James McBride is the National Award-winning author of The Good Lord Bird and the best-selling memoir, The Color of Water. His latest book is Deacon King Kong, which is set against the backdrop of 1960s Brooklyn and tells the story of how one man’s decision upended an entire neighborhood. Sam talks to McBride about race, religion and community, the parallels he sees to the world we’re living in today, and why he’s still optimistic, despite protests and a pandemic.