The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism

by Jemar Tisby

In August of 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, calling on all Americans to view others not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Yet King included another powerful word, one that is often overlooked. Warning against the "tranquilizing drug of gradualism," King emphasized the fierce urgency of now, the need to resist the status quo and take immediate action.

King's call to action, first issued over fifty years ago, is relevant for the church in America today. Churches remain racially segregated and are largely ineffective in addressing complex racial challenges. In The Color of Compromise, Jemar Tisby takes us back to the root of this injustice in the American church, highlighting the cultural and institutional tables we have to flip in order to bring about progress between black and white people.

Tisby provides a unique survey of American Christianity's racial past, revealing the concrete and chilling ways people of faith have worked against racial justice. Understanding our racial history sets the stage for solutions, but until we understand the depth of the malady we won't fully embrace the aggressive treatment it requires. Given the centuries of Christian compromise with bigotry, believers today must be prepared to tear down old structures and build up new ones. This book provides an in-depth diagnosis for a racially divided American church and suggests ways to foster a more equitable and inclusive environment among God's people.

• ISBN10: 0310597269
• ISBN13: 9780310597261
• Publish Date: 7 February 2019 (first published 22 January 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 13 October 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: Zondervan
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[merryfaith]

Such an important read. The bulk of it is the history of the American Church's complicity in racism (as the book's subtitle accurately denotes), and most of it was brand new to me. There are chapters on more current events and action steps for Christians as well. I really hope churches consider reading this with their congregations in small groups, or a least watching the amazon prime lectures. It's an interesting read to do alone, as I did, but I can see this as a great resource for faith institutions and communities. Anyway, if you're thinking of reading this, you should.