Reviewed by Vicki Foreman
The author takes us on a journey to monuments and landmarks that tell the story of slavery in America. Some are honest in their story telling and some are not, but each provide a deeply insightful look at the impact slavery had and continues to have on our country. There are seven stops along the journey, and each is delivered in compelling narrative that keeps the reader engaged long after they thought it might be time for bed.
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.
by David Brooks
Reviewed by: Vicki Foreman
In a culture where we seem to be divided by ideological labels wouldn't it be healing to toss labels and connect with others with respect, consideration, and curiosity? David Brooks' book, How to Know a Person, offers a guide to being "open-hearted" and learning to deeply know another person and to be deeply seen. Currently, as a society, our social skills are inadequate to the task. Brooks argues that we can learn the skills to connect with others, to learn from their perspectives, to make others feel valued and understood, and in turn find something of larger value in ourselves.
Our stories matter in understanding each other. Our families, our culture, our personalities, our sorrows and joys are far more complex than neat labels. Learning to ask open-ended questions, listening to understand, and looking for the richness and depth of another person are essential in breaking down misunderstanding and broadening our own perspectives and potential for joyful relationships.
Reviewed by Pam Hinrichs
Just Action is a follow-up to The Color of Law, written by Richard Rothstein. The Color of Law has been called a landmark work. It described and documented how Federal, State, and local governments purposefully implemented comprehensive racist housing policies and segregation well into the latter part of the 20th century and the consequences of those policies and laws that continue into the present. It is not necessary to read The Color of Law before Just Action because Just Action contains an excellent concise summary of The Color of Law.
Reviewed by: Heather Hedlund
In the words of the author, "This book tells the story of the man who, in a career that spanned a mere thirteen years, brought the nation closer than it had ever been to reckoning with the reality of having treated people as property and secondary citizens." Eig does not shy away from presenting a complicated portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr. He writes, "King was a man, not a saint, not a symbol." Eig makes use of a multitude of recently available material as well as hundreds of interviews to help us get a more complete picture of King.
As I read this book, I found myself thinking about the challenges of leadership. Something that I admire and try to emulate was King's dedication to making sure that his civil rights actions were consistent with his Christian ethics. His unwavering commitment to nonviolence and his insistence on loving enemies were rooted in his faith in Jesus. I also took some comfort in seeing some of the chaos behind the movement. From the outside, it can seem like all their actions were well-thought-out and part of a master strategic plan, but often it seemed that they didn't know what to do and were making it up as they went along. His wife Coretta shared that as the civil rights movement began to change, he became very depressed because he felt like people expected him to have a creative solution and he didn't. "He said people expect me to have answers and I don't have any answers." That was reassuring because I feel that way too, sometimes.
Reviewed by Anthony Ballard
Any Christian who has spent time engaging in racial justice work has been told to "just preach the Gospel."
When a friend of mine told me to "just preach the Gospel" it panged me because I knew that preaching the Gospel was the most important message of the Christian faith. I believed racial justice was a key part of the Gospel, however, all I really knew about the Gospel was that it leads to personal salvation. I felt stuck. So, I began to ask the question, what is the Gospel and how does it have something to say about the movement for racial justice?
This led me to a rereading of the Gospels and seeking supporting resources about the Kingdom of God.
Reviewed by Grace Brown
For an entire page in this book the author repeats over and over: "Can we love one another's children?"
The answer to this question is what the author is trying to answer in writing about her own experiences as a white mom sending her white kids to their locally zoned diverse Oakland neighborhood public school. This book, written in stories and streams of consciousness, is just a book of experiences. Through it, the author grapples (struggles) with her privilege, her choices, her decisions, her whys and hows. As the reader, we witness the author's love grow and expand for her neighborhood, her children's school, and ultimately, one another's children.
by Nancy Gibson
Summary
"Patrick Reyes shares his story of how the community around him…saved him from gang life, abuse and the economic and racial oppression that threatened to kill him before he ever reached adulthood. Nobody Cries When We Die takes you to the places that make American society flinch, redefines what you are called to do with your life, and gives you strength to save lives and lead in your own community." [Summary from Amazon.com]
Meaningful Quote
"We Latinx are conditioned by the violence of a colonial world that has rendered us a people without a history, without an identity, without significance."
Key Takeaway
This book helped me to better understand the lived experience of many people in our society. I realize that I need to do better at listening to people's stories and experiences, rather than just trying to help (or judge) based on my own perceptions.
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