Here's an idea for Lent that will do more good than giving up desserts: Read a book about contemporary sub-Saharan Africa. It's not a penance, though it can hurt. And seeing how much of the rest of the world lives sure does put a lot of our minor irritations, and even major problems, in perspective.
A copy of former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige's new book, The Black-White Achievement Gap, arrived in our offices this week. Co-authored with Elaine Witty, Ed.D., Paige's book tackles what it calls "the greatest civil rights issue of our time." Paige, of course, served under President George W. Bush, from 2001 to 2005, during which time the controversial No Child Left Behind Act was put into effect.
We hope to review the book at length later on, and perhaps snag an interview with Mr. Paige himself. But in the meantime, we thought this interview from the book's PR materials would be a good way to give readers an overview of the book and the formidable issue that it's taking on.
More Than Equals, co-authored by Chris Rice and the late Spencer Perkins, is considered one of the pivotal books in the Christian racial reconciliation movement that found its greatest momentum in the early and mid 1990s. My husband and I used it for many years in supper club book discussions, and numerous churches and ministries around the nation found it to be an indispensable resource. Against the backdrop of the story of Spencer and Chris's interracial friendship and evolving ministry during the late 1980s and early '90s in Jackson, Mississippi, the book covers the definitions of racism in America, white privilege, white blinders, and black rage. A 1994 winner of the Christianity Today Book Award, it's one of my all-time favorite books on the issue of race, faith, and cross-cultural ministry.
The early '90s yielded a flood of racial reconciliation books and articles thanks, in part, to Rodney King's now legendary question: "Can we all get along?" But over the years a host of other books have been written on the subject of reconciliation and social justice in the context of Christian faith. In honor of Black History Month, here is a small sampling of important titles. Please feel free to add your own favorites to the list in the comment box below.
You probably remember Jessica Lynch's story of being famously captured as a prisoner of war during the early stages of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The media certainly played it up as an inspirational story of a young, blonde, female hero. But do you remember Shoshana Johnson's equally harrowing story? Johnson, the first black female prisoner of war, has a new book out titled I'm Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen -- My Journey Home.
According to AOL's BlackVoices, Johnson was shot in both ankles as her U.S. Army convoy wandered into the city of Nasiriyah, touching off a violent skirmish that left 11 U.S. soldiers dead and six abducted and held captive, including Johnson and her friend, Jessica Lynch.
What holiday book would you read on Christmas Eve? The Christmas Carol, right? There are quite a few versions of this Dickens' classic, as you might imagine. Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Match Girl is another holiday classic. Though beautifully illustrated in a kid-appealing fashion, the book contains some heavy themes. So read it first before you read it to your children. You wouldn't want to cause those visions of sugar plums to turn sour. One classic that will appeal to all audiences is O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi.
If you care for more modern fiction, you might want to sample one or two of these titles:
Major news from Zondervan today regarding the Deadly Viper Character Assassins book that provoked the ire of the Christian Asian community -- and many others -- due to its use of negative Asian stereotypes and caricatures: Zondervan is permanently removing all of the books from stores and discontinuing all related products. Talk about stepping up and taking responsibility!
The blogosphere has been blowing up this week with posts and comments flying left and right regarding a new book from Zondervan Publishers called Deadly Viper Character Assassins: A Kung Fu Survival Guide for Life & Leadership. The book, which was co-authored by Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite, has provoked the ire of Asian American Christian leaders (as well as others who identify with their pain) offended by the book's uninformed use of Asian imagery and stereotypes, as well as a promotional video for the book posted at Facebook.
Did you know that October is National Book Month? Oh, I hear you: "Thanks for telling us now that the month is almost over." Well, just because the month is over doesn't mean you still can't crack open a good book and explore new people, places, and ideas. I mean, when you get down to it, shouldn't every month be a National Book Month?
UrbanFaith contributor Linda Leigh Hargrove certainly thinks so. That's why she compiled this excellent list with suggestions for both fiction and nonfiction books dealing with African American history. Check it out, and then get yourself to the library, your local bookstore, or an online book site and get busy reading.
