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8 reviews for:
Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race. Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us.
Benjamin Watson
4.58 AVERAGE
8 reviews for:
Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race. Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us.
Benjamin Watson
4.58 AVERAGE
Wow. I appreciated this book so much. It's written by Benjamin Watson (with Ken Peterson), who is a tight end at the time of the writing with the New Orleans Saints (also played for the Patriots, the Ravens, and the Browns). At the time of the Ferguson riots, Watson wrote a facebook post that went viral. In the post he talked about his feelings about the riots, about race, about the policeman being acquitted. He then expanded on that post and turned it into a book.
As long as we don't try to understand where each other is coming from, we'll continue to have race problems. Mr Watson does a great job of helping white people understand what life is like for black people in America. But he also talks frankly to black people. He talks a lot about how essentially our DNA is the same; the only difference between us physically is the amount of melanin in our skin. As he says, we don't have a skin problem, we have a sin problem.
Mr Watson has so much common sense, gentle firmness, and compassion for all. He presents the problems, but he also offers solutions.
As long as we don't try to understand where each other is coming from, we'll continue to have race problems. Mr Watson does a great job of helping white people understand what life is like for black people in America. But he also talks frankly to black people. He talks a lot about how essentially our DNA is the same; the only difference between us physically is the amount of melanin in our skin. As he says, we don't have a skin problem, we have a sin problem.
Mr Watson has so much common sense, gentle firmness, and compassion for all. He presents the problems, but he also offers solutions.
A book that grew out of a viral Facebook post. Sadly, still relevant today. Watson is honest but hopeful, with no excuses for how his faith informs his perspective. Would probably be a good title for teens to read and discuss.
I found this book a bit of a struggle to get through to be honest. It felt a bit all over the place although to be fair I think that’s how I often feel about these issues most of the time. It was interesting to delve into the perspective of the author, and I appreciate his attempts at honesty and nuance where possible. It does demonstrate how the issues are complex and multi-faceted (especially when considering the aspects of legacy and perception - a good example was the exchange between him and a white friend who asked why he entered his uni program: that was not meant in racist way but was perceived as such by the author). I agree with the idea of a sin issue over a skin issue, and that evil wears the cloak of racism but the issues become so difficult when you factor in the above angles and examples. However overall I agree with the idea of graceful discourse and relationship building, and an eternal perspective.
This book was so good for me. In Under Our Skin, Benjamin Watson provides an earnest snapshot of what life is like as a black person in America - hard things he has dealt with throughout his life and every day, things that had never even crossed my mind. And in all that, he still maintains a balanced, biblical, grace-oriented response. Benjamin Watson never fails to impress me, this book included. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone, black or white. I think we can all learn something from this.
Easy to read. Hard to swallow. Ben Watson is very level-headed and even-handed in his discussion of racism in America. He rightly identifies that the seeds of racism exist in all of us of every race because we are all sinful at heart and apt to rank ourselves above others. Gospel-focused. Great read.
This was an excellent and quick read. Every person who calls themself a Christian should be reading this book. It was truly enlightening to read about the ways that blacks are continually prejudiced against in daily life, even years after segregation ended. Much of these claims were backed up with facts and personal experience.
This is one of the best books I have read recently. While I call myself a Christian, I believe that there needs to be a tangible way to direct racial dialogue and take action if we truly want to see change. I thought at first this book would focus too much on “letting God change our hearts and that’s how we’ll solve racial tensions.” This is an important message, but it is backed up very well.
This is one of the best books I have read recently. While I call myself a Christian, I believe that there needs to be a tangible way to direct racial dialogue and take action if we truly want to see change. I thought at first this book would focus too much on “letting God change our hearts and that’s how we’ll solve racial tensions.” This is an important message, but it is backed up very well.
This is a must read. He can see multiple sides, but his passion for justice is not watered down.
“We are beautifully different. But we are commonly human.”
This book untwisted a lot of what has become twisted up in my mind as I see the results of hate all around me. As I read each chapter a myriad of emotions were validated: anger, embarrassment, frustration, confusion, fear... to name a few!
Racism is alive and well, but as Benjamin Watson so truthfully puts it - it’s not a skin problem, it’s a sin problem. We focus so much of our energy on the skin, that we are blinded to the sin.
Reading this book helped me to look intensely within and see that I have biases and prejudices that have been shaped through a variety of experiences. If I’m going to be part of the solution, I have to own up to the part I play in the problem, and surrender to only One who can make any real difference.
If you’ve ever felt like this problem of racism is just so big to handle and wondered how you could make a difference. Start here, with this book... ultimately real change starts with each individual!
This book untwisted a lot of what has become twisted up in my mind as I see the results of hate all around me. As I read each chapter a myriad of emotions were validated: anger, embarrassment, frustration, confusion, fear... to name a few!
Racism is alive and well, but as Benjamin Watson so truthfully puts it - it’s not a skin problem, it’s a sin problem. We focus so much of our energy on the skin, that we are blinded to the sin.
Reading this book helped me to look intensely within and see that I have biases and prejudices that have been shaped through a variety of experiences. If I’m going to be part of the solution, I have to own up to the part I play in the problem, and surrender to only One who can make any real difference.
If you’ve ever felt like this problem of racism is just so big to handle and wondered how you could make a difference. Start here, with this book... ultimately real change starts with each individual!