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4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
Both timely and timeless, this collection is more than just a mother's thoughts. It's a look into the wisdom, fear, and life experiences of a Black woman raising a son.
Holmes walks the fine line between extremists of both liberal and conservative sides, encouraging her son to do the same with grace. She's honest about her own shortcomings and about the pain others have caused. Refusing to raise a flag for an ideological camp, she instead encourages hard conversations. Take the following wisdom:
Holmes takes her own advice to heart, refusing to shy away from uncomfortable topics and positions.
If you want to cultivate greater empathy in yourself, I highly recommend this book. Even if you don't agree with everything she says, if you're open to it, you will come away with a greater understanding of the heart of a Black Christian mother.
Holmes walks the fine line between extremists of both liberal and conservative sides, encouraging her son to do the same with grace. She's honest about her own shortcomings and about the pain others have caused. Refusing to raise a flag for an ideological camp, she instead encourages hard conversations. Take the following wisdom:
I want you to transcend the cliques that we so eagerly gravitate toward and to share truth that doesn't neatly fit into our tribe's boxes because you're more interested in prizing the gospel than facilitating a peer group. That will mean disappointing people on all sides of this discussion, from those who want to make race ultimate to those who want to discount your unique struggles altogether. I want you to be transcendent and to know that your God is capable of turning hearts even when you're honest about complex truths.
Holmes takes her own advice to heart, refusing to shy away from uncomfortable topics and positions.
If you want to cultivate greater empathy in yourself, I highly recommend this book. Even if you don't agree with everything she says, if you're open to it, you will come away with a greater understanding of the heart of a Black Christian mother.
Too much religion. It’s hard when I don’t believe.
Jasmine wisely speaks on almost all of the issues in our day from a Biblical (and reformed) perspective. Race is not the chief issue we should uplift, but we should continually lift high the name of Jesus above all else. For example, she speaks of the complexity of abortion, maternal care, and infant mortality, among many other issues. “Black abortion does not happen in a vacuum. Unless you believe black mothers are more bloodthirsty, ignorant, and depraved than their white or Hispanic counterparts, there has to be something else going on behind these numbers.” Even though her family has escaped poverty and incarceration, she has a higher likelihood to during childbirth than any other ethnicity (x 300%) and her baby has a higher likelihood to die as an infant, regardless of her education. “While they wanted to save black babies from abortion, I heard very little of their plans to help save babies from the blights that plagued their communities when they were born.” “Systemic injustice is not an excuse to take the life of an unborn child. But the reasoning behind the decision to do so might take us further than picket lines and homemade signs.” She honestly communicates the complexities of Christianity and life and how it is impacted by our nation’s history. I encourage everyone to read this book to broaden their perspectives of the way that some “image bearers” are treated in our country, yet still glorify and lift high the name of Christ above all other issues. We are all “image bearers” together, regardless of all other qualities that may distinguish us.
I loved this book! Jasmine is a beautiful writer and her letters are filled with grace and understanding. Such a great read!
challenging
informative
medium-paced
This is a relevant book whether you are a parent or not. The author gives so many real life examples and historical information in her letters to her son on why things are the way they are today. In addition this is coming from a solid biblical foundation. I learned so much from this book and it has inspired me to read more and dig deeper into the topics she brings up.
When reading please acknowledge my grammar is not the best as I am dyslexic.
Being the mother of a black son this book connects with me, as I understand the fears that rest in your heart, worrying about how my son will be treated for his tall build, and brown skin.
A very lovely read
Being the mother of a black son this book connects with me, as I understand the fears that rest in your heart, worrying about how my son will be treated for his tall build, and brown skin.
A very lovely read
I'm grateful to God that I encountered this book when I did, and grateful to Jasmine Holmes for writing it. This was an edifying and Christ-exalting read. Holmes's book is powerful, honest, heart-stirring (I hadn't finished the first chapter and I was already getting choked up), and thought-provoking. In many ways Holmes's stories felt very relatable to me. I often felt like the author and I had a lot in common. Of course, there were many ways in which her stories were not relatable, and that is what made this book challenging and convicting. Jasmine Holmes is incredibly thoughtful. The gospel of Christ is central to everything she is about. In light of this shared faith, she presents a message to her son and to her readers that the world is more complex and scary than some people are comfortable admitting, and it is important that we view people not according to the neat ideological boxes we try to fit them in, but rather see them as equally complex people who are made in the image of God. I appreciate the biblical wisdom she employs in her exploration of what it means to be Black in America, and how we can seek justice in a way that honors God and shows his gracious love to everyone.
So lovely. Dripping with humility and grace, rooted in gospel truth, and full of real-life wisdom. Definitely one I'll reference again and recommend to others.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced