Week 12 Prompt
Author: Jemar Tisby
Title: The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church's Complicity in RacismPublication Date: January 22, 2019
Page Count: 256
Where is the book on the narrative continuum?
I would say it is in the middle of the narrative continuum. The book is primarily history, essay, and social commentary, yet it has a very readable flow, and at times tells us of historical events in a story-like format.
What is the subject of the book?
The Color of Compromise examines the history of the American church’s relationship with racism, from the colonial era to Trump-era America.
What type of book is it?
Nonfiction history, religion, social sciences
Articulate appeal:
What is the pacing of the book?
I would call it medium-paced. The heavy historical themes can make the book feel slow, but Tisby cuts down on unnecessary information and keeps things moving along well to keep the reader’s attention.
Describe the characters of the book.
As the book covers close to 400 years of history, there are no characters we follow throughout. Hundreds of people are mentioned, though a few stand out and are discussed more heavily, like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Billy Graham.
How does the story feel?
The book covers a very heavy topic, some parts are discouraging and even horrifying. Tisby ends the book with his own personal suggestions about steps the church and the broader country should take in the right step. Overall, Tisby is very persuasive and compelling in his writing and storytelling.
What is the intent of the author?
Tisby’s goal is to educate readers, especially white Christians, on the history of the American church’s complacency when it comes to racism. He hopes readers will recognize many of the things the church is doing today as harmful and take steps to reconcile.
What is the focus of the story?
The focus of this book is giving an overview of history on this subject, spanning close to 400 years, focusing on notable people, places, and events in order to tell a cohesive story to educate readers.
Does the language matter?
Tisby is very thoughtful in his language. There is an extensive introduction detailing his goals and thought processes for the book to get the reader on the same page. The historical aspect of the book is strong, but not the most thorough out there if that is what the reader wants. What this book does is portray enough of the history and language in a very accessible way for the average reader who is not looking for a heavy, scholarly read.
Is the setting important and well-described?
The book skips around way too much to ever build up one setting, unless that is, America itself. I don’t think a strong setting is needed for a book of this kind.
Are there details and, if so, of what?
There are plenty of details available in the book. It is a meticulously researched history. When it is relevant, Tisby goes into great depth on some issues and some stories, and the details are very informative, though often disturbing.
Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?
There are no graphs or charts in this book, and I do not think they are necessary.
Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?
Yes, this book is all about informing readers of the history they may not know, and then equipping them to break the cycle and be better.
Why would a reader enjoy this book?
1. They are a Christian looking to learn more about their religion’s history.
2. They are interested in racial issues in America.
3. They are looking for ideas on how to improve their church community.
Interesting that the primary audience is white Christians! This sounds like one of those books that is unsettlingly important to read, kind of like the Netflix documentary series The Keepers, which is about Catholic priests who abused children and got away with it (SO upsetting and frustrating). It's enlightening because it's important to know and acknowledge the history, but upsetting because it makes you feel frustrated and sometimes powerless.
ReplyDeleteI like that the author ends with suggestions on steps to move forward/improve; it adds some optimism to an otherwise discouraging topic.
I will have to check out that documentary! Unfortunately there are way too many resources similar to it. But yes, I believe education in topics like this is so important, especially to help us recognize similar patters in our churches and society today so we can make changes.
DeleteSince Haley mentioned Netflix, I have to say this is the kind of book that I would like to see made into a Netflix show. I'm not much of a non fiction reader, overall, but I do enjoy a good documentary. However, I'm curious about this subject and appreciate that you say the writing style is accessible.
ReplyDeleteLiz,
ReplyDeleteDid they talk about a lot of denominations in the book or just one or two? It's an interesting and complex issue, as many people in marginalized groups are very religious. Yet, some especially American churches, like the LDS church in particular, have a history of racism. Judging by TikTok interviews with students at BYU, it seems this is still a problem for some people, as many Black students have stated feeling unwelcome there. In addition, Christians of various denominations have used God as an excuse to either end or continue slavery (like the Quakers were anti-slavery, with the Southern Baptist were pro-slavery).
Hi Katie, Yes there is lots of discussion on different denominations! One that stood out to me that he talks about in depth was the Baptist split over whether to support or oppose slavery. And yes, he also gives some discussion about predominantly black denominations.
DeleteIt's interesting that you bring up universities, several of the author's personal recommendations at the end of the book center around making changes in the educational world, especially Christian education.