Choosing Honest Engagement
A Review of
Race in Post-Obama America:
The Church Responds
David Maxwell, Ed.
Paperback: WJK Books, 2016
Buy now: [ Amazon ] [ Kindle ]
Reviewed by Heather Caliri
The first day of our family vacation in New York, my blonde six-year-old rushed joyfully into the opening elevator. Not a second later, she rushed out just as fast, a startled look on her face.
I looked up to see two African-American ladies staring at me, their faces shocked as my child’s.
“Come on, honey,” I said, grabbing her hand, and nodding at the women. I didn’t know what to say—so I said nothing. By staying silent, I hoped to pretend nothing had happened.
Which is exactly why many white Americans stay silent about race.
But the older of the two women spoke up. “We’re just human beings, honey,” she said to my daughter. Then she looked at me. I saw a tiredness and anger that seared my heart.
“Oh, dear Lord, ma’am,” I said. “I’m so sorry.”
The encounter hurt me. But it clearly hurt those women more.
Continue Reading…