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Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility
Christians have struggled with racial issues for centuries, and often inadvertently contribute to the problem. Many proposed solutions have been helpful, but these only take us so far. Adding to this complex situation is the reality that Christians of different races see the issues differently. Sociologist George Yancey surveys a range of approaches to racial healing that Christians have used and offers a new model for moving forward. The first part of the book analyzes four secular models regarding race used by Christians (colorblindness, Anglo-conformity, multiculturalism and white responsibility) and shows how each has its own advantages and limitations. Part two offers a new "mutual responsibility" model, which acknowledges that both majority and minority cultures have their own challenges, tendencies, and sins to repent of, and that people of different races approach racial reconciliation and justice in differing but complementary ways. Yancey's vision offers hope that people of all races can walk together on a shared path--not as adversaries, but as partners.
197 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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August 11, 2020
I’m tempted to give this five stars simply because it’s so relevant to 2020. Written in 2006, the book maps impressively well onto our current moment. George Yancey, a black Christian sociologist, commends the virtues and exposes the problems in four reigning race-relations models:
1. Colorblindness
2. Anglo-conformity
3. Multiculturalism
4. White responsibility
The first two tend to benefit (and appeal to) white Americans; the latter two tend to benefit (and appeal to) minority Americans. Each is finally inadequate to break through our racial gridlock and produce constructive solutions. After critiquing these four secular models, Yancey proposes a fifth one—a Christian alternative—based on the idea of “mutual responsibility.” I confess I expected his analysis to be a bit thin and commonsensical; instead it was oftentimes trenchant and profound.
This book reminded me in certain respects of three others:
• Edward Gilbreath, “Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical’s Inside View of White Christianity” (IVP, 2006)
• Michael Emerson and Christian Smith, “Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America” (Oxford, 2001)
• Carl Ellis, “Free at Last? The Gospel in the African American Experience” (IVP, 1983; repr. 1995; repr. 2020).
In their own ways, all four books are a bit dated. All four are prescient. All four possess explanatory power. And all four remain useful guides for confronting the racial tensions that plague us still.
1. Colorblindness
2. Anglo-conformity
3. Multiculturalism
4. White responsibility
The first two tend to benefit (and appeal to) white Americans; the latter two tend to benefit (and appeal to) minority Americans. Each is finally inadequate to break through our racial gridlock and produce constructive solutions. After critiquing these four secular models, Yancey proposes a fifth one—a Christian alternative—based on the idea of “mutual responsibility.” I confess I expected his analysis to be a bit thin and commonsensical; instead it was oftentimes trenchant and profound.
This book reminded me in certain respects of three others:
• Edward Gilbreath, “Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical’s Inside View of White Christianity” (IVP, 2006)
• Michael Emerson and Christian Smith, “Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America” (Oxford, 2001)
• Carl Ellis, “Free at Last? The Gospel in the African American Experience” (IVP, 1983; repr. 1995; repr. 2020).
In their own ways, all four books are a bit dated. All four are prescient. All four possess explanatory power. And all four remain useful guides for confronting the racial tensions that plague us still.
July 4, 2020
America has a long and troubling history of racial inequalities and injustices. As I write this review, we as a nation are in the midst of reckoning with some of our racial legacies due to the unfortunate murders of George Floyd, Ahmad Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. These killings, which have stayed in our national conscience has forced many of us to reconsider how race effects our own lives and that of society. The need for racial reconciliation has existed for as long as America has been a country and now more and more people are recognizing and pushing for this reconciliation to happen. Once we agree that a problem exists, we find ourselves faced with another daunting problem: how shall we achieve racial reconciliation? A variety of different voices are calling for different solutions, many of which are contradictory. How will racial reconciliation be achieved, and what specifically should the response of the church be? We cannot deny our failures in this area, but we are also unsure of what to do.
In the midst of these questions I found myself reading Beyond Racial Gridlock by sociologist George Yancey. This is not a new book, having originally been published in 2006, but the message of the book is a timely one. The talk about racism we hear today is needed, but also incomplete. This is because the solutions proposed all contain some deficiency. They all lack a distinctly Christian understanding of race. All of the dominant approaches are secular in origin, even though all are blessed by different Christians. What is needed, according to Yancey, is a uniquely Christian approach to racial reconciliation. George Yancey's book puts forth a new, Christian, model of racial reconciliation called mutual responsibility. Before he gives his own model of racial reconciliation, Yancey first gives and overview of different understandings of racism, followed by overviews and analysis of the four leading secular models of racial reconciliation, including the Christian adaptation of those models. He then gives his model, mutual responsibility in the second half of the book.
Americans typically understand racism in either an individualist or structuralist way. Individual racism makes racism about the individual persons beliefs and actions. Social structures and factors aren't racist, only people, as moral agents, can be racist. Structural racism understands racism as something embedded in the laws, systems, and structures of the country. Structural racism holds that an individual may not be individually racist, but still benefit from racist systems. Likewise, a minority may not experience individual racism against them, but the structure of society is set up in such a way that their race is held against them. Despite some ways an individualist definition of racism can be helpful, e.g., forcing people to be accountable for their own actions, Yancey finds it ultimately insufficient to explain reality.
These two understandings of racism will lead to different models of racial reconciliation. The first two, colorblindness and anglo-conformity, both flow from an individualist understanding of racism. The second two, multiculturalism and white responsibility, flow from the structuralist understanding of racism. Yancey gives each of these models a chapter and describes the model, depicts the strengths and weaknesses, and then follows up with a look at the Christian adaptation of each model.
Yancey shows his skills as a sociologist in these four chapters. Each of them is balanced and fair, and he goes to pains to point out strengths in every model, even those who would seem to be strongly opposed to. This kind of humility and desire for truth is present throughout the book, and is refreshing and encouraging. Instead of caricaturing proponents of the models he disagrees with, he attempts to understand them and take what is good from them and reject what is false. If only more books, Christian or non-Christian, took this kind of approach!
I won't give an overview of the four models, though I think anyone seriously interested in the topic should read this book for themselves, as his overviews are short and clear enough that my summary feels deficient and unnecessary. What I do think is the highlight of these four chapters is his criticisms of each of the four models. He shows how each of them is incomplete, and have deficiencies. These criticisms are important, especially as I have read several books which, despite nuances, fall pretty easily into these categories and still have the same deficiencies. The work of Soong-Chan Rah (Next Evangelicalism, Prophetic Lament), for example, despite his needed message, falls clearly into the category of multiculturalism, and his work has the pitfalls of that model. He lacks any real criticism of the immigrant church and would elevate minority voices above white voices. A secular example of multiculturalism would be Ibram X Kendi's Stamped From the Beginning. This book was a fascinating and well-written history, but his ultimate solution would has no way to rise above relativism. Absolute norms and ways to judge a community from outside do not exist for Kendi. These books are examples showing how well Yancey's categories and criticisms still work.
After looking at the secular models, and their strengths and weaknesses, Yancey gives us his own model, mutual responsibility. This model puts forth the idea that racial reconciliation is the work of all races, and all have their own responsibility. The biggest problems with the secular models is that they are all incomplete, they all have a poor grasp of sin, and they have no role for forgiveness.
The flaw with all of the secular models is that they all have an inadequate understanding of sin. The colorblind and anglo-conformity models are convenient for white people as they absolve them from responsibility. If we realize that we are corrupted by sin and naturally drawn to what is best for ourselves, we will not be surprised that these two categories are favored by whites. Nor should we be surprised that minorities are in favor of the multiculturalism and white responsibility model. It is convenient for minorities to be able to blame the majority culture for all of their problems and not to have to examine how their own failures and sin may have contributed to the problems. Our sinful nature naturally makes us want to choose what is best for us, and our model of racial reconciliation is no different.
If we are to develop a uniquely Christian model of racial reconciliation, then forgiveness will be key. Christianity is unique among all religions in that it offers grace, and this is especially true of modern American "Wokeness". "During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods' appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. "What's the rumpus about?" he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace." (Philip Yancey What's so Amazing About Grace) That we have been forgiven by God and should forgive others is a hallmark of the Christian faith, though it has never been easy. Forgiveness is necessary for racism to be overcome however, and the church has a unique role to play in offering and receiving forgiveness. The majority (white) church has to repent of the historic evils of racism and the ways they are still receiving benefits from them. The racial minorities are to forgive the majority group. Only by truly forgiving can we hope to move forward with reconciliation. If the white church does not believe they are truly forgiven, then reconciliation will not occur. Likewise, if the minority group does not believe the white church has truly repented, then reconciliation will not occur. The white church has to truly repent and work towards reconciliation and the minority church has to truly extend forgiveness. This work of repenting and forgiving is something only the church can accomplish.
The mutual responsibility model essentially is asking for all Christians, especially minority Christians, to be models of forgiveness and repentance. An interesting counter to this idea comes from Ibram X Kendi, who coins the phrase uplift suasion for any requirement which makes people of color be better than the average person before they are recognized. He argues (persuasively, I think) that this cannot work for racial reconciliation. We cannot require black people to be better than other races. We have to take them as they are, flaws and all. I agree with Kendi's analysis, but I also think Yancey's position is correct to call for minorities to rise above. This call would be unreasonable if it was a call for the entire population to do this, but not for those who have the spirit of Christ in them. It may be forgotten now because of how long the church has lived in compromise in the West, but once upon a time the church was known by the love for each other and St. Athanasius even used the holiness of the lives of Christians as an argument for the divinity of Christ in the fourth century. How else can you explain the transformed moral lives of Christians other than the power of Christ living in them? I believe this kind of transformed lives are what Yancey's model calls for. All races working together in forgiveness and repentance in a way that doesn't make sense otherwise.
Beyond Racial Gridlock is a fantastic book, and the best book on racial reconciliation I have read. This book would now become my top pick if I was going to recommend only one book on race to a Christian (replacing the excellent Divided by Faith). The book is charitable, it goes beyond merely black and white and includes all races, and is unabashedly Christ centered. We need a Christ-centered response to all of our problems, and this book is a start in the direction we need to go.
The biggest flaw of the mutual responsibility model is that, while George Yancey understands well that the conflict is spiritual, he does not include the fact that racism and white supremacy are principalities and powers on this earth. I would affirm this to be true, and think that his lack of a cosmic understanding of the problem impacts his analysis and solution. Despite the serious flaws that come with the white responsibility model, Christian proponents of it grasp better than others that white supremacy is something beyond merely structural or individual sin. White supremacy is a spiritual power opposed to God. Our battle is not merely against flesh and blood, but against the cosmic powers of this present darkness. As such, our weapons cannot be merely flesh and blood either. Forgiveness, grace, and repentance are needed yes, but they are not sufficient without the defeat of the spiritual power behind this evil. As William Stringfellow perceptibly observed
"The monstrous American heresy is in thinking that the whole drama of history takes place between God and humanity. But the truth, biblically and theologically and empirically, is quite otherwise: The drama of this history takes place amongst God and humanity and the principalities and powers, the great institutions and ideologies active in the world. . . . Or to put it differently, racism is not an evil in human hearts or minds; racism is a principality, a demonic power, a representative image, an embodiment of death over which human beings have little or no control, but which works its awful influence in their lives."
I am grateful for George Yancey. I think he is a gift to the church, and I hope his book is read more widely than it seems to have been. Newer books are not necessarily better, and none of the newer books on racial reconciliation I have read have been better yet.
In the midst of these questions I found myself reading Beyond Racial Gridlock by sociologist George Yancey. This is not a new book, having originally been published in 2006, but the message of the book is a timely one. The talk about racism we hear today is needed, but also incomplete. This is because the solutions proposed all contain some deficiency. They all lack a distinctly Christian understanding of race. All of the dominant approaches are secular in origin, even though all are blessed by different Christians. What is needed, according to Yancey, is a uniquely Christian approach to racial reconciliation. George Yancey's book puts forth a new, Christian, model of racial reconciliation called mutual responsibility. Before he gives his own model of racial reconciliation, Yancey first gives and overview of different understandings of racism, followed by overviews and analysis of the four leading secular models of racial reconciliation, including the Christian adaptation of those models. He then gives his model, mutual responsibility in the second half of the book.
Americans typically understand racism in either an individualist or structuralist way. Individual racism makes racism about the individual persons beliefs and actions. Social structures and factors aren't racist, only people, as moral agents, can be racist. Structural racism understands racism as something embedded in the laws, systems, and structures of the country. Structural racism holds that an individual may not be individually racist, but still benefit from racist systems. Likewise, a minority may not experience individual racism against them, but the structure of society is set up in such a way that their race is held against them. Despite some ways an individualist definition of racism can be helpful, e.g., forcing people to be accountable for their own actions, Yancey finds it ultimately insufficient to explain reality.
These two understandings of racism will lead to different models of racial reconciliation. The first two, colorblindness and anglo-conformity, both flow from an individualist understanding of racism. The second two, multiculturalism and white responsibility, flow from the structuralist understanding of racism. Yancey gives each of these models a chapter and describes the model, depicts the strengths and weaknesses, and then follows up with a look at the Christian adaptation of each model.
Yancey shows his skills as a sociologist in these four chapters. Each of them is balanced and fair, and he goes to pains to point out strengths in every model, even those who would seem to be strongly opposed to. This kind of humility and desire for truth is present throughout the book, and is refreshing and encouraging. Instead of caricaturing proponents of the models he disagrees with, he attempts to understand them and take what is good from them and reject what is false. If only more books, Christian or non-Christian, took this kind of approach!
I won't give an overview of the four models, though I think anyone seriously interested in the topic should read this book for themselves, as his overviews are short and clear enough that my summary feels deficient and unnecessary. What I do think is the highlight of these four chapters is his criticisms of each of the four models. He shows how each of them is incomplete, and have deficiencies. These criticisms are important, especially as I have read several books which, despite nuances, fall pretty easily into these categories and still have the same deficiencies. The work of Soong-Chan Rah (Next Evangelicalism, Prophetic Lament), for example, despite his needed message, falls clearly into the category of multiculturalism, and his work has the pitfalls of that model. He lacks any real criticism of the immigrant church and would elevate minority voices above white voices. A secular example of multiculturalism would be Ibram X Kendi's Stamped From the Beginning. This book was a fascinating and well-written history, but his ultimate solution would has no way to rise above relativism. Absolute norms and ways to judge a community from outside do not exist for Kendi. These books are examples showing how well Yancey's categories and criticisms still work.
After looking at the secular models, and their strengths and weaknesses, Yancey gives us his own model, mutual responsibility. This model puts forth the idea that racial reconciliation is the work of all races, and all have their own responsibility. The biggest problems with the secular models is that they are all incomplete, they all have a poor grasp of sin, and they have no role for forgiveness.
The flaw with all of the secular models is that they all have an inadequate understanding of sin. The colorblind and anglo-conformity models are convenient for white people as they absolve them from responsibility. If we realize that we are corrupted by sin and naturally drawn to what is best for ourselves, we will not be surprised that these two categories are favored by whites. Nor should we be surprised that minorities are in favor of the multiculturalism and white responsibility model. It is convenient for minorities to be able to blame the majority culture for all of their problems and not to have to examine how their own failures and sin may have contributed to the problems. Our sinful nature naturally makes us want to choose what is best for us, and our model of racial reconciliation is no different.
If we are to develop a uniquely Christian model of racial reconciliation, then forgiveness will be key. Christianity is unique among all religions in that it offers grace, and this is especially true of modern American "Wokeness". "During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods' appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. "What's the rumpus about?" he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace." (Philip Yancey What's so Amazing About Grace) That we have been forgiven by God and should forgive others is a hallmark of the Christian faith, though it has never been easy. Forgiveness is necessary for racism to be overcome however, and the church has a unique role to play in offering and receiving forgiveness. The majority (white) church has to repent of the historic evils of racism and the ways they are still receiving benefits from them. The racial minorities are to forgive the majority group. Only by truly forgiving can we hope to move forward with reconciliation. If the white church does not believe they are truly forgiven, then reconciliation will not occur. Likewise, if the minority group does not believe the white church has truly repented, then reconciliation will not occur. The white church has to truly repent and work towards reconciliation and the minority church has to truly extend forgiveness. This work of repenting and forgiving is something only the church can accomplish.
The mutual responsibility model essentially is asking for all Christians, especially minority Christians, to be models of forgiveness and repentance. An interesting counter to this idea comes from Ibram X Kendi, who coins the phrase uplift suasion for any requirement which makes people of color be better than the average person before they are recognized. He argues (persuasively, I think) that this cannot work for racial reconciliation. We cannot require black people to be better than other races. We have to take them as they are, flaws and all. I agree with Kendi's analysis, but I also think Yancey's position is correct to call for minorities to rise above. This call would be unreasonable if it was a call for the entire population to do this, but not for those who have the spirit of Christ in them. It may be forgotten now because of how long the church has lived in compromise in the West, but once upon a time the church was known by the love for each other and St. Athanasius even used the holiness of the lives of Christians as an argument for the divinity of Christ in the fourth century. How else can you explain the transformed moral lives of Christians other than the power of Christ living in them? I believe this kind of transformed lives are what Yancey's model calls for. All races working together in forgiveness and repentance in a way that doesn't make sense otherwise.
Beyond Racial Gridlock is a fantastic book, and the best book on racial reconciliation I have read. This book would now become my top pick if I was going to recommend only one book on race to a Christian (replacing the excellent Divided by Faith). The book is charitable, it goes beyond merely black and white and includes all races, and is unabashedly Christ centered. We need a Christ-centered response to all of our problems, and this book is a start in the direction we need to go.
The biggest flaw of the mutual responsibility model is that, while George Yancey understands well that the conflict is spiritual, he does not include the fact that racism and white supremacy are principalities and powers on this earth. I would affirm this to be true, and think that his lack of a cosmic understanding of the problem impacts his analysis and solution. Despite the serious flaws that come with the white responsibility model, Christian proponents of it grasp better than others that white supremacy is something beyond merely structural or individual sin. White supremacy is a spiritual power opposed to God. Our battle is not merely against flesh and blood, but against the cosmic powers of this present darkness. As such, our weapons cannot be merely flesh and blood either. Forgiveness, grace, and repentance are needed yes, but they are not sufficient without the defeat of the spiritual power behind this evil. As William Stringfellow perceptibly observed
"The monstrous American heresy is in thinking that the whole drama of history takes place between God and humanity. But the truth, biblically and theologically and empirically, is quite otherwise: The drama of this history takes place amongst God and humanity and the principalities and powers, the great institutions and ideologies active in the world. . . . Or to put it differently, racism is not an evil in human hearts or minds; racism is a principality, a demonic power, a representative image, an embodiment of death over which human beings have little or no control, but which works its awful influence in their lives."
I am grateful for George Yancey. I think he is a gift to the church, and I hope his book is read more widely than it seems to have been. Newer books are not necessarily better, and none of the newer books on racial reconciliation I have read have been better yet.
August 15, 2020
When it comes to race issues, I have to admit that for many years I’ve read more books that tend to focus on personal responsibility of individuals for improving their lot in life (Sowell, Steele, D’Souza, Williams, Riley, etc), thus tacitly absolving whites of responsibility for systemic racism. Over the past few years I’ve deliberately sought out authors that concentrate on the historical and continuing racism that still plagues our society today (Kendi, Coates, Baldwin, Dyson, DiAngelo, etc). Both perspectives seem to have some truth on their side, but only a few books try to bridge the divide between these two viewpoints. This is one such exception.
Here, Yancey evenhandedly describes each of the four primary secular models for addressing our ongoing racial problems: Colorblindness, Anglo-conformity, Multiculturalism, and White Responsiblity. He explains the advantages and deficiencies of each approach. He contends that each of these secular views fails to properly consider what Christians rightly understand about the human condition— our sin nature. Yancey attempts to bridge the divide by proposing a model of “Mutual Responsibility” based on the Christian understanding of sin, repentance, and forgiveness.
According to this model, whites need to recognize their advantages from, and complicity with, generations of systemic racism. And Blacks also have to accept some degree of personal responsibility in achieving parity. This framework requires specific, yet different responses from each group. This includes both repentance by white people, and forgiveness from Black people.
Here’s a couple quotes:
“We cannot overcome our history by ignoring the capacity of whites and nonwhites to sin. The secular models either ignore how whites have benefited from racism or they ignore how people of color use accusations of racism to further their own self interest.”
“Eventually we develop a cycle of fear that inhibits racial healing. The fears of whites lead them to ignore racial issues. Their efforts to dismiss racial issues feeds the fear of people of color that racism will not be taken seriously. The fears of people of color deepen through the misguided efforts of majority group members. As a result, people of color begin to support leaders who foolishly play the race card but who at least uphold the importance of racial justice. Playing the race card and other actions of minority leaders increase the fears of whites that they will be labeled racist regardless of what they say or do. As whites’ fears deepen, they re-double their efforts to push for the color blind philosophy. The vicious circle of dysfunctional race relations continues, with the fears of whites and the fears of people of color feeding on each other.”
I’m not sure why I typed all this out (well, texted actually) when Matt already wrote such a great review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And here’s a recent article written by the author:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/ar...
Here, Yancey evenhandedly describes each of the four primary secular models for addressing our ongoing racial problems: Colorblindness, Anglo-conformity, Multiculturalism, and White Responsiblity. He explains the advantages and deficiencies of each approach. He contends that each of these secular views fails to properly consider what Christians rightly understand about the human condition— our sin nature. Yancey attempts to bridge the divide by proposing a model of “Mutual Responsibility” based on the Christian understanding of sin, repentance, and forgiveness.
According to this model, whites need to recognize their advantages from, and complicity with, generations of systemic racism. And Blacks also have to accept some degree of personal responsibility in achieving parity. This framework requires specific, yet different responses from each group. This includes both repentance by white people, and forgiveness from Black people.
Here’s a couple quotes:
“We cannot overcome our history by ignoring the capacity of whites and nonwhites to sin. The secular models either ignore how whites have benefited from racism or they ignore how people of color use accusations of racism to further their own self interest.”
“Eventually we develop a cycle of fear that inhibits racial healing. The fears of whites lead them to ignore racial issues. Their efforts to dismiss racial issues feeds the fear of people of color that racism will not be taken seriously. The fears of people of color deepen through the misguided efforts of majority group members. As a result, people of color begin to support leaders who foolishly play the race card but who at least uphold the importance of racial justice. Playing the race card and other actions of minority leaders increase the fears of whites that they will be labeled racist regardless of what they say or do. As whites’ fears deepen, they re-double their efforts to push for the color blind philosophy. The vicious circle of dysfunctional race relations continues, with the fears of whites and the fears of people of color feeding on each other.”
I’m not sure why I typed all this out (well, texted actually) when Matt already wrote such a great review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And here’s a recent article written by the author:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/ar...
October 2, 2020
This is a really good and objective book from a black Christian sociologist, examining the different approaches the world offers for reconciliation and compares them with the truths of the Bible. Highly recommend it.
October 24, 2018
Wow. I so appreciated this book! As part of my research for a seminary research and writing course, I have been reading about racial issues and have been frustrated with much of what I have read. This book, however, in the two days that it took me to read it, has actually softened my heart and changed my mind about beliefs I have held (even though it was still challenging to not be defensive).
The author's main point is that unlike secular models of solving racial conflict (like colorblindness, Anglo-conformity, multiculturalism and white responsibility) that skew to the individual or structural cause of racism, only a model of mutual responsibility has the mark of Christian faith and the power to bring about true change in our society. Devoting a chapter to each of the aforementioned secular models, Yancey describes the model and where it came from, as well as outlining its strengths and weaknesses. He talks about how each one has been used (unsatisfactorily) as part of a Christian approach and concludes by saying about each one that it can only offer an incomplete solution to the problem.
In Part 2 of the book, Yancey describes what he considers to be an ideal (and biblical) view of resolving racial problems - one in which both parties acknowledge their own sin (and the universality of our sin problem as humans) and take responsibility for our part in the mess that is race relations in America. The author goes into detail about the sin (and sin effects) that the majority group is prone to commit, and the sin (and sin effects) that the minority group is prone to commit. He points us to the "ultimate reconciler" - Jesus - and examines how Jesus handled situations involving ethic differences and spends a chapter on how fear so often gets in the way of both parties being willing to move toward each other in any given situation. He concludes the book with some ways in which we can move forward and what that might look like.
One of the things I really appreciated about this book was the author's tone. I truly believed from his tone and manner of writing that he wants Christ-exalting race relations to take the place of the hostility, injustice, suspicion, hate, deceit, manipulation, arrogance, ignorance and general selfishness that currently characterizes the way we so often treat each other. Yancey didn't pull any punches, whether speaking about the majority or the minority, yet his goal of applying the Christian faith to this important aspect of our daily lives was evident and incredibly disarming. I have really seen my heart change before my eyes and can feel some of the blindness through which I have struggled start to slip away as I consider what God wants to do for the cause of Christ through reconciliation.
I didn't agree with everything in this book. There were supporting arguments and perspectives that I argued against in my mind as I read this book, and I didn't always come to the same conclusions as the author as he evaluated the different secular models on their strengths and weaknesses, but I was so encouraged by the author's commitment to view the issue through a biblical lens and to be gracious toward others as we try to work toward a Christian solution. He sets a patient, loving, humble, principled example for discussing race relations with others.
Some of my favorite quotes are below:
1. "Christians must begin to take the leadership role because our faith offers a unique answer to racism. If we can take the moral lead, we will provide a powerful witness to all those who are frustrated by racial problems in the United States. There could be few greater miracles in our society than to find a solution for racial alienation. Even the most skeptical doubters may reconsider their religious cynicism if we offer real answers to racial strife.” (Pg. 12)
2. "As a Christian I would rather betray some racial cause than betray the truth that has set me free." (Pg. 104)
3. "The evidence that Jesus was sent by God is the fact that those who call on his name are one…reconciling ourselves to each other is actually a way we can answer Jesus’ own prayer [John 17:21]. It becomes clear that doing the work of racial reconciliation is doing the work of Jesus.” (Pg. 114)
4. “We become less powerful witnesses because we fail to become reconciled, first within the body of Christ and second in the larger society, which suffers from the pain of racial division.” (Pg. 114)
5. “As imperfect sinners, all we can do is seek to help each other and help ourselves overcome the poison of sin in the form of racism. We have no basis for pride in the way we deal with racism and no basis for judging others.” (Pg. 133)
6. “I believe that corporate repentance and forgiveness are enough to make a change in American race relations. But because of human depravity, we must go further. A truly Christian solution will drive us to look beyond what we can gain to how we can love and give to those of different races. When both whites and nonwhites take seriously the idea of putting others’ interests above their own, then we will see a genuine Christian remedy for racial problems.” (Pg. 138)
7. “The Christian solution is not a direct answer but an attitude which leads to the correct answer.” (Pg. 143)
Without the context, these quotes don't carry the full force, but they are things that are challenging me to think honestly and biblically about race relations.
It's unlikely that any one person reading this book will agree 100% with the author on everything he writes, but, for me, it was a very helpful book in helping me to unclench my fists a little in my attempt to hold on to my own perspective. It has given me a humble, balanced perspective to chew on and has encouraged me to follow the example of the author as he tries to apply the Christian faith to dealing with race-related sins. This book has a lot of great insight and it shows us that, guided by biblical love and truth, we can approach this topic without the vitriol that is so prevalent today. There is hope for us to glorify Christ and strengthen the gospel witness in the way we love and honor our brothers and sisters of other races!
John 17:20-23 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."
The author's main point is that unlike secular models of solving racial conflict (like colorblindness, Anglo-conformity, multiculturalism and white responsibility) that skew to the individual or structural cause of racism, only a model of mutual responsibility has the mark of Christian faith and the power to bring about true change in our society. Devoting a chapter to each of the aforementioned secular models, Yancey describes the model and where it came from, as well as outlining its strengths and weaknesses. He talks about how each one has been used (unsatisfactorily) as part of a Christian approach and concludes by saying about each one that it can only offer an incomplete solution to the problem.
In Part 2 of the book, Yancey describes what he considers to be an ideal (and biblical) view of resolving racial problems - one in which both parties acknowledge their own sin (and the universality of our sin problem as humans) and take responsibility for our part in the mess that is race relations in America. The author goes into detail about the sin (and sin effects) that the majority group is prone to commit, and the sin (and sin effects) that the minority group is prone to commit. He points us to the "ultimate reconciler" - Jesus - and examines how Jesus handled situations involving ethic differences and spends a chapter on how fear so often gets in the way of both parties being willing to move toward each other in any given situation. He concludes the book with some ways in which we can move forward and what that might look like.
One of the things I really appreciated about this book was the author's tone. I truly believed from his tone and manner of writing that he wants Christ-exalting race relations to take the place of the hostility, injustice, suspicion, hate, deceit, manipulation, arrogance, ignorance and general selfishness that currently characterizes the way we so often treat each other. Yancey didn't pull any punches, whether speaking about the majority or the minority, yet his goal of applying the Christian faith to this important aspect of our daily lives was evident and incredibly disarming. I have really seen my heart change before my eyes and can feel some of the blindness through which I have struggled start to slip away as I consider what God wants to do for the cause of Christ through reconciliation.
I didn't agree with everything in this book. There were supporting arguments and perspectives that I argued against in my mind as I read this book, and I didn't always come to the same conclusions as the author as he evaluated the different secular models on their strengths and weaknesses, but I was so encouraged by the author's commitment to view the issue through a biblical lens and to be gracious toward others as we try to work toward a Christian solution. He sets a patient, loving, humble, principled example for discussing race relations with others.
Some of my favorite quotes are below:
1. "Christians must begin to take the leadership role because our faith offers a unique answer to racism. If we can take the moral lead, we will provide a powerful witness to all those who are frustrated by racial problems in the United States. There could be few greater miracles in our society than to find a solution for racial alienation. Even the most skeptical doubters may reconsider their religious cynicism if we offer real answers to racial strife.” (Pg. 12)
2. "As a Christian I would rather betray some racial cause than betray the truth that has set me free." (Pg. 104)
3. "The evidence that Jesus was sent by God is the fact that those who call on his name are one…reconciling ourselves to each other is actually a way we can answer Jesus’ own prayer [John 17:21]. It becomes clear that doing the work of racial reconciliation is doing the work of Jesus.” (Pg. 114)
4. “We become less powerful witnesses because we fail to become reconciled, first within the body of Christ and second in the larger society, which suffers from the pain of racial division.” (Pg. 114)
5. “As imperfect sinners, all we can do is seek to help each other and help ourselves overcome the poison of sin in the form of racism. We have no basis for pride in the way we deal with racism and no basis for judging others.” (Pg. 133)
6. “I believe that corporate repentance and forgiveness are enough to make a change in American race relations. But because of human depravity, we must go further. A truly Christian solution will drive us to look beyond what we can gain to how we can love and give to those of different races. When both whites and nonwhites take seriously the idea of putting others’ interests above their own, then we will see a genuine Christian remedy for racial problems.” (Pg. 138)
7. “The Christian solution is not a direct answer but an attitude which leads to the correct answer.” (Pg. 143)
Without the context, these quotes don't carry the full force, but they are things that are challenging me to think honestly and biblically about race relations.
It's unlikely that any one person reading this book will agree 100% with the author on everything he writes, but, for me, it was a very helpful book in helping me to unclench my fists a little in my attempt to hold on to my own perspective. It has given me a humble, balanced perspective to chew on and has encouraged me to follow the example of the author as he tries to apply the Christian faith to dealing with race-related sins. This book has a lot of great insight and it shows us that, guided by biblical love and truth, we can approach this topic without the vitriol that is so prevalent today. There is hope for us to glorify Christ and strengthen the gospel witness in the way we love and honor our brothers and sisters of other races!
John 17:20-23 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."
January 15, 2021
3.5 stars. It’s refreshing to read about the shortcomings of some secular model approaches to dealing with race. Our culture is steeped in the failings of these approaches, even though there are truths to be found in all 4 that George Yancey highlights.
He overviews the approaches of color-blindness, Anglo-conformity, multiculturalism, and white responsibility. Then he proposes a “mutual responsibility model” that Christians, especially, should be able to embrace and find common ground in. I found Yancey’s treatment to be helpful, and it definitely surfaced some problematic tendencies in my own heart and mind when discussing race issues.
He overviews the approaches of color-blindness, Anglo-conformity, multiculturalism, and white responsibility. Then he proposes a “mutual responsibility model” that Christians, especially, should be able to embrace and find common ground in. I found Yancey’s treatment to be helpful, and it definitely surfaced some problematic tendencies in my own heart and mind when discussing race issues.
July 5, 2020
Although published 14 years ago, this book is amazingly fresh and relevant for today’s racial conversation. It gives a helpful template for evaluating the many opinions and prescriptions being trumpeted today for our race problem. Yancey lays out four schools of thought (with secular and Christian versions of each), pointing out each one’s strengths and inadequacies along the way. He advocates an approach of “mutual responsibility” that acknowledges that all humans are flawed (or sinful in Christian terms). Any approach that overlooks one’s own responsibility and lays virtually all of the blame at the feet of one group is bound to fail, and will only perpetuate a vicious cycle of fear and power struggle. This is the most helpful and hopeful book I have read on race relations - and I’ve read quite a few.
August 30, 2020
I found some parts of this book interesting thought-provoking, five star. Other parts of this book I found fairly shallow in its depth, three star. So I give it an average of four star. Since it was a 2006 edition it is not current regarding today’s racial incidences.
September 11, 2021
What a lovely, balanced, thoughtful book. I really appreciate the author's heart. He certainly called me out on many of my biases. There are so many levels to the issue. I get confused when whites are all lumped together and blacks are all lumped together. Neither group is homogeneous in any way, so expecting either group to act as a body is wishful thinking. I'm not sure that corporate repentance for others' sins is biblical or corporate forgiveness for sins not done against you. I don't know that anything close to his vision is possible. However, when you just look at churches, his vision is more readily applied. I've always felt that there is no hope for general reconciliation this side of heaven and think that all we can do is try to bring healing and growth in our personal relationships and interactions. I appreciate the idea of striving for a more racially balanced local church so that it may shine as an example of God's power and goodness.
February 27, 2020
This book answers three questions. 1. Why do secular models of Racial Reconciliation Fail? 2. What alternative does Christianity offer? OR put another way: What makes the gospel message of Jesus Christ essential for Racial Reconciliation? 3. Why does the gospel alternative seemingly so often fail to live up to the promise?
The answer to the first question is that secular models do not take into account sin and its universal reality in the human heart. The answer to the second is the Gospel offers both the reality of sin as the root cause and Christ as the root answer. The answer to the third question is fear. How fear must be overcome by love.
The answer to the first question is that secular models do not take into account sin and its universal reality in the human heart. The answer to the second is the Gospel offers both the reality of sin as the root cause and Christ as the root answer. The answer to the third question is fear. How fear must be overcome by love.
January 6, 2025
This is a brilliant book that outlines the different common ideologies regarding race and gives pros/cons for each of them. Very helpful and convicting book to read no matter where you are coming from
July 3, 2020
SPECTACULAR!!! Simply amazing! This is the book we need right now! Go get this book and read it. Highest recommendation
November 15, 2021
Yancey lists four secular models for dealing with Racism. Colorblindness, Anglo-Conformity, Multiculturalism and White Responsibility with each a chapter devoted to it’s explanations. The second part of the book was finding a Christian approach to dealing with racism with the Mutual Responsibility model.
This book was helpful in understanding today's race controversy even though it was written in 2006. 2020 saw such an escalation of hatred and violence across our country that I had never seen before. The race riots of the 1960’s was minor compared to this.
Yancey points to the major contributor of racial strife from both sides as human depravity, the sin nature of man. I especially liked Yancey's chapter The Fear Factor. Interestingly, Howard Thurman's book, "The Disinherited" written in 1940, also talked about the past racial inequalities and how to deal with them both from a secular and Christian perspective. Martin Luther King Jr is known to have carried this book with him for years, most probably it was helpful to him in his non-violence stand during his time of fighting racism. Thurman is called a mystic by many today, identifying his outstanding viewpoint of maintaining a Christ-like attitude in the midst of the Jim Crow era. If only both sides of this race dilemma could maintain such an attitude, maybe we could remove this divide that is breaking our country apart.
Yancey's final solution, is Mutual Responsibility as he says, ”While every Christian has a role to play, our leaders must be especially willing to work to create safe zones. We must begin to teach about human depravity as a major contributor to racial strife. It is particularly important that we admit human depravity in our own racial group and not just focus on using the concept to condemn those of other races. Christian leaders must condemn any ideology that only enhances racial power at the expense of other racial groups. Far too often we hear black liberals or the white religious right demonized from the pulpit. Legitimate critiques of any group are welcome, but hateful rhetoric that dehumanizes others must be opposed. We cannot develop godly relationships with those of different races if we see those who disagree with us as enemies to be conquered. The Mutual Responsibility model compels us to look for allies, not rant against enemies. Jesus has taught us to put others before ourselves Luke 14 7–14. We can become Christians who lead the way to finding real solutions to racial issues, not Christians who follow the latest secular fad.”
This book was helpful in understanding today's race controversy even though it was written in 2006. 2020 saw such an escalation of hatred and violence across our country that I had never seen before. The race riots of the 1960’s was minor compared to this.
Yancey points to the major contributor of racial strife from both sides as human depravity, the sin nature of man. I especially liked Yancey's chapter The Fear Factor. Interestingly, Howard Thurman's book, "The Disinherited" written in 1940, also talked about the past racial inequalities and how to deal with them both from a secular and Christian perspective. Martin Luther King Jr is known to have carried this book with him for years, most probably it was helpful to him in his non-violence stand during his time of fighting racism. Thurman is called a mystic by many today, identifying his outstanding viewpoint of maintaining a Christ-like attitude in the midst of the Jim Crow era. If only both sides of this race dilemma could maintain such an attitude, maybe we could remove this divide that is breaking our country apart.
Yancey's final solution, is Mutual Responsibility as he says, ”While every Christian has a role to play, our leaders must be especially willing to work to create safe zones. We must begin to teach about human depravity as a major contributor to racial strife. It is particularly important that we admit human depravity in our own racial group and not just focus on using the concept to condemn those of other races. Christian leaders must condemn any ideology that only enhances racial power at the expense of other racial groups. Far too often we hear black liberals or the white religious right demonized from the pulpit. Legitimate critiques of any group are welcome, but hateful rhetoric that dehumanizes others must be opposed. We cannot develop godly relationships with those of different races if we see those who disagree with us as enemies to be conquered. The Mutual Responsibility model compels us to look for allies, not rant against enemies. Jesus has taught us to put others before ourselves Luke 14 7–14. We can become Christians who lead the way to finding real solutions to racial issues, not Christians who follow the latest secular fad.”
September 22, 2020
Yancey’s call for mutual responsibility is a beautiful endeavor. His explanation of the different ways people define racism clarified many statements by people in my past conversation and argumentation which I had found completely ridiculous in the past. We were speaking past each other. Some of the definitions of racism are truly unreasonable in my estimation, but I now know what I am working with when confronted with these statements and arguments.
He fails to make a case for many of his premises, and he even undercuts the major thread he is using throughout the book. He points out how certain ethnic, or sub ethnic minorities (Cuban and East Asian) thrive just as the majority ethnic people (whites). leaving that behind, he goes into structural racism (which hasn’t anything to do with personal racism) as the cause for most ethnic minority ills. On top of that, two years after this book was published Barak Obama was elected President of the United States of America.
Many of the ills he speaks of are very real nonetheless. Minority people schools are well bellow in performance on average compared to majority people schools. The majority folks have a better shot at getting good jobs, etc.
Some of these issues are certainly traced back to the legalized, actual systemic racism of the past. Minority families are way behind on generational wealth directly in consequence to unjust laws and practices of the past. Most of the ills pointed out in this book are explained by poverty and wealth, and those same ills are present in the lives of poor majority people (white) families.
He fails to make a case for many of his premises, and he even undercuts the major thread he is using throughout the book. He points out how certain ethnic, or sub ethnic minorities (Cuban and East Asian) thrive just as the majority ethnic people (whites). leaving that behind, he goes into structural racism (which hasn’t anything to do with personal racism) as the cause for most ethnic minority ills. On top of that, two years after this book was published Barak Obama was elected President of the United States of America.
Many of the ills he speaks of are very real nonetheless. Minority people schools are well bellow in performance on average compared to majority people schools. The majority folks have a better shot at getting good jobs, etc.
Some of these issues are certainly traced back to the legalized, actual systemic racism of the past. Minority families are way behind on generational wealth directly in consequence to unjust laws and practices of the past. Most of the ills pointed out in this book are explained by poverty and wealth, and those same ills are present in the lives of poor majority people (white) families.
June 19, 2020
While I did not agree with everything in this book, I appreciated Yancey’s careful analysis of the 4 secular models that have been used to try to solve the problem of racism. He was balanced in his critiques - pointing out the strengths and weaknesses to each approach in light of a Biblical worldview. The second half of the book was devoted to what he called the mutual responsibility model which was his attempt at creating a Biblical model for dealing with racism. He doesn’t have all the answers, but I deeply appreciated that his views were grounded in scripture and that he approached the subject humbly acknowledging that he didn’t have all the answers but desired for Christians to work together to do better.
October 11, 2020
A perfect book to read right now in 2020. One of the rare books on racial reconciliation that addresses the impact of sin on the matter of racial polarization. I like that it’s balanced about sin’s impact on majority and minority culture. The chapter on Fear later in the book is a standout. It’s not a perfect book, but it is important book to read as we seek to move forward as the Church in America right now.
August 18, 2022
Way ahead of its time. Written in 2006 but very nuanced, thoroughly biblical, and effectively practical in offering meaningful steps forward. The best thing I’ve read on the subject.
March 7, 2015
Summary: Racism is a problem in America. The secular world has ways they think that American society can overcome racism. Some people's solution are based on racism being on an individual level. Other people's solutions are based on racism being on a structural level. None of these solutions acknowledge that we are all sinners and we all have some responsibility in addressing this issue. Yancey argues that if we want to deal with racism effectively and in a biblical manner, we need to acknowledge those things: that we are all sinners contributing to the problem and we all have some (not necessarily equal) responsibility in addressing that issue. Both sides need to work together to understand each other and forgive each other.
I thought the book was very well written and easy to read. He lays out the different models very systematically so it's easy to follow the truths and failures of each one. And it's one of the first places where I've read what I think is an honest evaluation of both white people and people of color with respect to issues of racism.
He does give examples and he does go into how we can practically cultivate environments conducive to building relationships that mutual responsibility requires. I wish he would have gone into a little bit more detail on the latter but the book is still excellent overall.
I thought the book was very well written and easy to read. He lays out the different models very systematically so it's easy to follow the truths and failures of each one. And it's one of the first places where I've read what I think is an honest evaluation of both white people and people of color with respect to issues of racism.
He does give examples and he does go into how we can practically cultivate environments conducive to building relationships that mutual responsibility requires. I wish he would have gone into a little bit more detail on the latter but the book is still excellent overall.
April 7, 2022
Yancey’s entire project is a huge stepping stone toward the healing so many of us desire but are unsure how to achieve.
July 9, 2021
Yancey is an African American sociologist and Christian. This book is more written for the everyday man than for the academic although it will be helpful for both. Yancey attempts to show that only a Christian solution will truly solve racism. He points out the positive aspects and shortcomings of the secular models of colorblindness, Anglo-conformity, multiculturalism, and white responsibility. Every model has some real strengths, but none will truly lead to racial healing. He believes that the reality of our sin nature requires a different model. The model he proposes is mutual responsibility. In the mutual responsibility model, whites learn to listen to people of color as they share about structural disadvantages baked into America's social systems and people of color refuse to play the race card in order to gain an upper hand. Yancey doesn't shy away from the existence of racism in America. He seems clear-headed in describing both relational and structural racism that persists for people of color. And yet he encourages people of color to recognize that without recognizing their own propensity to sin, we'll merely flip the power structures so people of color can disparage European Americans. I appreciate Yancey's boldness to put forward this approach. He calls for true racial healing in society and in the church. I was encouraged to read someone who still sees a way forward, albeit a difficult one, for Christians of color and white Christians to live together in harmony so the world will see Christ's power to break down walls of division. To do that, we as individuals must first reckon with our own sin nature. White Christians like myself need to acknowledge where our actions are racist or where we do ignore our neighbors of color. Jesus calls us into seeing those who are marginalized and engaging with them to build them up in love. He also calls us to repent of the ways we dehumanize people who are other by our seeking of comfort. I think Yancey's model has tremendous value in discussions around racial reconciliation.
September 12, 2020
In Beyond Racial Gridlock, George Yancey provides a very good introduction to solving the race problem in America, from a Christian perspective.
The first section of the book contains a critique of the four major secular models of addressing systemic racism in the US (colorblindness, Anglo-conformity, multiculturalism, white responsibility). Yancey reviews each model, showing where they have merit and where they miss the mark. He contends that each model ultimately fails because it does not recognize the root of the problem--sin.
This is where Yancey's mutual responsibility comes in. The mutual responsibility model posits that, because all people sin, all people have a responsibility to help address the sin in our hearts and in our society. Yancey, a black Christian, tries to look at both white and non-white racial sins fairly. He points out where white culture has benefitted from systemic racism, even if most white people are not individually racists or even knowing participants. He also looks at how black culture has contributed to ongoing racism, specifically focusing on playing the race card (i.e. claiming something/someone is racist when they/it clearly is not).
According to Yancey, because white and black culture has contributed to the race problem differently, each side has different responsibilities when working toward a solution. White people need to focus on corporate lament and truly listening to people of color, and black people need to exercise true forgiveness.
Overall, I felt the author presented his case in a very fair and reasonable manner. I appreciated his critique of the four major models, citing both the good and the bad in each. I also appreciated the fact that he did not choose sides, but rather called out the sins of both whites and non-whites, but still in a loving manner. The only drawback of the book, in my opinion, was that it was short on application--something that Yancey himself plainly admits. I'm not sure I can blame him, though, since America's race problems just seem very, very difficult to solve.
The first section of the book contains a critique of the four major secular models of addressing systemic racism in the US (colorblindness, Anglo-conformity, multiculturalism, white responsibility). Yancey reviews each model, showing where they have merit and where they miss the mark. He contends that each model ultimately fails because it does not recognize the root of the problem--sin.
This is where Yancey's mutual responsibility comes in. The mutual responsibility model posits that, because all people sin, all people have a responsibility to help address the sin in our hearts and in our society. Yancey, a black Christian, tries to look at both white and non-white racial sins fairly. He points out where white culture has benefitted from systemic racism, even if most white people are not individually racists or even knowing participants. He also looks at how black culture has contributed to ongoing racism, specifically focusing on playing the race card (i.e. claiming something/someone is racist when they/it clearly is not).
According to Yancey, because white and black culture has contributed to the race problem differently, each side has different responsibilities when working toward a solution. White people need to focus on corporate lament and truly listening to people of color, and black people need to exercise true forgiveness.
Overall, I felt the author presented his case in a very fair and reasonable manner. I appreciated his critique of the four major models, citing both the good and the bad in each. I also appreciated the fact that he did not choose sides, but rather called out the sins of both whites and non-whites, but still in a loving manner. The only drawback of the book, in my opinion, was that it was short on application--something that Yancey himself plainly admits. I'm not sure I can blame him, though, since America's race problems just seem very, very difficult to solve.
February 20, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I think it is quite educational, especially as he outlines four common approaches to how racial reconciliation can be achieved and outlines their strengths and weaknesses. He explains colorblindness, Anglo-conformity, multiculturalism, and white responsibility and how both white and black evangelicals differ in their acceptance of these models. He then goes on to outline his solution, mutual responsibility, in which white evangelicals would practice corporate repentance and black evangelicals would practice corporate forgiveness.
My primary concerns about the book include his idealism (it just doesn't seem practical to me--and even IF all christians would adopt his vision, who's to say the world would follow suit?), his statements of "fact" which he simply doesn't prove as fact (and I don't always agree with his statements), and a flavor of critical race theory in places, even though he comments on critical race theory as a separate thing (I think it's easy to adopt PART of CRT and not even realize it). He also repeatedly uses "human depravity" as a cause for racism where I would be more inclined to just call it sin.
I think it was worth reading, which is why I give it three stars, but there is quite a lot I don't embrace and I just don't think his solutions are feasible. But it's good to learn about and continue thinking about, so I appreciate this book at least as a starting point for conversation.
My primary concerns about the book include his idealism (it just doesn't seem practical to me--and even IF all christians would adopt his vision, who's to say the world would follow suit?), his statements of "fact" which he simply doesn't prove as fact (and I don't always agree with his statements), and a flavor of critical race theory in places, even though he comments on critical race theory as a separate thing (I think it's easy to adopt PART of CRT and not even realize it). He also repeatedly uses "human depravity" as a cause for racism where I would be more inclined to just call it sin.
I think it was worth reading, which is why I give it three stars, but there is quite a lot I don't embrace and I just don't think his solutions are feasible. But it's good to learn about and continue thinking about, so I appreciate this book at least as a starting point for conversation.
July 19, 2020
Although this book was written over ten years ago, it is one of the best books I have read on the challenges we face today. Yancey does a great job of breaking down the well-intentioned efforts towards racial justice and their inherent flaws. I often found myself nodding in agreement and frustration at the various approaches and their adherents.
The book then follows with a new approach particularly directed at Christians. Once again, I found myself nodding in agreement and wishing for this approach to become more mainstream. Unfortunately, the fault of the book is that in our climate today, most do not approach the issue of racial justice from a Christian perspective and the model he promotes requires all parties to use the same approach. In the end it might be seen as wishful thinking. I would like to see a modified system that allows a group that holds the mutual responsibility model to navigate a world where others do not.
In the end, this is a great book to read with other who want to see real change and healing between races. It addresses tough subjects and says what many are afraid to say. I highly recommend it.
The book then follows with a new approach particularly directed at Christians. Once again, I found myself nodding in agreement and wishing for this approach to become more mainstream. Unfortunately, the fault of the book is that in our climate today, most do not approach the issue of racial justice from a Christian perspective and the model he promotes requires all parties to use the same approach. In the end it might be seen as wishful thinking. I would like to see a modified system that allows a group that holds the mutual responsibility model to navigate a world where others do not.
In the end, this is a great book to read with other who want to see real change and healing between races. It addresses tough subjects and says what many are afraid to say. I highly recommend it.
December 4, 2020
Yancey is currently writing another book; I look forward to a more updated view. This was originally published in 2006, before Obama's presidency. I am interested in whether Yancey would be more willing to claim overt racism still exists in our country today than he was when writing this book, and I feel like he was too soft on structural racism. I appreciated the idea of mutual responsibility, though, and I think this would be an excellent book for a white Christian who is still in denial about structural racism and still trying to hold on to a view of colorblindness or anglo-conformity. It is very gentle about showing why those views fail. For someone who has done quite a bit of anti-racism reading, this was a lot of review.
June 9, 2020
Oh so good! George Yancy presents a balanced perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of secular models for racial reconciliation and calls Christians of all races to a singularly distinct approach. Yancy calls his gospel-centric model "The Mutual Responsibility Model," and presents it as an incomplete theoretical model to launch discussion among Christians in majority and minority groups determined to believe God is bigger than the racial divide. Yancy's proposal starts with all humans recognizing human depravity as it impacts their own understanding of race issues. Definitely worth reading!
August 14, 2020
Good read and gospel-centered. Yancey nails the heart of the racism issue: our total depravity. He recommends a “mutual responsibility” approach to repairing race relations that calls both whites and POC to acknowledge their sins.
He reviews 4 secular frameworks for racial reconciliation and point out the pros and cons of both without bias and ultimately concludes with a gospel solution where both sides have a role to play.
Terminology is a bit dated - book was written in 2006, but it is very relevant for this cultural moment (8/2020).
I disagree with his perspective on “corporate repentance,” but I recommend this read wholeheartedly.
He reviews 4 secular frameworks for racial reconciliation and point out the pros and cons of both without bias and ultimately concludes with a gospel solution where both sides have a role to play.
Terminology is a bit dated - book was written in 2006, but it is very relevant for this cultural moment (8/2020).
I disagree with his perspective on “corporate repentance,” but I recommend this read wholeheartedly.
September 21, 2020
This is the book I’ve been looking for. One that situates contemporary discussions on racism in the context of the local church. Dr. Yancy does a fantastic job of infusing hope into a seemingly hopeless divide. He believes as I do that the church has a tremendous opportunity to display a better path. If we truly believe that Jesus has broken down the dividing walls of hostility and has formed one new man from those who were once enemies, then the church can not afford to punt the responsibility of this discussion into the realm of identity politics.
The way of Jesus is the way of racial justice, healing, and reconciliation.
The way of Jesus is the way of racial justice, healing, and reconciliation.
July 1, 2020
The most interesting thing about this book was his description of four models for trying to deal with racial issues in society: colorblindness, anglo-conformity (poorly named, IMO), multiculturalism, and white responsibility, which he contrasts those with his "mutual responsibility" model based on a distinctively Christian way of looking at the world, especially through the lens of human depravity. Yancey, as he does elsewhere (he's in interesting follow on Facebook) has plenty in this book to make conservatives and liberals uncomfortable.
August 5, 2020
A great book for anyone wanting to better understand how racism is viewed in our culture. Yancey has the academic chops and real world experience to write this book, and yet, it is also such an easy and accessible read.
For Christians, it offers a great way forward in the racism debate. If you feel like you (and your church or Christian friends) are talking "past" each other instead of "with" each other, this is a great book. Also Yancy offers a unique Christian solution to racism that might be a great via media between the poles of liberal and conservative politics.
For Christians, it offers a great way forward in the racism debate. If you feel like you (and your church or Christian friends) are talking "past" each other instead of "with" each other, this is a great book. Also Yancy offers a unique Christian solution to racism that might be a great via media between the poles of liberal and conservative politics.
August 17, 2020
This was a really helpful overview of some of the issues involved and approaches to racism. He helpfully and succinctly broke down four basic approaches and the pros and cons of each. It seems to make sense that each view will be picking up on some true aspects of the problem, while there may be major downsides with the proposed solutions. I also appreciated his argumentation for the mutual responsibility model. It was very readable, and the footnotes point to a wealth of helpful information that could be explored more thoroughly.
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