by Katie Boland

Jemar Tisby says, "Fighting racism does not consist of a set of isolated actions that you take; rather these actions must flow from an entire disposition that is oriented toward racial justice. We have to reposition ourselves spiritually, emotionally, culturally, intellectually, and politically to address the myriad ways that racism manifests itself in the present day. Racial justice is a lifestyle not an agenda item." or to put it another way, "Fighting racism is not just about how it changes the world; it's also about how it changes you." I have certainly found this to be true in my own life.

This book uses a practical framework to look at fighting racism through - awareness, relationships and commitment (the ARC model). Many people right now are becoming more aware and reading lots of books and thinking of racism in an academic framework. Tisby challenges us that this is not theoretical to Black people and it shouldn't be to Christians who see the intersection of racial justice and God's heart. But he also doesn't see this as a progression from awareness to relationships to commitment. He urges us to be moving through these three areas all the time to be looking at each circumstance and our own heart to determine appropriate ways to get involved - awareness, relationships or commitment..

Sadly, we are all too aware that white Christians become "defacto defenders of an unjust status quo" by not getting involved in social justice or being unwilling to be public about their feelings. Christians claim to love their neighbor and thus should be concerned about systems that enable or inhibit the flourishing of their neighbors. If this is where you are (aware of God's calling to love but unsure what to do about it), then this is the book for you.

Jemar Tisby smartly stays away from inflammatory language that many others are using in this debate. He clearly and carefully lays out his positions and introduces practical next steps. Christians who are reluctant to "get involved" will be forced in reading this to at least consider a different perspective.

The last section of the book challenges people to consider actions that are not easy and to step into the category of substantive activism. He believes that taking on the systems that have created inequity makes us more Christlike and following the heart that God has for those created in His image. I found it to be clear and compelling.