society. He extrapolates this to the present day, calling for a movement of unification among different groups in the pursuit of social justice and promoting the Poor People’s Campaign.
April 20, 2024
“When far too many do not see that a Palestinian child is just as important as a Jewish child, and the black child as precious as the white child, then the politics of rejection and policy violence against the poor are still far too real.”
i expected more from this book since it was recommended to me by my religion major friend. it’s mostly just the same message that most biblical activists hold without any action to actually back up what they’re preaching
i expected more from this book since it was recommended to me by my religion major friend. it’s mostly just the same message that most biblical activists hold without any action to actually back up what they’re preaching
June 18, 2024
What would Jesus want us to do if he were here today? How would he want us to interact with those who society has rejected? Who is responsible for the situation of hopelessness that so many struggle with? Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II challenges us all to ask these and other questions. You may not agree 100% with his answer - but we all need to ask these questions - and collectively try to come up with answers very soon.
July 9, 2025
I reread this little book today. A day when US healthcare is being cut for the poorest among us, which will also have a devastating effect on everyone in rural areas when their hospitals close. A day when the US is throwing more money at "Alligator Alcatraz" to house detainees in Florida. A day when Ohio is enacting a regressive flat tax and the US is enshrining tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
June 28, 2020
This sermon from a preacher and member of the national NAACP board of directors is an impassioned, thought-provoking call to action that is sure to challenge the long-held tenets of evangelical Christianity. It's a must-read for anyone looking to better understand what Jesus, who was despised and rejected for our sake, meant when He said that the last shall be first.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews