Becoming Brave Book Review: 5 Lessons from Esther & Becoming Brave Discussion Questions written by the Elf on 8/25/2020 This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Becoming Brave book review, as well as 5 lessons from Esther from the book and discussion questions.
Know Before You Read Becoming Brave
Book: Becoming Brave: Finding the Courage to Pursue Racial Justice Now
Author: Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil
Genre: Sociology/ Racial Reconciliation/ Theology
Pages: 208
Published: August 18th, 2020
Age Suggestion: 15+
Main Topics: Racial Reconciliation, Social Justice, Esther, Theology, Convictions
Warnings: This book might be triggering for those that have experienced racial violence. We also want to note that this book is based on theology, it’s not explicitly stated in the title but it is a Bible based book.
Quick Summary of Becoming Brave:
You probably haven’t heard Esther’s story explained like this before! Through the lens of this ancient, activist, Biblical queen, Dr. Brenda shows us how to courageously move forward with God’s heart for justice. Sharing pieces of her story and highlighting people she has learned from, the author encourages the reader grow into their own story of reconciliation and learn from the tales of those, like Esther, who have bravely gone before us.
Becoming Brave Book Review:
*Does Contain Spoilers*
–Why Read It:
“Now more than ever, those who care about the reconciliation command of the cross must speak up and out about injustice and must go about the work of dismantling the structures of this injustice and combating the harmful, even deadly result of this country’s unchecked legacy of systemic inequality and discrimination. The church must talk about justice. I must talk about justice. The time is now.” (McNeil, pg 20)
While it’s not a direct commentary on the book of Esther, it does shed a lot of light onto the context and story of the book. Showing us how Esther navigated reconciliation and justice work for her people. If you have been feeling a push towards social justice and racial reconciliation but you aren’t sure where to start, or if you’ve been doing the work for years and want some encouragement- this is the motivational read you are looking for! We highly recommend this book!
I highlighted a ridiculously large amount of this book and will definitely be reading it again and referencing those highlights. It was a helpful, engaging, and motivational read for me.
-Structure:
The author opens each chapter with a section of Esther. She dissects that section of Esther while telling you about her own journey and calling the reader to action. Each chapter is about 10 pages and there are 12 chapters with a must read preface and conclusion as well.
5 Lessons from Esther on Becoming Brave:
1) Your inexperience does not disqualify you from showing up!
Esther was not qualified and was terrified but God used her to save so many people. We are not dismissed from the calling to social justice of the Gospel because of our circumstances.
2) We’re following the cloud of witnesses that went before us and beating a path for those that will come behind us.
“So too with Queen Vashti… It was because of Ida B. Wells that Rosa Parks became the mother of the civil rights movement. The same is true of Vashti and Esther. Vashti’s civil disobedience paved the way for Esther to enter into the story of God’s healing and deliverance for the the Jews. It was the courageous sacrifice of Vashti that called Esther forth. Had there not been a Vashti who stood up for herself, there would not have been an Esther.” (McNeil, pg. 51)
3) Proximity is key. We have to be willing to listen to people and their stories, especially when it’s inconvenient.
Mordecai had to tell Esther what was going on. She was assimilated and ignorantly wrapped up in palace life and policy. His lament was probably embarrassing, his call for her to act, inconceivable. But Esther fasted, listened, and then went to work.
4) Dinner’s great and a necessary step. But it’s not enough. We are called to more than just conversation, we’re called to action.
“She decided to speak up.She decided to join in God’s reparative work in the world, knowing full well that there were no promises that everything would turn out okay. And that’s exactly what we’re being asked to do.” (McNeil, pg 157)
“Like Esther, we do not have the luxury of standing idly by when faced with the reality of injustice and inequality. We cannot wring our hands and hope for the best. We must take a public stand and risk getting involved.” (McNeil, pg 154)
5) The time is now.
The injustices of the world are overwhelming, but the time has come to fully engage whether or not we feel qualified. We are responsible. We have been called “For such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). As gospel bearers, this is our work and the time to make it a priority is now.
Becoming Brave Discussion Questions:
***Please note that there are a lot of questions written in to this book. Also the book tour videos are available. We thought about not including this section at all because there are great questions and resources for the book- but it’s what we do 😉 ***
Group 1 Preface- Ch 3 Becoming Brave Discussion Questions
1) Have you thought about racial reconciliation and systematic racial injustices as the same thing or the same kind of work? Did your opinion change?
2) Where are you on the social system? Where on it did you grow up? What is your perception of whiteness?
3) What did you think of Vashti before reading this?
4) Who has gone before you? Who are you listening to?
Group 2 Ch 4-7 Becoming Brave Discussion Questions
1) Evaluate where you might have been indoctrinated politically, how do you evaluate this?
2) What do we lose when we demand full , or even partial, assimilation?
3) What lament is on your heart? How do we learn to make this a regular practice?
4) How can we evaluate who is the force behind a story and what their motivations are?
Group 3 Ch 8-10 Becoming Brave Discussion Questions
1) Did the statistics or information presented in chapter 8 surprise you?
2) How can we start to evaluate out history and what has been white-washed?
3) Who do you need to sit down with and learn from? Who can you share with?
4) Who can we intercede with and for? In what ways?
Group 4 Ch 11-Conclusion Becoming Brave Discussion Questions
1) What’s one fear you have about stepping up and speaking out about injustice?
2) Name two sheros in your life.
3) What does she describe as dove and serpent power, what are your thoughts?
4) How can you help humanize the hard conversations?
5) What’s your action plan and who will be holding you accountable?
If you enjoyed this Becoming Brave Book Review, check out these posts next and take a second to share this post please!
Our other Posts:
– Walking through the movie Just Mercy with your teens + free curriculum for the book
– 3 Movies to Discuss Racism with Kids Under 12
– From 0-6 years old, how can we share diversity and be inclusive with young kids?
– Blue Parakeet: How a bird changed the way this scholar reads the Bible
– 20 Lessons from Becoming
– Even Mother Theresa had Impostor Syndrome
Resources From the Author:
– Book Tour Stops 1 (Find virtual stops here!)
– Freedom Road’s Live Discussion on Race & Equality
– About the Author Dr., Rev., Brenda Salter McNeil
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