Ordinary Heroes of Racial Justice
A History of Christians in Action
Karen J. Johnson’s eye-opening history book is about the complicity of American churches in systemic inequality.
Tracing the long history of religious support for segregation, the book asserts that white Christians have used biased interpretations of Bible passages, generational social norms and customs, religious teachings, and secular laws prohibiting the mixing of races to support slavery, segregation, and diminished social status for Black people. The book humanizes the issues through poignant stories of ordinary Christians who believed that living out the gospel meant embodying Jesus’s teachings in everyday life and who felt compelled to make a difference. Their contributions included fostering understanding and reconciliation within church communities, taking social action through community and economic development, practicing interracial fellowship, ministering to the needs of impoverished Black children for nourishment and safe places to learn and play, building intentional communities to share resources, and working to address systemic racial injustice.
Especially moving are the stories of white Christians who, recognizing that change would not come without proximity, left white enclaves to live in Black neighborhoods where real estate “red-lining” practices had enforced segregation. The book’s graphic descriptions of costly, substandard, dilapidated housing and the lack of public services essential to clean, safe communities are disturbing. Along with these issues, Christians faced the daunting task of building trust on both sides of the racial divide.
Arguing that the roots of racial injustice are deep, systemic, and lingering, the book suggests that change will require addressing systemic issues. It recommends steps like learning to celebrate differences rather than demanding assimilation, and developing empathy, deep listening skills, and resilience. It encourages fostering understanding through proximity and openness to God’s guidance.
Ordinary Heroes of Racial Justice is a meticulous history of the roots of racial inequality that highlights little-known Christians who worked for change.
Reviewed by
Kristine Morris
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
