Deconstructing Racism: A Path toward Lasting Change

by Barbara Crain Major, Joseph Barndt

Barbara Crain Major and Joseph Barndt bring ninety combined years of experience as community organizers, teachers, and anti-racism trainers in community and church settings to this book. In Deconstructing Racism, they propose the deconstruction of racism's roots within systems and institutions that have been created, both structurally and legally, to serve white people. The authors propose that the deconstruction of racism must take place through the reconstruction of these systems and institutions. The authors seek to unmask the complexities of racism and the invisible patterns that keep it in place. There is no quick fix, but they believe racism can be deconstructed and undone. In order to do this, they identify and address race-based identity, history, and cultural issues rooted in current systems. Three chapters specifically address societal systems and provide anti-racism strategies for community organizers. Three chapters address racism as rooted in systems in the church and challenge people of faith to seek racial healing through understanding, honest confession, true reconciliation, and reconstructed church institutions. A final chapter outlines a way forward to and through a new era of anti-racist reconstruction. This way forward includes a new anti-racist mission statement, a new model of decision-making power, and new processes for accountability.

147 pages, Paperback

Published January 10, 2023

Reviews

[Drick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors are long time anti-racism trainers who offer a new way to think of antiracism work: deconstruction. Their argument is that past efforts at eliminating racism in society have fallen short because they have not addressed the root causes of systemic racism. After offering historical analysis of the first and second Reconstructions (post Civl War and the Civil Rights Movement) and how their progress was undone by resistant racism, they suggest we are on the verge of a third reconstruction and offer a systemic approach to dealing with racism’s roots. The argument they offer is compelling if not complex. For those concerned about eliminating racism in US society, this is a necessary, if it provocative read.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on trying to stop dealing with this country’s great curse of racism; especially, faith-based organizations. The book attempts to answer why churches, in particular, perpetuate systemic racism. It also tries to give readers the resources needed to deconstruct racism.

[Synthia Salomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

40 years of systemic analysis and antiracist work

Racism is systemic power
Bring truth to life in this book

[Nichellebottko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a research based examination of structural racism which is also incredibly engaging and readable.