Conversations about racism are as important as they are hard for American Christians. Yet the conversation often gets so ugly, even among the faithful who claim unity in Jesus. Why is that the case? Why does it matter? Can things get better, or are we permanently divided? In this honest and hopeful book, pastor Isaac Adams doesn't just show you how to have the race conversation, he begins it for you. By offering a fictional, racially charged tragedy in order to understand varying perspectives and responses, he examines what is at stake if we ignore this conversation, and why there's just as much at stake in how we have that discussion, especially across color lines--that is, with people of another ethnicity. This unique approach offers insight into how to listen to one another well and seek unity in Christ. Looking to God's Word, Christians can find wisdom to speak gracefully and truthfully about racism for the glory of God, the good of their neighbors, and the building up of the church. Some feel that the time for talking is over, and that we've heard all this before. But given how polarized American society is becoming--its churches not exempt--fresh attention on the dysfunctional communication between ethnicities is more than warranted. Adams offers an invitation to faithfully combat the racism so many of us say we hate and maintain the unity so many of us say we want. Together we can learn to speak in such a way that we show a divided world a different world. Talking About Race points to the starting line, not the finish line, when it comes to following Jesus amid race relations. It’s high time to begin running.
Reviews with the most likes.
I went to a book discussion with some friends when I was out of town, and so I read the pertinent chapters. I asked a good friend of mine what she thought of this because I didn't think it was that great (I've read a lot of excellent things about race in the last few years); she commented that she thought it was a good starting point for churchgoing folk who don't believe that colorblindness is a problem, and therefore are unlikely to pick up other books on race. I can absolutely see that.
I only read part 1, and returned it to the library. Some of the chapters felt very heavy-handed, and I hated the device of Adams inventing a Black man to be killed by police as an impetus for all these conversations.
