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The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby
roxymaybe's review against another edition
5.0
Most of the book feels like a standard history of racism in America with tags of "and the church supported it," but the final section urging Christians to make actionable changes beyond just reading books and pestering their Black friends for advice is really fantastic.
dkadastra's review against another edition
4.0
A great overview of the Church's complicity in upholding (and even actively participating in) racism. Also included suggestions for how Christians can actively participate in anti-racism, and live out the gospel as it pertains to structural issues and not just personal salvation.
dkatreads's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 This truth in this book will probably shock you, frustrate you, anger you, and make you want to put it down. But truthtelling is never easy, and the history of our country and of Christianity's past and present failures is brutal one--but it's one absolutely one worth contending.
Every Christian should read and ponder through the realities in this book. They call us to a higher standard, one of critical eyes, uncompromising honesty, quickly serving hands, and a ready heart of sacrifice. As this book makes clear, we have been part of the problem. And the problem continues today. Will we stand up to our own failures and undertake the fast (Isaiah 58) he has called us to? As Tisby makes clear with grace and tact, this is what the Lord requires of us.
A couple of personal reflections:
-After listening to Tisby's podcast for over a year, I found his tone a bit more reserved and much more academic than I was used to. In various locations, I wish he had hit a bit harder, dived deeper into specific examples and implications, and more forcefully challenged the assumptions of his audience. But these were a relative few. Also, there were a few stories that I felt were particularly unfit to act as representative examples, but I recognize that the nature of his historical analysis makes it difficult to provide universally compelling examples--complicity is inherently silent, and silence is much harder to point to (altho on the other hand when you write a whole book on the subject, your examples should be compelling...). Again, just a few times, and the only reason I bumped down to 4.5
-The chapters on Jim Crow/Segregation, Civil Rights, and the Black Lives Matter era were excellent, as well as the final chapter on what to do from here.
"Therefore, we have the power, through God, to leave behind the compromised Christianity that makes its peace with racism and to live out Christ's call to a courageous faith. The time for the American church's complicity in racism has long past. It is time to cancel compromise. It is time to practice courageous Christianity."
Every Christian should read and ponder through the realities in this book. They call us to a higher standard, one of critical eyes, uncompromising honesty, quickly serving hands, and a ready heart of sacrifice. As this book makes clear, we have been part of the problem. And the problem continues today. Will we stand up to our own failures and undertake the fast (Isaiah 58) he has called us to? As Tisby makes clear with grace and tact, this is what the Lord requires of us.
A couple of personal reflections:
-After listening to Tisby's podcast for over a year, I found his tone a bit more reserved and much more academic than I was used to. In various locations, I wish he had hit a bit harder, dived deeper into specific examples and implications, and more forcefully challenged the assumptions of his audience. But these were a relative few. Also, there were a few stories that I felt were particularly unfit to act as representative examples, but I recognize that the nature of his historical analysis makes it difficult to provide universally compelling examples--complicity is inherently silent, and silence is much harder to point to (altho on the other hand when you write a whole book on the subject, your examples should be compelling...). Again, just a few times, and the only reason I bumped down to 4.5
-The chapters on Jim Crow/Segregation, Civil Rights, and the Black Lives Matter era were excellent, as well as the final chapter on what to do from here.
"Therefore, we have the power, through God, to leave behind the compromised Christianity that makes its peace with racism and to live out Christ's call to a courageous faith. The time for the American church's complicity in racism has long past. It is time to cancel compromise. It is time to practice courageous Christianity."
bngambill's review against another edition
5.0
This was such an amazing survey of church history and complicity of racism and what we can do moving forward. The book doesn't shy away from the difficulties in the church and where we, as Christians, need to address issues. Strongly recommend this book for others like myself (blonde white women who grew up in the south ...) as well as those vastly different from myself.
crazylady_usmc's review against another edition
5.0
I am an atheist, but found this book compelling and personal. It hit on the many tones, all too familiar, when growing up in Virginia and radio stations blasting Jerry Falwell. Disgusting, and unchristian was just how the church has always been and filled with racism and I applaud Jemar Tisby for his work. This is an excellent read on the perversion of faith that is still being seen today via the MAGA cultist movement. A must read on civil-rights.
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*Support your local public library*
jessieliah's review against another edition
5.0
Read this book! Great summary of the history of Christianity in America with an emphasis on the church's complicity in holding of systems of racism and oppression from the beginning of slavery to this day. He ends the book with a pratical application of what we can do to support reconcilation and reparation. I've been telling everyone about this book. Uncomfortable read and that's the point.
iamlaura's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
sydney4_5's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
5.0