The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance

by Jemar Tisby

If you did a historical survey of racism in the United States, the overarching theme would be one of compromise and complicity. These uncomfortable realities of the past have been too often minimized or outright denied, and they must be shared in order to have a full accounting of the truth.

But there's more to the story of Christianity than merely the failure of its adherents to confront racism.

Just as there were those who created and perpetuated racist ideas and actions, there were those who resisted them. The Spirit of Justice reveals the stories of the people who fought against racism and agitated for justice--all in the name of their faith. Through a historical survey of the nation from its founding to the present day, this book gives real-world examples of people who opposed racism, how they did it, what it cost, and what they gained for themselves and others.

The Spirit of Justice is a book about the eternal wellspring of hope that helps a people break the bonds of oppression and inspires a legacy of liberation. It is a book about how we, too, can unleash the spirit of justice.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Social Justice, Race, Justice, Faith, Christianity

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Jemar Tisby is president and co-founder of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective. He has written about race, religion, and culture for The Washington Post, CNN, Vox, Christianity Today and The New York Times. He is the co-host of the Pass The Mic podcast, which is frequently rated as one of the top 100 religion and faith podcasts on iTunes. Tisby is a PhD student in history at the University of Mississippi, studying race and religion in the 20th century, and he has spoken to thousands at colleges, conferences, and churches across the country on such topics as “Understanding the Heart Cry of Black Lives Matter,” “The Historical Politics of Race in America,” and “The Image of God and the Minority Experience.” In 2017, the Religion News Association recognized him for excellence in student religion reporting for his articles on the police-related killings of unarmed black citizens. https://thewitnessbcc.com

Reviews

[Richard Propes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would likely be less than honest if I said that Jemar Tisby's "The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance" is a pleasure read, though it was, for me, a deviation from my pattern of primarily writing for review in favor of reading an author whose books I find fiercely compelling and books that I read simply because they are meaningful to me.

"The Spirit of Justice" is a more academic book than perhaps we've read from Tisby previously, though it's worth noting that Tisby is, in fact, an academic whose relentless research is often masked by his relatable writing style. "The Spirit of Justice" is more pointed, an extensively researched book offering both historical survey and cultural insights into the history of racism in the United States and a dominating theme of compromise and complicity.

Grounded largely within faith, "The Spirit of Justice" explores both those who created and/or perpetuated racist ideas/actions and those who resisted them. "The Spirit of Justice" serves up example after example of people who fought against racism and sought justice in the name of their faith. Tisby takes us from the early days of the nation through present day and with remarkable candor gives undeniable and often profound examples of how people opposed racism, the price they paid, and what was gained for themselves and others.

If it seems as if "The Spirit of Justice" is heavy, well, that's certainly partly true. Truthfully, I found much light and hope within the pages of Tisby's writing as he writes to inspire a renewed desire for liberation and guides us toward unleashing a renewed spirit of justice.

I read "The Spirit of Justice" while I was wheeling across Indiana raising money to eliminate medical debt - and, yes, I mean "wheeling." (I'm a wheelchair user). Tisby's words informed, inspired, and called me into something bigger and these true stories deeply moved and challenged me while always returning me to a sense of hope.

While the tone here is somewhat different for Tisby, the mission is definitely all Tisby and fans of Tisby should easily find much to love within the pages of "The Spirit of Justice," a book that demands to be read slowly and thoughtful and then put into action.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's funny to read this so close to Sharon McMahon's The Small and the Mighty. It's similar -- vignettes from the lives of many people who pursued social justice -- but the reader doesn't get as deep into the lives of people included, since the stories of each person are shorter.

It was a little heavy-handed on the phrase "the spirit of justice", which repeated many times, but I appreciated seeing American history through a Black, Christian lens, and reading about the many Black people whose faith inspired them to pursue racial justice.

[Zach Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Before engaging in the work that put their jobs, safety, and lives on the line, people prayed, sang, and worshiped.”

[Corrie Haffly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Jemar Tisby’s first two books for adults, The Color of Compromise and How to Fight Racism, have been incredibly influential in my racial awareness and racial justice journey. His newly released third book, The Spirit of Justice, gives inspiration for how to persevere in the fight against racism. Dr. Tisby sifts through American history and highlights stories of people who showed an indomitable “spirit of justice” and persevered in seeking freedom, equality, and racial justice. Black, white, male, female — many of these historical figures were new to me, although I found many more familiar names in the chapter about current authors, activists, and artists. I especially loved the thrilling story of Robert Smalls, who stole a Confederate ship and sailed over a dozen other enslaved people to freedom, and learning about Jarena Lee, the first woman preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal church. This is a valuable book for anyone who wants to find encouragement and inspiration in the long, hard work of racial justice.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggle with how to rate Jamar Tisby's "The Spirit of Justice." On the one hand, I think every pastor ought to read Tisby's book, or one like it. Tisby's book begins with those first enslaved in Africa and shares stories of the people who fought against slavery and racism for the cause of justice. His intention is to inspire and to teach us from their suffering, words, and courage.

Tisby does some in compact form. He keeps us moving, introducing the reader to new figures and sharing fresh insights into figures you are familiar with. Tisby writes, "The Spirit of justice is always at work to inspire followers of Christ to undertake acts of liberation and bear witness to the good news of their savior."

While I disagree with Tisby on the application of these lessons, that isn't the cause of the poor rating. The poor rating comes from the frustration of the form of historiography Tisby employs. I understand that Tisby wants to inspire and challenge our political and theological preconceptions, but he does so with a heavy hand and hagriographical accounts of those he shares. Instead of three dimensional figures with their own sin issues, we get glossed over accounts that downplay or ignore the warts and create two dimensional figures of those they challenged. Take, for instance, Tisby's conflation of contemporary evangelicalism into the group who stormed the capital on January 6, 2021. It's not only an uncharitable depiction of contemporary American evangelicalism, the straw-manning pushes the reader away.

I continue to try to grow in my understanding of this area and will continue to do so, but my hope is that authors like Tisby can hold a hand out to readers like myself and offer more nuance.

For more see thebeehive.live

[Mandi Ehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to love this one, but it was a bit drier — and like a textbook — than I expected after Tisby’s other books. An important book, absolutely, but I’m afraid my mind wandered and it took me longer to get through it than it should have.

[Kate Kelts · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Fantastic stories of courage - many I'd never heard before
2. Thoughtful & intelligent analysis of racism in America both historical historically and today
3. Particularly enjoyed the stories of black women!

[Meredith Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, inspiring stories of people led by their faith to promote justice.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A window into the lives and heroic actions of people across generations pursuing and empowered by justice.

[Timothy Hoiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The historian Jemar Tisby’s essential and challenging 2019 book The Color of Compromise is the story of “the American church’s complicity in racism” from pre-revolutionary times to the present day. Now, in The Spirit of Justice he tells an equally important story: how women and men throughout United States history have courageously and sacrificially sought racial justice as a faithful embodiment of their Christians convictions.

“In the United States, the Black church stands as the clearest demonstration that Christianity is not the white man’s religion,” Tisby writes. “Highlighting Black Christians in a historical exploration of the struggle against racism makes sense because the Black Christian tradition arose as an explicit refutation of racism and white supremacy.”

Read more at timhoiland.com

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history in here. Well read audiobook

[Doug Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and challenging stories of freedom.

I've followed Jemar Tisby on social media for many year. When I saw that his next book, "True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance" was available for pre-order, I knew I wanted it for my library. Tisby begins with the history of slavery in America and the rise of racism and then identifies everyday black Americans who, through courage, advance the antiracist cause in our country.

The biographical stories of faithful men and women who fought for freedom and the dignity and rights of black Americans is inspiring and challenging. I greatly appreciate the historical aspect of Dr. Tisby's book and how we can advance antiracist goals in our country today. As a lifelong Marylander, I was inspired by the story of Marylander Benjamin Banneker.

The rise of white supremacy in our country today demonstrates the need to be vigilant in our opposition to racism and advocacy for the dignity of all humanity. Jemar Tisby inspires and challenges with these inspirational biographical stories.

The audiobook is narrated by the author and the narration is excellent.

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Stories of resistance.

This is a natural next book for Jemar Tisby. His first book was a survey of the ways that the church in the US has been complicit with racism. The second book was a response to the question, "What should we do now" that he kept getting from people who read the first book. And this third book is designed as inspiration for continuing to work for justice.

I am fairly well-read in civil rights history and there were both well-known figures and people I did not know here. The balance between the known and the unknown (or lesser known) was good. You can't ignore major figures like Martin Luther King Jr, but in some ways, those figures are less inspiring because they have become "saints" of the movement. The lesser-known figures I think are more inspiring because they worked toward justice without becoming well-known.

That isn't to say those lesser-known people are less important. Part of what Tisby is doing is bringing balance to the story. There is a whole chapter on women of the civil rights movement, not because they were completely unknown but because the sexism of the time impacted how we tell stories today. And many behind-the-scenes figures were essential to the organizational and movement-building work that allowed the well-known people to become well-known.

Immediately after finishing The Spirit of Justice, I picked up a new biography of John Lewis. Lewis was well known by his death, but part of what the biography illustrated was the long arc of that fame. Lewis spoke at the 1963 March on Washington, but that was after having led the Nashville student movement and then SNCC. But when he left SNCC leadership, he was only 26. He had several completely separate careers after that. He headed the Voter Education Project for 7 years, and under his leadership VEP registered an estimated 4 million people. He also spent several years working for the federal government in the Carter administration, six years on the Atlanta city council, and 34 years in Congress.

I bring up John Lewis because as well known as he is today, had he done any one of the many things (Freedom Rider, Nashville sit-in movement, SNCC leadership, SCLS board member, voting rights advocate, Selma Marcher, and a main mover of the remembrance of the Selma March, he may not be well-known. But whether he was well-known or not, his contributions mattered.

And that is why The Spirit of Justice matters. This is a book of inspiration to know those who have done the work to bring about the progress toward justice that has been accomplished thus far. While not every person is primarily known as a Christian, the reality is that justice, especially around racial issues in the US has been historically rooted in the Black Church. Most of the figures in The Spirit of Justice were themselves shaped by and a member of the Black Church. There were a lot of complaints about the Color of Compromise not telling the stories of how the church worked toward justice. Those complaints missed the point of the book in highlighting how the church was compromised. The Spirit of Justice now highlights the stories of those who worked for justice. And I think contextually important, it records how often those stories of justice were opposed by other members of the church in the United States.

This post was originally on my blog at https://bookwi.se/spirit-of-justice/

[Chris Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago, when the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) first opened on the National Mall, a friend and I organized a group visit through the Virginia Theological Seminary’s Lifelong Learning Program. My friend, Riley, is an African American, and I let him take the lead once we had the group gathered inside the museum. Riley taught all of us a valuable lesson through his leadership: he had us start our visit up to the 4th floor, where all of the cultural contributions of the formerly enslaved peoples are collected and celebrated. Riley told us that starting upstairs gives you the reality of how people survived the horrors of the years of kidnapping, Middle Passage, enslavement, Civil War, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights movements, and systemic oppression.

Dr. Jemar Tisby’s book, The Spirit of Justice, is fashioned similarly to Riley’s guide through the NMAAHC. From the earliest pages, he shows us the passion, power, and determination of so many people who lived in dire circumstances, and yet STILL managed to be beacons of hope and justice for their people. While telling the story of how Black Christians galvanized the very spirit of justice, Tisby offers all of us lessons in resilience.

The book is ordered chronologically and focuses on the role the Black Church played in offering includes some of the more well-known figures of African American history. But the truly remarkable information is from the less well-known people who had a similar impact on groups of people, and whose stories deserve much broader play. After just a few chapters, you begin to realize how much pain and joy Tisby must have encountered in his research. Joy is what you remember most, however. At least, it’s what I remember most.

Take this one excerpt about Phillis Wheatley, the first enslaved woman to publish a book of poetry, in 1773! This represents how Tisby links the challenges and difficulties with the hope and strength of the humans involved.

Wheatley’s poetry reflects the spiritual maze Africans in America had to navigate. Even as they heard about the love of God, they learned religion through the filter of white supremacy and race-based chattel slavery. They learned about a Jesus who loved you more if you adopted European customs and culture and a God who cared deeply for their eternal salvation but not for their physical liberation. Such a culturally convoluted Christianity comes through in Wheatley’s poetry, yet the spirit of justice spills forth as well. We hear the spirit in her ever-present desire for freedom, in her subversive use of the arts to upend notions of Black inferiority, and in her unwavering faith in a God who remains active in human affairs. (from Chapter Three, The Language of Liberty)

Sometimes we can best see where God has worked in history by looking backwards. This is what Dr. Tisby has done for all of us. The love of God that each of these people relied on and shared is what mattered to them and to us. The Spirit of Justice reminds us that, as St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians, “Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three. And the greatest of these is love.”

I am a white, Christian woman. I knew of some of the people whose stories Tisby offers as examples of the “spirit of justice,” but not all of them. I am immensely grateful for his efforts pulling together this work that celebrates the important role of Black Americans and the Black Church.

The book dropped today. Get it at your favorite bookstore or online. It deserves to be highlighted and dog-eared.

[Mary Anne]

4.5 STARS

How this book ended up on my TBR: My awesome library put this book out on its "newly published books for your perusing while you check out" table. Of course I had to snag it. I've not read anything by Tisby prior to this book, though he's now on my radar.

This book begins and ends with an immense historical figure: Merlie Evers-Williams, whose first husband, Medgar Evers, was killed by a white supremacist. Evers-Williams herself was part of the civil rights movement and has consistently commemorated the memory of her husband. The movement never really ended, because racism has adapted with time. When speaking about the movement more recently, Evers-Williams says the following: "But it's something about the spirit of justice that raises up like a war horse. That horse that stands with its back sunk in and hears that bell--I'd like to say the 'bell of freedom' And all of a sudden, it becomes straight, and the back becomes stiff. And you become determined all over again."

If there is an argument in this book (and I think there is), it's that it's important to acknowledge the role that faith has played in the lives of so many who have fought racism in the US. But more than that, their faith actually inspired them to participate, to resist. Such an argument should not be entirely surprising to anyone who has followed any segment of the civil rights movement. Black churches have been integral to creating and sustaining black communities. Tisby goes a bit further to provide more historical context before the 1960s as well as crafting a bridge to 2024 and how the fight for equality rages on today in different forms. It's interesting to see how Tisby organizes the book, which figures are mentioned in particular chapters. It makes sense, unsurprisingly, to see a chapter on Martin Luther King, Jr; I like how Tisby talked about appropriation and clarifying why King was such an instrumental figure. He didn't have to go into as much depth, and while this wasn't a memoir of King, I do wish Tisby had elaborated a little more on how King and the movement went together; King was at least somewhat pressured to take and continue his prominent role. As many have mentioned, I also really liked the chapters on the women in the movement. I learned a ton about some very powerful women, and there were women scattered in other chapters as well.

I found the chapters to be succinct and well-written, providing just enough information about each subject and historical moment. Another reviewer mentioned the rather constant repetition of "spirit of justice", and that did feel a little heavy-handed. The last major chapter is a collection of more recent publications and was thus a little hard to read as a chapter per se; this could have been a section of recommendations. I will say that I very much wanted to read the biographies of Merlie Evers-Williams, Anna Julia Cooper, and Ida B. Wells (who is only briefly mentioned, sadly but understandably). What made this book so unique was the important role that faith played for all of the people mentioned in the book, how it's not possible to compartmentalize different parts of one's identity. In the end, these people had to care so much about their faith to put themselves in terrific danger to do the right thing. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone.

--

PS. If you all ever go to The StoryGraph, let's be friends there! Here's my profile.

[Erin Isgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jemar Tisby's writing and speaking and podcasting. Being able to take academic and historical information and present it in an engaging and applicable way is a hard-earned skilled, and he's so very good at it. Through a variety of fields and time periods, Dr. Tisby shares about people who combined their faith in God with a passion for justice. I loved learning more about some faithful individuals throughout American history I'd previously been educated about, and I especially loved being introduced to so many more that I'd never heard of before. I especially appreciated the multitude of women Dr. Tisby included--I'm so inspired by their example!

"[Prathia] Hall summarized her sense of calling to social justice and a lifetime of activism by saying that every time a person willingly took the risk of standing up against racism, 'that was a religious statement, as profoundly religious as saying a prayer or doing any kind of religious discipline.' Hall understood what many other people of faith in the movement would come to realize--worship did not begin or end in the hallowed halls of a church sanctuary. Faith had to be lived. It had to be exercised in the face of risk, danger, and uncertainty. What we call the spirit of justice, Prathia Hall called 'freedom faith'--God's work through the community of faith 'to set the oppressed free' (Luke 4:18).

***

"America has the laws and the material resources it takes to ensure justice for all its people. What it lacks is the heart, the humanity, the Christian love that it would take." ~Shirley Chisholm

***

"There is a relentless drive in human beings, both inward and transcendent, that demands dignity and propels our progress--it is the spirit of justice. It is the conviction to continue the struggle no matter the odds or the obstacles. It is the heartbeat of people who hunger and thirst for righteousness. It will not concede. It will not let the evil of racism and inhumanity prevail. It will not quit until justice rolls down like a river...

"The spirit of justice is a force for liberation. It inspires strength in those who understand that they must play a part in making the world kinder and more equitable. The spirit of justice animates action. It molds hearts and strengthens hands for the work of correcting oppression. It keeps weary feet moving on the protest path. It uplifts the souls of those persecuted for the sake of righteousness. It is finding your second, third...fiftieth wind as an aged activist, pushing further for just a bit more progress.

"The spirit of justice is reflected in the human spirit, the indomitable will of oppressed people everywhere to rise up and throw off the burden of injustice...

"However, the work of the spirit of justice is not confined to the past. Nor is it the privilege of a single group or individual. The spirit of justice belongs to all of us. We must learn to recognize the work of the spirit of justice so we too can continue the struggle against racism in our generation."

[Mark Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book Jemar Tisby provides a special inside look into the historical and personal experiences of African Americans that is not always included in other accounts of the people and events covered. Additional personal perspectives are presented of those in the abolitionist movement through Harriet Tubman and Robert Smalls through Civil Rights martyrs such as Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King and through to the 21st Century. For those already familiar with these events and people, Tisby further brings them alive as persons and not just as academic accounts in history.

Tisby deliberately highlights and emphasizes the spiritual aspects of the people he chronicles as central to their motivation and actions—everyone may relax on that point as Tisby does not proselytize. The spiritual aspects of the persons and events presented may be considered objectively central to the theme of the book, the title of which implies "spiritual" in the religious (especially Christian) sense. This perspective provides a view into the Black church and its joining of faith and justice into an essential whole of life's meaning that those outside that tradition may not have encountered previously.

The "spirit" of justice as presented by Tisby is therefore a necessary precondition for the actual accomplishment of justice. This is not at all limited to a Black and white binary viewpoint. Tisby lists several organizations across racial and cultural boundaries that are working toward practical justice with a spiritual motivation—among those mentioned are Vote Common Good, Faithful America, and the Jude 3 Project. These are all active 21st Century efforts by people who are fully aware of the obstacles in front of them and the need to resist evil in its contemporary forms.

Tisby suggests that the four common traits of the persons described in this book are Faith, Courage, Imagination, and Resilience. These traits are essential to right the ship in our own era. The impetus for injustice has a long history, starting with the Doctrine of Discovery through the convoluted justifications for slavery through embedded echoes of the Roman Empire throughout Christendom today that have precious little to do with the Nazarene. As the world spirals deeper into Fascism and oligarchic dominance, the spirit of justice may be an essential foundation from which to counter the rampant disinformation that society is marinated in. Let us claim it for sustainment and action.

[Randi Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often joke that I enjoy reading “cotton candy” - books that are just fun, lighthearted reads. This is anything but that.

The Spirit of Justice is a powerful compilation of stories and perspectives that shine an overdue light the often-overlooked stories of individuals who have resisted racism and pursued justice in the United States from the 1600s to today. Through compelling storytelling, the book traces the legacy of those who have agitated for change—not only by challenging unjust systems but by embodying a deeper, more faithful vision of what it means to love one's neighbor. Their suffering, courage, strategies, and unrelenting hope give you both a historical education and a spiritual challenge.

For those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ, The Spirit of Justice is especially vital. It holds a mirror to the Church's complex role in America's racial history. While it does not shy away from the reality that many Christians and Christian institutions have upheld and benefited from systems of oppression, it also gives voice to a long line of faithful believers who have walked in the footsteps of Jesus by standing with the marginalized and calling out injustice. Their lives are reminders that true discipleship requires more than personal piety; it demands active love, solidarity, and truth-telling.

White people (white Christians, in particular) should absolutely read this book. It is not an easy read—but it is a necessary one. We cannot heal what we do not acknowledge. Understanding America‘s (and the Church’s) complicated and painful history with people of color is part of the work of repentance, reconciliation, and transformation.

It is not enough to simply not be racist. Passive decency in the face of injustice is not virtue—it is avoidance. Those of us with privilege, whether by race, position, gender, or platform, carry a responsibility not only to refrain from harm but to actively amplify the voices of those who have been silenced, ignored, or pushed to the margins. To remain silent in the presence of oppression is to quietly affirm its power. Complacency, no matter how well-intentioned, is complicity. True justice requires engagement. It calls us not just to believe in equality, but to pursue it - loudly, humbly, and persistently.

The Spirit of Justice offers a prophetic invitation: to listen, to learn, and to live differently in light of the truth.

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I have read everything that Dr. Tisby has published so far, and have no plans to stop. I see this book as "the other side of the coin" to his first book The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism. Even the titles go together "The ___ of ___." As Ecclesiastes says, there is "a time to break down, and a time to build up," and both aspects are necessary in the task of historical reckoning, tearing down AND building up; exposing AND highlighting; removing AND replacing; repenting AND repairing. Dr. Tisby's first book was mainly an effort at the first: exposing the white American church's corrupt complicity with white supremacy throughout the history of America. The Spirit of Justice tells the other side of the story: the faithful centuries long witness of Christians who refused and resisted and held steadfast until the end. While Tisby does highlight Black Christians, it does not do so exclusively, and when that tiny minority of white collaborators warrants inclusion in this cloud of witnesses, he gives them their due. But the beating, burning heart at the center of this collective movement of resistance, centers in Black Christians and the Black Church.

I am pretty familiar at this point with Black History, Black Church History, and the individual lives of many Black individuals, and I still learned a TON, not just in terms of specific details about individual lives (which I did), or about people I really knew nothing about before (which I did), but when stitched together as a whole story of faithful resistance. I love the fact that the Christian faith or background of these figures is highlighted, even while Dr. Tisby acknowledges that there have been plenty of atheists and agnostics who resisted as well.

Finally, I purchased the hardcover edition of this book, and while I don't always comment on this in reviews, I was struck immediately by the quality of this book. Hard bound with a sewn binding, the pages, the formatting, all of it just felt in my hands like a high quality book, a form that matches the content. In other words, this book was a true pleasure to read, in every way.

[David Swartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Jemar Tisby's *The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance*. Like in his first book *The Color of Compromise*, Jemar Tisby offers a sprawling survey of religion and race in North America. Unlike *Color of Compromise*, this book is less about misbehaving white people and more about resistance and resilience of Black Americans. There are so many stories and names I had never heard of: Jupiter Hammon, Prince Hall, Celia, Paul Cuffe, Anna Murray Douglass, Robert Smalls, Elizabeth Keckley, Elias Camp Morris, William Simmons, Anna Julia Cooper, Charles Hamilton Houston, Ruby Dee, Prathia Hall, and Thea Bowman.

Here's just one of the stories: Benjamin Banneker personally confronted Thomas Jefferson, using the founding father’s words against himself. Referring to the Declaration of Independence, Banneker wrote, “You publickly held forth this true and invaluable doctrine . . . that all men are created equal.” How, then, can you “at the Same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression”?

After reading all these stories of direct confrontation of white enslavers and of colorblind Christians unwilling to acknowledge inequitable social structures, it’s really hard to just say, “That’s just how things were back then. They didn’t know any better.”

Money quote: “The partial progress of so many who resisted racism reminds us that growth is fragile. The gains of the past are not guaranteed to persist into the future. Victories can turn to losses. Rights can be rolled back. Time is not an inevitable march toward greater freedom and equality. Instead, each new generation must take up its responsibility to embrace the spirit of justice and maintain the struggle for positive change.”

Also: “The selective use of King’s words can also serve to sanitize his more radical calls for justice. Words from the “I Have a Dream” speech delivered in 1963 have been misapplied as a cover for colorblind approaches to dealing with racism that King himself never advocated.”

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Tisby’s book provides a review of notable Black Christian activists and their response to the Spirit of justice. I especially appreciated learning about different Black women and their contribution to the civil rights movement when the intersection of sexism and racism made it difficult for them to be a visible leader.

This book has been an encouraging reminder of people who have fought for justice in dark times. We need the Black Church’s witness more than ever right now!

Here are some take aways quotes:

“(Coretta) Scott King defined the Beloved Community as "a realistic vision of an achievable society ... [where caring] and compassion drive political polices and support the worldwide elimination of poverty and hunger and all forms of bigotry and violence." p. 155

All the more important after USAID has been cruelly cut.

“Ruby Dee prayed, "God, make me so uncomfortable that I will do the very thing I fear."” p.159

“Hall summarized her sense of calling to social justice and a lifetime of activism by saying that every time a person willingly took the risk of standing up against racism, “that was a religious statement, as profoundly religious as saying a prayer or doing any kind of religious discipline."” p. 172

Shirley Chisholm: “America has the laws and the material resources it takes to ensure justice for all its people. What it lacks is the heart, the humanity, the Christian love that it would take."” p.195

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this short book (only 232 pp before the Notes) is a survey of profiles, with a description of the age the people were living in and resisting, then several individuals profiled from the relevant period. With a chapter, Beyond the Quotable King, studying MLK Jr.'s lesser known experience and speeches, how his speeches developed from one to the author, who he was inspired by and borrowed from, how we was received at the time, and his statements or opinions that are misquoted, taken out of context, or forgotten.
I appreciated the inclusion of Benjamin Banneker as I know his name from the Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis (now the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, which makes sense) but I wasn't sure who the Banneker was, though I'm pretty sure I've been to the museum and must have learned about him.
I appreciate the many women featured, especially the stories of the wives of their better known husbands, Anna Murray Douglass and Coretta Scott King, and the women behind the Civil Rights Movement. I was also very interested in Anna Julia Cooper and the multiple degrees she got still in the 19th century. I also want to know about Ida B. Wells. I think it's amazing she was an investigative journalist in the 19th century. I know her name and I think she was also coming up in the other book I was reading.
From what I'd heard before reading, and from the cover, I thought this would be more significant profiles of individuals, but at least up to chapter five it's about 2 pages per person. In the section about Anna Murray Douglass (who's also pictured on the cover - she's the first that has a photograph rather than a painting) there's a significant typo mistake about when she died. It doesn't name the date except that it says she "suffered a stroke in 1842 and died soon thereafter." Previously it mentioned how she helped when her husband was purchased out of slavery in 1845, plus it mentions her birth in 1813 but also that they were married for four decades, and her picture I thought looked like it was from the 1880s but Wikipedia labels it as c. 1860. Anyway 1842 should've been 1882 which is when she died.
Cover photos: the man looks like Elias Camp Morris but his photo in the text is facing front and closer in rather than in profile as on the cover, Coretta Scott King, and Anna Murray Douglass. Listen to author on podcasts, particularly as cohost on The Convocation Unscripted. Concurrently reading The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future by Tisby's podcast cohost and they cover similar material at the beginning (mentioning the 1493 and 1619 points and talking about race in America), though Tisby's is shorter and is covering more people.

[Rebecca Shrader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well written and researched, although I expect nothing less from Tisby. He’s a great storyteller, so it doesn’t read like a dry historical novel.

Highly recommend, I recommend it over the uber popular Sharon McMahon book along a similar vein.

Many many makers of change included in this book and a whole chapter on MLK, but I appreciated so much he dedicated a chapter to woman in racial justice movements.

“There is a relentless drive in human beings, both inward and transcendent, that demands dignity and propels our progress-it is the spirit of justice. It is the conviction to continue the struggle no matter the odds or the obstacles. It is the heartbeat of people who hunger and thirst for righteousness. It will not concede. It will not let the evil of racism and inhumanity prevail. It will not quit until justice rolls down like a river.”

“However, the work of the spirit of justice is not confined to the past. Nor is it the privilege of a single group or individual. The spirit of justice belongs to all of us. We must learn to recognize the work of the spirit of justice so we too can continue the struggle against racism in our generation.”

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book needed for the current political climate and a reminder about the incremental nature of progress. This book focuses on Black Christian resistance to anti-Black racism, from colonial era to present.

Beware of historical appropriation: “Do not claim the historical legacy of antiracists if you are not also willing to claim and contend with the legacy of racists in your own tradition.”

“The full truth is that any substantive initiative for racial progress will face vocal, targeted and even violent obstruction. It happened after the Civil War and Reconstruction. It happened in response to the civil rights movement. It happened in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the racial justice uprisings of 2020. Racist backlash follows every gesture toward racial justice.”

The final chapter reminds readers “the people who came before us speak through their legacies” and importantly, that “the threats they faced in previous eras may differ, but the call to resist racism remains constant. It remains for us this day to mediate on their lives and actions so that we can honor their memories and work for progress in our day.”

[Tom Funk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the short school lessons delivered on MLK Day and Black History month I think it’s safe to say that most white people don’t know much about the history of African Americans. Even those that do often are unaware of the role that faith played in providing the motivation and resilience that was required in the uphill battle against the entrenched forces of racism that were more than willing to use any asset available, including violence, to keep people of color in “their place.”
Tisby, historian by trade and the author of several books addressing the cross section between Christian faith and racial justice , gives us short biographies of the men and women who often put their lives at risk to change the course of American history. Many of the names were unknown to me, and even among the better known figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriett Tubman, the role that faith played in developing their agendas, course of action and endurance is perhaps better well documented here as anything I’ve read
If I have any criticism of the book it is that there are so many figures discussed that one is often left with the desire for more about. the individuals and the institutions and movements they created.Perhaps a focus on fewer people would have produced a fuller picture of who they were and the struggles they dealt with.
But even so what is written here is an excellent primer on the subject of how faith motivated the struggle to give African Americans the dignity that their Creator intended.

[William Weld-Wallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

We like Jemar Tisby. We read his substack and listen to his podcasts. This book, about African American resistance to white supremacy over the last many centuries, is full of good stories, though sometimes tough stories as resistance during enslavement or Jim Crow often meant a death sentence. My critique is that Tisby looks too hard for evidence that they acted out of their Christian faith, and that it was their faith that was their main motivation. I think this is often true, but he really was reaching for it at times. His faith experience has been in mostly white circles. When he came face to face with the racism of the white church in the last ten years or so, he finally left and is now exploring the roots of the Black church, even in this book, as a place of resistance, which I appreciate. Good book, good stories of resistance, just a bit too much emphasis on the faith part for me.

[Ephrem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jemar Tisby artfully combines biographical portraits with broader themes of racial justice and spirituality. His eloquent storytelling invites readers to examine the intersections of faith and activism, emphasizing that true justice requires unwavering commitment. Each story unfolds compellingly, portraying the struggles and victories of individuals who dared to challenge systemic injustices, thus prompting deep reflection on the legacy of activism and resistance over the generations. Tisby's reflections serve as a powerful reminder of history's influence on contemporary society, connecting past events with present-day issues, urging readers to embrace a faith that promotes justice and unity. Overall, Tisby’s work is not just a collection of stories; it is a call to become advocates for change.

[Erin Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give this a 2.5 stars. Overall, I thought the book was good. All of the chapters felt like a history lesson and brought me back to school when we learned about Booker T Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.
The last chapter really annoyed me though and brought down my overall rating. I Can’t stand when people tie Proud boy’s to Trump (author made this connection).
I do not believe there was an insurrection. I have friends that were there and have heard their accounts of that day. Plus, the media is garbage and we know how they twisted that entire event just to fit their narrative.
Can’t stand the Black Lives Matter organization. There is so much research and documentation on the group as a whole, including who started it, their members, what they do with their funding, etc.

[Rob Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read Jemar Tisby's other books, and I was looking forward to reading this one when it was released this year. This is a very different book from his others, however, in that it is a series of biographical vignettes about black people in US history who were driven by their faith to resist and fight for freedom. Some of the stories were already known to me from other reading, and others were new to me. I found the theme of spirituality to be a strong thread holding the book together. I felt like I would have benefitted from spreading out my reading instead of moving straight through the whole book over just a couple days. This would be a perfect book for a class or book club who could discuss it in sections over time.

[Roger Smitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Jemar Tisby comes up in a book that has seen before AND a book that has made some things that we haven’t seen.

That theme comes up in page 8 with: This book ….is a historical survey marching you through US history….” (p. 8) And the story comes with 1619 in European times (24) And there’s a theme about African American children.

Chapter 5 comes to “Fighting for Freedom.” And there’s a statement about the KKK. (103). And the book tells us about the killing of Martin Luther King Jr., a time and a man who did so much.

The book gives us a number of people who tried to change our country in this country.