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The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby
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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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.
sydney4_5's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
5.0
aggressive_nostalgia's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
5.0
awilsonmomof2's review against another edition
1.0
There were things I really liked about this book and thing s I really disliked about it. (I read this with a “book club” and honestly would have quit if it wasn’t for that). I liked how he pointed out that oppression plus indifference will increase oppression. (And he defines racism as a system of oppression based on race). I love that he pointed us to the Bible early on to explain (pg 23) that “reconciliation across racial and ethnic lines is not something Christians must achieve but a reality we must receive.” But this doesn’t jive with his underlying theme of this book, stated many times: racism never goes away; it just adapts (pg 19, 110).
As Mr. Tisby works his way through American church history it is saddening to focus on the many times when the church could have stood up against racism but didn’t. And this is the purpose of this book: to show American church’s complicity in racism. He does a good job. While his narrative is often one-sided (especially as he moves closer to modern times) and he is lumping “the church” all together in a way that I find inaccurate, even if ½ of it were true, the evidence is still pretty condemning.
If we accept his premise the racism never goes away, then the church is forced to act. He states “Nowadays, all the American church needs to do in terms of compromise is cooperate with already established and racially unequal social systems.” (pg 160). This is assuming that there still are these unequal social systems. (And who is defining that ?)
Honestly, I was welcoming the final chapters and wanted to hear his suggestions on how we are to move forward. While he did briefly talk about the importance of relationships (ARC) is was basically negated when he said, “friendships and conversations are necessary, but they are not sufficient to change the racial status quo.” (pg 193) He said it was fear holding us back. But I wonder if this is true. What is the meaning of the Church? (Yes, capital C). Are we called to focus on this or are we called to take the Good News of Jesus to the world?
I think the section I have the most problems with is his encouragement regarding the Black Lives Matter movement. He clearly states (pg 180) that many Christians have rejected this phrase because of the organization. He states that since they are not a faith-base organization, many Christians are rejecting them. Maybe they are rejecting them because of the organization’s anti-Christian beliefs and goals? Local or not, meeting in a church or not, is this an organization that lines up with a Biblical worldview?
As Mr. Tisby works his way through American church history it is saddening to focus on the many times when the church could have stood up against racism but didn’t. And this is the purpose of this book: to show American church’s complicity in racism. He does a good job. While his narrative is often one-sided (especially as he moves closer to modern times) and he is lumping “the church” all together in a way that I find inaccurate, even if ½ of it were true, the evidence is still pretty condemning.
If we accept his premise the racism never goes away, then the church is forced to act. He states “Nowadays, all the American church needs to do in terms of compromise is cooperate with already established and racially unequal social systems.” (pg 160). This is assuming that there still are these unequal social systems. (And who is defining that ?)
Honestly, I was welcoming the final chapters and wanted to hear his suggestions on how we are to move forward. While he did briefly talk about the importance of relationships (ARC) is was basically negated when he said, “friendships and conversations are necessary, but they are not sufficient to change the racial status quo.” (pg 193) He said it was fear holding us back. But I wonder if this is true. What is the meaning of the Church? (Yes, capital C). Are we called to focus on this or are we called to take the Good News of Jesus to the world?
I think the section I have the most problems with is his encouragement regarding the Black Lives Matter movement. He clearly states (pg 180) that many Christians have rejected this phrase because of the organization. He states that since they are not a faith-base organization, many Christians are rejecting them. Maybe they are rejecting them because of the organization’s anti-Christian beliefs and goals? Local or not, meeting in a church or not, is this an organization that lines up with a Biblical worldview?