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Resisting Apartheid America: Living the Badass Gospel
Miguel De La Torre foresees a future America dominated by white nationalists—and equips us with the tools to resist it.
In Burying White Privilege , he opened our eyes to white Christians’ complicity in maintaining racist hierarchy in America. In its sequel, Decolonizing Christianity , he encouraged us to decolonize Christianity and return it to its revolutionary roots. Now, in his conclusion to the trilogy, Miguel A. De La Torre shows us the America on our horizon, should we continue down the path of heretical white Christianity—and the outlook is not bright.
Resisting Apartheid America assesses the past and present threads of systemic racism in American politics, from Plymouth Rock to the Capitol on January 6. Sweeping and unsparing in his critique, De La Torre takes on authors revered in Christian theology, including Paul, Augustine, and heroes of the Reformation, aiming to uproot the ideological foundations of racism in Christianity. Following these through lines of oppression, he warns of a decline in democracy and rise in political violence—but equips us with the nonviolent ethical framework to resist this bleak future. Resisting Apartheid America is a clarion call to Christians to remake America in the image of the God of liberation.
In Burying White Privilege , he opened our eyes to white Christians’ complicity in maintaining racist hierarchy in America. In its sequel, Decolonizing Christianity , he encouraged us to decolonize Christianity and return it to its revolutionary roots. Now, in his conclusion to the trilogy, Miguel A. De La Torre shows us the America on our horizon, should we continue down the path of heretical white Christianity—and the outlook is not bright.
Resisting Apartheid America assesses the past and present threads of systemic racism in American politics, from Plymouth Rock to the Capitol on January 6. Sweeping and unsparing in his critique, De La Torre takes on authors revered in Christian theology, including Paul, Augustine, and heroes of the Reformation, aiming to uproot the ideological foundations of racism in Christianity. Following these through lines of oppression, he warns of a decline in democracy and rise in political violence—but equips us with the nonviolent ethical framework to resist this bleak future. Resisting Apartheid America is a clarion call to Christians to remake America in the image of the God of liberation.
286 pages, Hardcover
Published January 31, 2023
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30 people want to read
About the author
Miguel A. de la Torre
43 books58 followersDe La Torre received a Masters in Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctorate from Temple University in social ethics. The focus of his academic pursuit has been ethics within contemporary U.S. thought, specifically how religion affects race, class, and gender oppression. He specializes in applying a social scientific approach to Latino/a religiosity within this country, Liberation theologies in Latin America, and postmodern/postcolonial social theory.
De La Torre currently servers as the Professor of Social Ethics and Latino/a Studies at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.
De La Torre currently servers as the Professor of Social Ethics and Latino/a Studies at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.
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February 26, 2023
Sometimes we face inconvenient truths. We may wish what we're witnessing is not true, yet if we open our eyes, we see the evidence staring us in the face. Could it be that a form of apartheid is taking hold in America (more specifically the United States of America)? Could it be that a form of EuroChristianity (aka white Christian nationalism) stands at the center? Could it be that this ideology threatens democracy in the name of protecting power for some and not for others? We may call it Trumpism, but Donald Trump isn't the cause. He's simply the face put on an ideology that has been around for a long time, but that is making a play for power at this moment. Consider all the bans on CRT and DEI being brokered in legislatures. Why? It appears that some people feel threatened by diversity and the reality that racism and sexism and other isms are systemic in nature. So, what should we do?
Miguel De La Torre's "Resisting Apartheid America" is the third volume in a trilogy of books revealing what he calls Badass Christianity. The first book in the trilogy -- "Burying White Privilege: Resurrecting a Badass Christianity addressed white Christian nationalists. That book, which I've not read, created something of a storm, which led to the second book in the trilogy, which I did read --- Decolonizing Christianity: Becoming Badass Believers --- was not addressed to White Christians, but to those who have endured White Christian nationalism. Now, this third book, which I will warn you, is not hope-filled. Nevertheless, it has a message that needs to be heard.
The opening chapter reveals the essence of the book. That essence is this -- EuroChristianity
is "America's Greatest Threat." What he means here is a form of Christianity defined by white supremacy, a religion with a white male God and a white Jesus that is committed to making sure that EuroAmericans control the nation. This means keeping everyone else in their place. Now, before my European American friends get overly uncomfortable, Miguel de la Torre does not mean that white people are evil, but the ideology that inhabits our context needs to be exorcised if democracy is to survive in America. Yes, de la Torre does address Trumpism and the continuing presence of Trumpism in the Republican Party. So, what de la Torre, who is by training and vocation a Christian social ethicist, seeks to do is offer a prophetic witness concerning the situation at hand, as well as what could happen, perhaps will happen, if we continue on this path. Such is the work of a prophet (think Amos or Jeremiah). Salvation, in his mind, will occur only when/if we reject this apartheid-producing EuroChristianity. Thus, in prophetic fashion, this is a call for resistance.
The word "apartheid" is Afrikaans for "apartness." As de la Torre notes in chapter 2 of the book, apartheid/apartness has been an ideological constant in American life from the beginning of colonial presence on the continent. We see this present in slavery, the removal of indigenous Americans, Jim and Jane Crow/segregation, the Asian exclusion act, and more, all designed to protect white dominance. That is an ideology present in "make America Great Again." It is an ideology of returning America to a world before the Civil Rights movement, the Voting Rights Act. Salvation comes as that version of Christianity dies -- is crucified. That is something that we who are white must undertake by letting go of privilege.
So how does this Apartheid Eurochristianity come into being? That's the subject of chapter 3, and de la Torre begins with Paul, whose mission to Europe led to the creation of the faith of Jesus in European guise. We might debate this starting point, but over time we see the development of a faith defined by particular cultural values present in Justin, Augustine, and on through time to --- and this will surprise many ---Stanley Hauerwas. Along the way, we'll be reminded that racist ideology has infected even theologies designed to liberate, including the Social Gospel, where Walter Rauschenbusch, for example, was a white supremacist. It's there in his books. I'll let you read all of this to determine what you think.
For me, it was chapter 4 that stood out. Titled "Celebrating Ignorance," in this chapter he addresses the embrace of ignorance, whether it is anti-vaxxism or climate change denialism. But most importantly, he focuses on the way in which white rage has been manipulated through conspiracy theories and anti-intellectualism. Here we encounter the political attacks on CRT and DEI, all of which are rooted in attempts to use ignorance of the meaning to rouse the base against perceived threats from the other as seen in the proclamation of the "Great Replacement Theory," that suggests Democrats/liberals are attempting to diversify America so as to replace white Christians. Of course, as he notes there is Trump's Big Lie, designed to keep/take power.
In chapter 5, de la Torre calls for the reader to embrace becoming "un-American. That is, rejecting the "America" that is represented by the Proud Boys and the Euro-Christian nationalists that invaded the capitol building on January 6, 2021, in the hope of overturning an election they didn't like. While many of us would rather this picture not define what we know as America, could this be a true picture for many? Could toxic hypermasculine white Christianity be a threat to the future of democracy in America? I'd rather not embrace that idea, but there is surely evidence here that needs to be considered. Are not these attempts to suppress votes an expression of a vision that is taking hold? So, what should we do? Well, according to de la Torre, "to be badass is to reject white supremacy and to make marginalized stories central in the retelling of the American experience. To be un-American is to overturn the tables of apartheid, chasing those profiting from our oppression out" (p. 214). As you might imagine, reports from Virginia and Florida and Texas and elsewhere suggest. We want to return to a white-washed telling of history.
So is this a prophetic text? Miguel de la Torre struggles with that description for in his mind he is a scholar, not a prognosticator. To call him a prophet could delegitimize what he seeks to do as a scholar. Nevertheless, he takes on this role in "playing the prophet" (chapter 6). He lays out the challenges that lie ahead. He makes it clear that "love" is not enough. It will take resistance to the forces of Eurochristianity (white Christian nationalism) that has little to do with Jesus and his message. While violence might be attractive, he rejects that avenue. As for whether there is hope, he is not sure. In fact, he describes himself as being hopeless. Nevertheless, change is possible. But it will require conversion on the part of those of us who benefit from white privilege.
Is this a comforting book? No! Will the reader who is white feel uncomfortable? Yes. Is de la Torre a racist anti-white person? No. He makes it clear that it's not one's melanin but the ideology that is at issue. With this in mind, I do recommend its reading.
Miguel De La Torre's "Resisting Apartheid America" is the third volume in a trilogy of books revealing what he calls Badass Christianity. The first book in the trilogy -- "Burying White Privilege: Resurrecting a Badass Christianity addressed white Christian nationalists. That book, which I've not read, created something of a storm, which led to the second book in the trilogy, which I did read --- Decolonizing Christianity: Becoming Badass Believers --- was not addressed to White Christians, but to those who have endured White Christian nationalism. Now, this third book, which I will warn you, is not hope-filled. Nevertheless, it has a message that needs to be heard.
The opening chapter reveals the essence of the book. That essence is this -- EuroChristianity
is "America's Greatest Threat." What he means here is a form of Christianity defined by white supremacy, a religion with a white male God and a white Jesus that is committed to making sure that EuroAmericans control the nation. This means keeping everyone else in their place. Now, before my European American friends get overly uncomfortable, Miguel de la Torre does not mean that white people are evil, but the ideology that inhabits our context needs to be exorcised if democracy is to survive in America. Yes, de la Torre does address Trumpism and the continuing presence of Trumpism in the Republican Party. So, what de la Torre, who is by training and vocation a Christian social ethicist, seeks to do is offer a prophetic witness concerning the situation at hand, as well as what could happen, perhaps will happen, if we continue on this path. Such is the work of a prophet (think Amos or Jeremiah). Salvation, in his mind, will occur only when/if we reject this apartheid-producing EuroChristianity. Thus, in prophetic fashion, this is a call for resistance.
The word "apartheid" is Afrikaans for "apartness." As de la Torre notes in chapter 2 of the book, apartheid/apartness has been an ideological constant in American life from the beginning of colonial presence on the continent. We see this present in slavery, the removal of indigenous Americans, Jim and Jane Crow/segregation, the Asian exclusion act, and more, all designed to protect white dominance. That is an ideology present in "make America Great Again." It is an ideology of returning America to a world before the Civil Rights movement, the Voting Rights Act. Salvation comes as that version of Christianity dies -- is crucified. That is something that we who are white must undertake by letting go of privilege.
So how does this Apartheid Eurochristianity come into being? That's the subject of chapter 3, and de la Torre begins with Paul, whose mission to Europe led to the creation of the faith of Jesus in European guise. We might debate this starting point, but over time we see the development of a faith defined by particular cultural values present in Justin, Augustine, and on through time to --- and this will surprise many ---Stanley Hauerwas. Along the way, we'll be reminded that racist ideology has infected even theologies designed to liberate, including the Social Gospel, where Walter Rauschenbusch, for example, was a white supremacist. It's there in his books. I'll let you read all of this to determine what you think.
For me, it was chapter 4 that stood out. Titled "Celebrating Ignorance," in this chapter he addresses the embrace of ignorance, whether it is anti-vaxxism or climate change denialism. But most importantly, he focuses on the way in which white rage has been manipulated through conspiracy theories and anti-intellectualism. Here we encounter the political attacks on CRT and DEI, all of which are rooted in attempts to use ignorance of the meaning to rouse the base against perceived threats from the other as seen in the proclamation of the "Great Replacement Theory," that suggests Democrats/liberals are attempting to diversify America so as to replace white Christians. Of course, as he notes there is Trump's Big Lie, designed to keep/take power.
In chapter 5, de la Torre calls for the reader to embrace becoming "un-American. That is, rejecting the "America" that is represented by the Proud Boys and the Euro-Christian nationalists that invaded the capitol building on January 6, 2021, in the hope of overturning an election they didn't like. While many of us would rather this picture not define what we know as America, could this be a true picture for many? Could toxic hypermasculine white Christianity be a threat to the future of democracy in America? I'd rather not embrace that idea, but there is surely evidence here that needs to be considered. Are not these attempts to suppress votes an expression of a vision that is taking hold? So, what should we do? Well, according to de la Torre, "to be badass is to reject white supremacy and to make marginalized stories central in the retelling of the American experience. To be un-American is to overturn the tables of apartheid, chasing those profiting from our oppression out" (p. 214). As you might imagine, reports from Virginia and Florida and Texas and elsewhere suggest. We want to return to a white-washed telling of history.
So is this a prophetic text? Miguel de la Torre struggles with that description for in his mind he is a scholar, not a prognosticator. To call him a prophet could delegitimize what he seeks to do as a scholar. Nevertheless, he takes on this role in "playing the prophet" (chapter 6). He lays out the challenges that lie ahead. He makes it clear that "love" is not enough. It will take resistance to the forces of Eurochristianity (white Christian nationalism) that has little to do with Jesus and his message. While violence might be attractive, he rejects that avenue. As for whether there is hope, he is not sure. In fact, he describes himself as being hopeless. Nevertheless, change is possible. But it will require conversion on the part of those of us who benefit from white privilege.
Is this a comforting book? No! Will the reader who is white feel uncomfortable? Yes. Is de la Torre a racist anti-white person? No. He makes it clear that it's not one's melanin but the ideology that is at issue. With this in mind, I do recommend its reading.
May 14, 2023
A very good book 📖 👌
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews