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The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby
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?
silver_and_vengeance's review against another edition
I want to read it at some point but wasn't in the right mind space to read it now.
jaytay03's review against another edition
3.0
If you want a painful history book that will make you pissed off even more at the American church, this book is for you. It was well written, but hard to read both due to the appalling content and the overabundance of facts. The final chapter gave several good actions to take, but overall I was left with a feeling of hopelessness for the American church - not through a fault of Tisby, but just because the nature of the problem.
darlinged's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
shelbs_can_try's review
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
An historical approach that outlines the complicity of racism within the Christian church within the United States. This was well organized and extremely informative. I think this book would be great introduction and first step to understanding the country's racist history through the lens of Christianity. It is a book I think every white Christian should read in their life, with an open mind and an open heart.
dstone6298's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
A great historical survey of the American Church and its complicity with racism throughout American history. Dense at times, heavy in some chapters, but a great read nonetheless. This is a must read by Tisby.
traynkat's review against another edition
Leaving unrated because while I appreciated the summation of white Christianity’s complacency with racism in the US, I am not the target audience—this will connect more with Christians/folx who were raised in the Christian church.