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





Jemar Tisby brings us on a tour through the decades, starting in 1667 when the Virginia General Assembly encouraged masters to evangelize their slaves, without fear of having to grant them their freedom, given that "the conferring of baptism does not alter the condition of the person as to his bondage or freedom." (pg. 25).  Year piling on year, Tisby shows us how the church in America has not simply overlooked racism, but has participated in, encouraged and upheld racist practices, both explicit and entrenched. 


"What do you think," I once heard a teacher ask a group of high school students in a Christian School, "What was the better way, Martin Luther King or the Black Panthers?" Students eagerly explained that MLK definitely was better "because he was peaceful. The Black Panthers were violent, and you can't do that." 


I hoped the teacher would ask some clarifying questions, or press her students to dig a little deeper. I hoped she might point out, complex though it may be, that the Black Panthers organized free breakfast for 20,000 children and free food program for families and the elderly in addition to a plethora of other community support programs such as legal aid, sickle-cell testing, and clothing distribution. 


But she didn't. Instead the classroom became yet another place for lauding of Martin Luther King, Jr. while neglecting to mention how so many church leaders, including Billy Graham, told him to slow down, and not try to do too much too fast. Today's Evangelicals love to quote Dr. King but he is selectively quoted. But Dr. King said some hard things that still need consideration, for example, "I think we've got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard" (p. 141).


Tisby's book ends with a chapter about ways to keep learning and what to keep doing now. He writes about the ARC of racial justice--Awareness, Relationships, Commitment. Awareness--learning about the racial history of the U.S. and specific areas of where we live. Relationships--because of the long history of racial segregation, it takes work to break out of our segregated relationship areas. We're not talking about making projects out of people, or suddenly pouring out all our racial anxieties on new friends. Relationships take years to grow, but if we don't start now, when will we? 


The third component is commitment--this is the "do something" part. I love to collect books and even read lots of them, but that is just the beginning. A concern for racial justice isn't just another topic or issue, but rather a way of life. A few items on Tisby's list: write a blog post, speak with candidates about their views on racial justice, vote.


I admit I often become weary of doing. "Do better," a Facebook post on antiracism recently told me. That does not inspire me. It exhausts me, leaving me feeling guilty over and over. 


But Tisby's final paragraph is about Jesus, and that inspires me. "Jesus," he tells us, "crossed every barrier between people, including the greatest barrier of all—the division between God and humankind.  He is our peace, and because of his life, death, resurrection and coming return, those who believe in Jesus not only have God's presence with us but in us through the holy spirit. Therefore, we have power, through God, to leave behind the compromised Christianity that makes its peace with racism and to live out Christ's call to courageous faith" (p. 215).


If there are too many books on your list right now, Tisby's book is also available on Amazon Prime in 12 episodes of about 25 minutes each. Tisby loves the church. He quotes Dr. King, "There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love" (p. 19). And this is what spurs me on so much in this work--if we truly believe that we are created in God's image--all of us in all our diversity--does only one culture reflect God's image, or do we all reflectGod's image? Tisby refers to it as many facets of a diamond reflecting God's image. If we are only looking at one side of it, we won't see it all. Thus, when we are only looking at one culture, we are limited in our understanding of God. There is so much more! We pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, and the picture in heaven in Revelation 7 is all people, all tribes and tongues worshipping together at the feet of Jesus.

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