Beyond Racial Gridlock

i>Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility
by George Yancey
InterVarsity Press, 197 pages, paper, $15.00 or $12.00 if ordered online

Christians have struggled with racial issues for centuries. Many solutions have been proposed, but none has really solved the problem. In addition, there is the reality that Christians of different races see the issues differently.

As an African American author, George Yancey combines his own personal experiences with his sociological expertise and his commitment to authentic, biblical racial reconciliation, to provide fresh insights and hope for our multiethnic journey together.

Yancey surveys a range of approaches to racial healing that Christians have used and then offers a new model. 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 (1) that both majority and minority cultures have their own challenges, tendencies, and sins to repent of, and (2) 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.

David Anderson, president of BridgeLeader Network and nationally syndicated radio talk show host, says, “Anyone who wants to have a serious discussion about racial issues in American culture must crack open this book!”

To read a two-page summary called “Yancey talks about racism,” go to http://www.ivpress.com/title/desc/3376.pdf.

George Yancey (Ph.D., University of Texas) is associate professor of sociology at the University of North Texas and author of several books.