“I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action;” who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a ‘more convenient season.’….Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
⏤Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail
GET STARTED
Watch and read these 4 short introductory videos on Racism, Justice and the Church in the United States.
1
Latasha Morrison on Racial Tension, Reconciliation, and the Church
Latasha is a bridge-builder, reconciler, fellow abolitionist, and a compelling voice in the fight for racial justice. Possessing a passion for social justice issues across the globe, Tasha uses her platform to encourage racial reconciliation among all ethnicities, to promote racial unity in America, and to develop others to do the same.
[Video: 8:26]
3
Why do White Christians Vote Republican, and Black Christians Vote Democrat?
An overwhelming majority of WHITE Christians vote Republican. And an overwhelming majority of BLACK Christians vote Democrat. Why is that? Don’t they read the same Bible and pray to the same God? Which group doesn’t know they’re voting for the wrong party?
[Video: 15:27]
2
One Thing White Evangelicals Need to Understand About Racial Reconciliation
In this video, Thabiti Anyabwile discusses what he wishes white evangelicals would understand about racial reconciliation in American churches. [Video: 3:40]
4
Empathy, Racial Tension, and the Church
Rev. Adam Hamilton with guests Rev. Yolanda Villa and Rev. Darryl Burton reflect on race, their experiences with police and what is needed to heal racial divides in America.
[Video: 6:38]
GO DEEPER
Listening to perspectives from those that may not think exactly like you is essential for Christian growth and development. The following section provides a variety of viewpoints across the denominational spectrum.
Jump to: Christian Engagement / Incarceration / Racial Tension, Protest and Privilege / History / Podcasts / Book Studies / Books / More Resources
Christian Engagement
Diversity is Good, Equity is Greater — “I’d also add that I wholeheartedly believe diversity is a gift. In my sphere of influence, we’d say diversity reflects the expansiveness of God’s creation and the beauty of our humanity. And my guess is that most leaders could point to diversity’s goodness, whether or not their institutions are reflections of it.” – Rev. Lisa Yebuah [Article: Approx 1 min to read]
Break the Silence — Break the silence wherever you are, using the influence you have, employing the gifts you possess. Break the silence on racism and racial injustice. In our Bible, the Divine regularly requires that we give voice. Regularly. Will you break the silence? [Article: Approx 2 min to read]
Walking Upright in an Uptight World — Pastor and author Dr. Telika McCoy preaches on Hebrews 13, focusing on leading a Christian life and walking in brotherly love. (Sermon from 16:34-31:59) [Video: 41:29]Black Christians Cannot Do This Alone — Tisby, the author of “The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism,” and Burns, lead pastor of New Dimensions Christian Center in Pensacola, Florida, talked to Religion News Service about race relations and policing and what people — including white evangelicals — need to do differently as the country faces these issues anew. [Article: approx 4 min to read]
Incarceration:
The Biblical Call for Justice: Mass Incarceration and the Role of the Church — America locks up more of its citizens than any other nation. Crime demands a response, but are we missing the mark in our pursuit of justice in America? [Article: Approx 2 min to read]
Justice System — “Biblically,” writes Gilliard, “justice is a divine act of reparation where breached relationships are renewed and victims, offenders, and communities are restored.” A justice system that is overly harsh or punitive in nature and leaves little space for redemption fails to reflect or help bring about the kingdom of God. When that system is further corrupted by financial interests and bias, the “true justice” that God talks about (Zechariah 7:9-10) is thwarted and societal shalom becomes impossible. [Video: 25:21]
History of Church: Prison Chaplains — Gilliard examines the historical pendulum of religious philosophy as it relates to prisons and prison chaplaincy in the U.S. Effects of this history are still felt today from punitive and vengeful treatment of prisoners, to programs that promote a more humane and dignified approach that embodies the witness of the love of Jesus. [Video: 14:17]
Racial Tension, Protest and Privilege
Why People Push Back on Black Lives Matter — Thabiti Anyabwile discusses how the Black Lives Matter movement is often viewed in a historical vacuum, making a distinction between the principle and the organization. [Video: 3:59]
Racial Justice Lessons from the Book of Esther — Reverend Chalice Overy shares a powerful word relating racial justice in the United States to the Old Testament book of Esther. [Video: 12:39 to 37:42]
History and Its Implications
The Color of Compromise — It’s been one year since I published my first book “The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism.” I share some of my reflections on the importance of history, the present cultural moment, and the response the book has garnered. [Video 4:14]
Podcasts
Climbing the Mountain of Injustice with Austin Channing Brown
The Evolving Faith Podcast
For episode 2, Sarah and Jeff revisit Austin Channing Brown’s bring-the-house-down sermon from Evolving Faith 2018.
Pass The Mic
The premiere podcast for The Witness BCC
Dynamic Voices For a Diverse Church
Race and the American Church
As our nation continues to struggle with racial unity, Christians are uniquely positioned to make a change.
Book Studies
Jemar Tisby
[The Color of Compromise]
[The Color of Compromise Course Guide]
Books
Becoming Brave. by Brenda Salter McNeil
In Becoming Brave, McNeil calls the church to repair the old reconciliation paradigm by moving beyond individual racism to address systemic injustice, both historical and present. It’s time for the church to go beyond individual reconciliation and “heart change” and to boldly mature in its response to racial division. [Book 208 pages]
Who Will be a Witness? by Drew Hart
Who Will Be a Witness offers a vision for communities of faith to organize for deliverance and justice in their neighborhoods, states, and nation as an essential part of living out the call of Jesus. [Book 276 pages]
Slow Kingdom Coming. by Kent Annan
All Christians are called to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly in the world. Slow Kingdom Coming will guide and strengthen you on this journey to persevere until God’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. [Book 149 pages]
Re-discipling the White Church: From cheap diversity to true solidarity. by David W. Swanson
In this simple but powerful book, Pastor David Swanson contends that discipleship, not diversity, lies at the heart of our white churches’ racial brokenness. Before white churches can pursue diversity, he argues, we must first take steps to address the faulty discipleship that has led to our segregation in the first place. [Book 214 pages]Book excerpt: Rediscipling the White Church
White Too Long. By Robert P Jones
White Too Long demonstrates how deeply racist attitudes have become embedded in the DNA of white Christian identity over time and calls for an honest reckoning with a complicated, painful, and even shameful past. Jones challenges white Christians to acknowledge that public apologies are not enough–accepting responsibility for the past requires work toward repair in the present. [Book 320 pages]
Article: How White Supremacy has Disfigured American Christianity
More Resources
The Witness. The Witness is a Black Christian collective that engages issues of religion, race, justice, and culture from a biblical perspective. [Website]
Faith in Action. Faith in Action is national community organizing network that gives people of faith the tools that they need to fight for justice and work towards a more equitable society. [Website]
John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation. This conviction that God calls us to confront injustice has guided our ministry in underserved communities over the last 60 years. It has driven us to also equip and empower Christians who share our vision to pursue biblical justice and reconciliation in their own communities. [Website]
Preaching about Racism. In Preaching about Racism, preaching professor and pastor Carolyn Helsel speaks directly to other faith leaders about how to address racism from the pulpit. She provides strategies and a theoretical framework for crafting biblical and theological sermons that incorporate insights from social sciences and psychology, gleaned from more than a decade of writing and teaching about racism. [Website]