I think it is dangerous having a central figure that starts out with all the wisdom. Too often he or she is a stand-in for the author’s opinions which we know may be challenged, but will remain in the end. That may be true here, too, but there are enough scenes in which Bishop has to practice what he preaches to make us believers. Plus, we have the personal reaction and development of his youngest follower, Terrell. In a way this boy represents the reader, learning, internalizing and eventually trying to formulate how all of this can be put to practical use.

The book starts off slowly and builds to a climax that is part shoot ‘em up, part death/resurrection and part literary daydream. There’s a good last line you have to read the entire book to appreciate. And there are some thought-provoking challenges for Bishop along the way. One is his love relationship with Terrell’s older sister, Ella that has to take a backseat to the matters at hand. Another is his confrontation with the pastor of the local church about the need for community action.

Even as a white, book reviewer living in the country I could empathize with the people of this inner-city neighborhood. No matter who we are or where we live, we need to take responsibility for our lives. This is a very readable account of how to do this. As Bishop tells us (his ultimate followers): “I don’t believe most people will shoot at people they love. I don’t think they’ll beat them half to death just to take their shoes… There has to be a way to take a man that’s been beaten down, stripped and emasculated before the entire world, or a woman that’s been raped so completely that she herself believes that she’s little more than a bitch or a ho’, and convince them that they are still worth loving. That’s the task, that’s the challenge…that’s the movement.”