Reading About Race: “A Most Beautiful Thing”

As part of Third Church’s continuing anti-racism efforts, the Adult Spiritual Formation Committee will be sharing book reviews on books about race and/or by BIPOC authors. If you have read a book that has opened new perspectives to you, and that you would be willing to write a brief review of, please contact Becky D’Angelo-Veitch.

A Most Beautiful Thing by Arshay Cooper

Reviewed by Sarah Krug

This is the story of a group of high school kids from Chicago’s Westside (a difficult place to grow up) becoming America’s first all-Black Rowing Team. The high-schoolers bravely entered this very white privileged sport, and developed great strength of character and group loyalty while navigating a foreign-feeling, sometimes hostile, space.  

The book grabs you right away, and would be a good read for a high schooler right through adults of any age.  It has also been made into a documentary. 

There is an excellent interview featuring the author online as well as promoting the documentary from the  Chicago Humanities Festival.