the challenges of racial segregation and the struggle for equality within ecclesiastical structures. The opening portion of the book sets the stage for a thorough examination of the Methodist Episcopal Church's involvement with the colored community, beginning with a preface that outlines the reasons why such a history needs to be narrated. Hagood emphasizes that the Church has historically opposed slavery, reflecting on its role in advocating for the emancipation and rights of black members. The introduction establishes the conflict within the Church regarding the treatment of African Americans, mentioning the mixed responses from both white and black congregants. Hagood also highlights the often-unrecognized contributions of black members and challenges inaccuracies in previous narratives that portrayed the Church's actions towards them solely from a prejudicial viewpoint. (This is an automatically generated summary.)