At numerous points throughout American history, Christians had a choice to confront the evils of racism or quietly ignore them. In a challenging conversation Jemar Tisby, author of “The Color of Compromise” and host of the “Pass the Mic” podcast, explores key moments from the arrival of the first African slaves in 1619 to the rise of the Religious Right in the 1970s when the white church in America chose silence or complicity rather than faithfulness.
He also explains how Christian arguments to justify slavery are still being used by some today in the wake of police violence and Black Lives Matters. Also this week, Skye and Phil discuss why neighborhoods are becoming more segregated than ever. Tim Keller’s definition of “righteous” challenges our American and economic belief in self-interest. IBM is using A.I. to create fake crowds for televised sports during the pandemic. Plus, Amsterdam has an innovative solution for a scourge of “wild peeing.”
“The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism” by Jemar Tisby: https://www.amazon.com/Color-Compromise-American-Churchs-Complicity-ebook/dp/B07BB6R827
“IBM’s Watson to help tennis fans argue with each other:” https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/01/tech/ibm-artificial-intelligence-us-open/index.html
“These planter-like urinals are Amsterdam’s answer to the problem of ‘wild peeing’”: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/amsterdam-sustainable-urinal-scli-intl/index.html
I think anyone would say that of course they believe everyone is sinful, and I would say the same. I think it's difficult coming to grips with the fact that I think I held, as an unconscious belief, that my world was, at the very least, pretty okay. Maybe not perfect, but not actively sinful. Which is, of course, impossible. It's just not fun to realize that, if that makes sense.
I know that, and I'm trying to find my way to help. I suppose it's difficult for me to know how to help. And perhaps helping looks different for every person. I see a void, and I want to fill it the right way. It's good to know there…
Hi Wesley - I think I just appreciate having a clearer picture of how things are, and how they got that way. I'd love to say that my "tribe" is "clean," but no one's tribe is clean. Because no one is clean. People in power tend to exploit people who have no power. So it shouldn't be shocking to find sin like that in our communities, or even our families. If any of us thought our group (whatever that group is) is sinless, we need to throw that idea away. No group is sinless. The encouraging part for me is that when you understand a situation, you can start to do something to make it better. It's an opportunity to help.
I can't say that I enjoyed the episode, as it's not exactly enjoyable to hear most of what has been your entire world your entire life held accountable for something so troubling (putting it lightly.) And yet, it's something that needs to be said. I'm planning on checking out Jemar's book at some point (I'm a slow reader,) as I'm especially interested in what he thinks should be done. That's where I've found myself stuck as of late: what to do. Phil, I found your comment about your journey being "fun" rather striking, as my experience with coming to grips with systemic racism in America has been anything but. Every day is a constant battle to not fall into self-loathing,…
@filmpastor - Here are the media mentioned:
- The Color of Compromise/Jemar Tisby
- The Civil War as a Theological Crisis/Mark Knoll
- Taking America Back for God/Andrew Whitehead
- When They See Us (TV miniseries)
- How to Fight Racism (Coming in Jan. of 2021)/Jemar Tisby
Hi Liz - thanks for the note. I wasn't connecting the school choice idea with advantaging/disadvantaging our kids or communities. My kids went to a private Christian high school - obviously a choice we made based on what we thought was best for them at the time. That doesn't disadvantage our neighbor's kids. But if there is a proposal to balance funding between my wealthier district and a neighboring poorer district, and I oppose it because I don't want my kids to lose any benefit of the higher funding in my district, THEN I think we have an issue with "disadvantaging my community to advantage myself." School vouchers - if they're made available fairly - aren't the same issu…