My thanks to someone on either LibraryThing or GoodReads who recommended this as the better book than Reconstructing the Gospel on discussing Christianity, the church and racism. This had a lot of historical background information. It was better written in that it really laid out the problem from the beginnings and then came forward in time. I really appreciated the end chapters with their suggestions on how to address the problem. I'm so grateful for books that go beyond just describing a problem and offer ways to make a difference. This is one of those. Well written, though the author's narration was not the best, the material really kept my attention. This would be great to read with a group. There is so much to delve into. Very thoughtfully put together. ( )

The Color of Compromise is a historical survey focusing on the ways American Christianity has been complicit in enslavement and racism throughout the history of the United States, from colonization to the present. I found it to be a heavy read, but a necessary one.

One of the most compelling arguments Tisby presents throughout the book centers around the notion that white American Christianity has consistently focused on individual conversion at the expense of systemic change. He does an excellent job of tracing this theme from the First and Second Great Awakenings through to today. He scrutinizes oft revered American religious figures such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, and exposes the ways in which they enabled slavery- Tisby pulls no punches in discussing Jim Crow era racial terror, and furthermore, considers the insidious ways racism still permeates society today.

The book was well-researched, well-presented, and I greatly appreciated Tisby's final chapter containing concrete suggestions about how Christians can work to combat racism today.

This is a sobering read, but one I highly recommend. Those of us who are part of the many, many Christian denominations and communities that have played a role in oppressing Black Americans- overtly and through silence in the face of injustice- need to read this book. ( )

A powerful survey of history and action that should be required reading. ( )

Introductory survey of the Christian church in America and how much white supremacy was interwoven in with theology and everyday practice. It was very well written and a solid introduction.

I think I was expecting a lot more detail and more primary sources rather than a survey which briefly covered hundreds of years. For comparison, Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning clocks in at 608 pages. I would have loved to read 600 pages from Tisby as the 250 pages we got seemed to be too little. Here's to another Tisby history book!

The later chapters have a more recent context so it was easier to access and I especially appreciate how he contrasted Billy Graham and Martin Luther King, Jr. as it is stark how differently the white Christian response was to Black suffering during the civil rights movement.

A good conversation starter and a great jumping off point into deeper research. ( )

An excellent unpacking of American Christianity's history of and experiences with racism. A must-read. ( )