Rating: 8
February 28, 2007
First, it’s just plain weird writing a review for a book that my boss had written. But the fact that it’s being reviewed means it’s good — am I kissing up?
Second, I was surprised how frustrated I was at the beginning to read a book written by whites for whites. They seemed to go out of their way to relate and ameliorate white anxiety when it comes to relating to a person of color. But I reminded myself that the book isn’t for me. So I read on.
And as I read, Doug and Paula proved to be thoughtful guides. At first, they hold your hands over the rough terrain, and they reassure you, showing how they too had tough starts in their first steps over this kind of land. But as you get the hang of it, they keep on inviting you to climb higher up, because the view is much better from up there. And you go, and realize that you’re being called into so much more — to get uncomfortable, to embrace your heritage, to seek justice. It’s the Kingdom of God for those who are in privilege, and as a person of color, this book gave me hope for the future as well.
Their five-stage framework roughly follows Beverly Tatum’s framework for white identity in Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? But they give it a healthy doze of faith, which then pours in decanters of hope for those who might feel guilty, ashamed or despondent over their ethnic heritage. The displacement and white identity sections are secure ropes that help white Americans engage this tricky landscape of race and culture.
I highly recommend that every white person read it, and don’t worry, they won’t take out their theological or academic AK-47’s and riddle you with guilt bullets. They’re kind, thoughtful and point to a great deal of hope, without bleaching the issues. So again, grab a bunch of friends, ask the Spirit to guide you, and I think you’ll find yourself on a great journey. Because, the view is much better from up here.
You can view its Amazon detail page by clicking the image above.
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