Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial Capitalism

by Jonathan Tran

Any serious consideration of Asian American life forces us to reframe the way we talk about racism and antiracism. There are two contemporary approaches to antiracist theory and practice. The first emphasizes racial identity to the exclusion of political economy, making racialized life in America illegible. This approach's prevalence, in the academy and beyond, now rises to the level of established doctrine. The second approach views racial identity as the function of a particular political economy--what is called “racial capitalism>--and therefore analytically subordinates racial identity to political economy.

Jonathan Tran develops arguments in favor of this second approach. He does so by means of an extended analysis of two case studies: a Chinese migrant settlement in the Mississippi Delta (1868-1969) and the Redeemer Community Church in the Bayview/Hunters Point section of San Francisco (1969-present). While his analysis is focused on particular groups and persons, he uses it to examine more broadly racial capitalism's processes and commitments at the sites of their structural and systemic unfolding. In pursuing a research agenda that pushes beyond the narrow confines of racial identity, Tran reaches back to trusted modes of analysis that have been obscured by the prevailing antiracist orthodoxy and proposes reframing antiracism in terms of a theologically salient account of political economy.

Genres: Theology, Race, Sociology, Nonfiction, Cultural

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Education:

Duke University, The Graduate School, Department of Religion, Durham, NC - Ph. D. Theology & Ethics, Spring 2006 - Minors: Political Theory (external), Early Church History (internal)
Duke University, The Divinity School, Durham, NC M.Div. summa cum laude, 2002
University of California at Riverside - B.A. Phi Beta Kappa, Political Science, 1994
Biography:

Jonathan Tran joined Baylor's Department of Religion in 2006 after completing his graduate studies in theology and ethics at Duke University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and his research interests sit (though they travel often) at the intersections of systematic theology, theological ethics, political theory, ordinary language philosophy, bioethics, and race/identity theory. Along with his family, he serves as Faculty-in-Residence in Dawson-Allen Hall which is home to the Leadership living-and-learning center.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a difficult book to review for two reasons:
(1) i am in it, or at least the community most central to my life is in it, as the author used my church as a case study in this book, and in doing so, became a friend during our pandemic year (2020).
(2) i am not the intended audience for this book. i've never read theology, and this book pulls in not only theology but also oral history, ethnography, and critical theory. it also converses, quotes, and critiques many authors i've neither heard of nor engaged with previously.

i did not understand everything in this book, nor did i attempt to follow all the footnotes. but Tran has something important to say, and for those who can, i encourage you to listen for it.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a full semester of readings on theology and race, I found Tran’s book to be a breath of fresh air. It gets at the heart of modern antiracism. His main argument is that identarian antiracist approaches neglect political economy and actually perpetuate racialization and commodification. Instead he proposes an approach that captures the aftermarket effects of racism — racial capitalism. Tran links this to his theological convictions to move from descriptions to prescriptions. His book is technical but not confusing, dense but well-organized. It has changed how I see antiracism and given me a clearer (political) picture of racism’s economic impact, as well as what we need to do to combat it. Race - not racism - is the problem.

[Leslie King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many have said that considering race in America is deep and difficult work. In my limited experience, its like driving. The onramps and merging can be difficult. There are varying vehicular speeds that can intimidate and frustrate. The best preparation for the experience might be likened to prepping for the driving test. In the prep, we become an asset on the roadways and byways. Test prep puts us through scenario that ask us to do our inner work. Yet, when it comes to race, even my own inner work can put me in a round-about from which progress seems impossible and exiting is longed for. Not until now has there been such a strong guide for my inner work. At this point in my life, I remain stumped by the difference between ideologies and practices. This book is helping me. Tran's exceedingly careful thinking about our method of thought and how it has practical implications for our practices allows me to forfeit some of the driving methods that (little did I realize) keep me on the round-about. I'm doing a decent job to hold my courage as there is a sophistocated critic of capitalism....the threads of which run through many of the things I care about the most.

[Justin Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am astounded by this book in a way reminiscent of Willie Jennings's The Christian Imagination or Sarah Coakley's God, Sexuality, and the Self. I read the first 150 pages slowly and reflectively, about 10 pages at a time. Then I devoured the second 150 pages, almost in a single sitting. This is a challenging book in so many ways. My review for the Reformed Journal is forthcoming.

[Josh Loomis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tran truly writes ground breaking work and puts forth ideas for the church to critically consider. His idea of the deep economy of the Kingdom of God is one that I hope is considered be churches around the world in combating racism in their spheres of influence.

With the two parts, Tran attempts to refute anti-racist thought by examining the Asian American experience throughout their story in the United States through two case studies. Although at times it can be hard to connect the two case studies and see the argument that Tran is making, I think that the book presents a compelling case in how to best combat systematic racism.

I will say that many of the concepts that Tran presents build upon other authors and works concerning race. If a reader is unfamiliar with other literature regarding Christian’s response to racism, Tran’s work could be difficult to comprehend.

[Ted Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this book to be just as important as Jennings’ “Christian Imagination.” These two books tower over the recent cataract of antiracism literature.

Tran argues that racism is a tool used for dominative exploitation. It’s “political economy” rather than “Identarian AntiRacism” that powers said racism. I thought it would be overly AA, but he rather deploys AA as an example to support his analysis. Can’t go into more detail, you’ll just have to read it - you’ll be glad you did.

Unlike most books on this subject, there are real solutions - this is deeply doxological, arguing for a “divine economy” in which “creaturely existence ensues as reciprocal gift giving where each one is given to the other and all come from and return to God.” It’s a vision for what the church “being the church” can be and it’s stunningly hopeful.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO much important stuff in here, and such breadth. I appreciate even the slight critique of afropessimism at the end of the book while commending the hard work of faithful Christian community work to embody the Kingdom.

This is a much-needed addition to the race conversation that complicates existing binary conversations that also neglect political economy. I will be recommending this to many people, as I already have been!

[Charles]

A compelling argument for the limits of identitarian antiracism. Jonathan Tran covers two Asian American communities, one from the Mississippi delta community in the 1900’s and the other in modern day SF. For me, it was an unusual combination of grace-driven theology and insightful writing on how economic structures use racial identities for exploitation

[Caroline Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

dr tran is first of all a genius and talks over my head all the time, but this approach to racism has truly changed my perspective on race and capitalism and communal living

[Joel Wentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just gonna say it - THIS is quite possibly THE most important book on race I have read in the past 10 years (and, while not an expert, I've read quite a lot on the topic). Willie Jenning's 'Christian Imagination' is right up there with it, but I think Tran's book edges it out (at least for me) for a few reasons.

Tran is extraordinarily fluent in the current discourse and literature regarding 'antiracism,' and while his book is essentially a fundamental critique of that discourse, he is sympathetic and deeply knowledgable. There are no straw man takedowns here! Tran's argument, that antiracism unnecessarily circumscribes itself to issues of identity, and never approaches the wider horizon of 'political economy,' resonated on a profound level with me. The implications are drastic, and I found myself having radical "lightbulb moments" on page after page. No other book has helped me understand so clearly why I find conversations about "whiteness" so fundamentally unsatisfying (even as I agree with so many of their initial points) or how it's possible for BOTH race AND class to be operating with real social impact (and that they cannot be mutually exclusive in our discourse).

The argument Tran lays out is also enriched with deep historical, sociological study. I really cannot say enough about it. The only caveat that might be offered is that it is quite academic and dense, and may not be the best book for the uninitiated (especially those who are not already pretty immersed in the antiracist dialogue). But wow, this book is astounding. As I already said, one of the most important pieces of literature for our cultural moment, and one that I will be internalizing and processing for quite some time.

[Amelia and John · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!!

Tran presents a view of race as being constructed to justify capitalist exploitation stemming back from American chattel slavery. This inevitably began race on a black/white binary. Other minorities, like Native Americans and Asian Americans do not fit into this binary. Tran offers the Asian American perspective.

It is an excellent critique on current views of race, where race is something that defines the individual and thereby offers something to identify oneself with. Tran shows how antiracism that ignores the "origin story" of race actually perpetuates race and does little to address the political economic issues belying what are seen as racial issues.

Far more interesting are the intersections between Tran's racial capitalism, Afropessimism, and Christian theology.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ideas from this book that felt helpful:
- Racism as a justification of resource exploitation and not from bad feelings.. this argument felt generally resonant to me
- "let justice roll down" as a pointer towards stepping into God's existing work and progression towards justice. instead of ivy-league graduate change the world (variant of white savior?) mentality

[Andrew M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can it fully articulate yet how helpful Tran’s arguments in this book have been for me as a white man trying to unpack racialization. I’ve only begun to be aware of in the last 10 years. It is a concrete approach to dealing with racism beyond the identarian approach.

[Isaiah Hobus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read on race. Tran parses out how race is intrinsically tied to the political economy. He argues without the context of the political economy, one does not grasp the full exploitative reach of racialization. Racism is racial capitalism, it is not solely about identity. Tran uses the experience of Asian Americans to describe this and concludes with contrasting the economy of God with the political economy of capitalism. As an Asian American this book resonated deeply. This is a beautiful work full of story, post-structural theory, and theology.