lingfish7's review
5.0
This is a short and sweet review: every Christian needs to read this. It is a pertinent part of our faith if we claim to believe God’s call to love our neighbor.
I was very impressed with the thorough research, expansive and detailed history, and insightful examples of what reparations look like in our country today.
I especially loved the deep dive into the story of Zacchaeus and the parable of the Good Samaritan. They nearly spent an entire chapter on each and explaining how the Bible views both reparations and the call to love our neighbor.
Note: Don’t skip the introduction! They lay out important information like how this book is simply a primer to reparations. They do not have the time to dive into all the history and all the questions, but I do think they achieved the most important start to this large topic, namely that reparations starts with the gospel of love rooted in our hearts to see the problems in our society and then do something about it. We cannot do this important work apart from the Holy Spirit because it is so antithetical to our sin nature.
I was very impressed with the thorough research, expansive and detailed history, and insightful examples of what reparations look like in our country today.
I especially loved the deep dive into the story of Zacchaeus and the parable of the Good Samaritan. They nearly spent an entire chapter on each and explaining how the Bible views both reparations and the call to love our neighbor.
Note: Don’t skip the introduction! They lay out important information like how this book is simply a primer to reparations. They do not have the time to dive into all the history and all the questions, but I do think they achieved the most important start to this large topic, namely that reparations starts with the gospel of love rooted in our hearts to see the problems in our society and then do something about it. We cannot do this important work apart from the Holy Spirit because it is so antithetical to our sin nature.
ejoym's review
5.0
I agree with Kevin DeYoung when he says:
“If readers have only viewed American history with rose-colored glasses, they will be helped to see the uncomfortable truth that racism in America has been far too pervasive and that the White church—with some noble exceptions mentioned in the book—has far too often been part of the problem instead of the solution. The authors have plenty of criticism for White Americans and for the White church in America, but they want to persuade not merely scold. To that end, they have put forward the most compact and most learned Christian defense of reparations to date. Well written and thoughtfully presented, this is an important book that deserves to be taken seriously.”
It is a worthwhile read and long overdue.
“If readers have only viewed American history with rose-colored glasses, they will be helped to see the uncomfortable truth that racism in America has been far too pervasive and that the White church—with some noble exceptions mentioned in the book—has far too often been part of the problem instead of the solution. The authors have plenty of criticism for White Americans and for the White church in America, but they want to persuade not merely scold. To that end, they have put forward the most compact and most learned Christian defense of reparations to date. Well written and thoughtfully presented, this is an important book that deserves to be taken seriously.”
It is a worthwhile read and long overdue.
ben_smitty's review
4.0
"The call of reparations is not merely for a check to be written or for a debt to be repaid but for a world to be repaired."
A sensible defense of reparations for a Christian audience, making the case for how black wealth, culture, and heritage have been stolen throughout the history of slavery in the U.S.. What's refreshing about Kwon and Thompson's case is how rooted their arguments are in the Biblical story. Drawing from many examples throughout Scripture, Kwon and Thompson illustrate the way in which repentance is almost always paired with repayment (and in the New Testament, restoration) especially when it comes to human-human relationships. Repentance alone isn't sufficient if what has been stolen is not returned. Though we'd like to be cleared of this responsibility, the passage of time does not erase this debt, even after saying "we're sorry."
In a gentle and understanding manner, Kwon and Thompson patiently spend many of the book's chapters answering common misconceptions, questions, and pushback: "Slavery has been abolished. Why do I owe anyone anything?" "Who owes what? How can we quantify what needs to be repaid?" "What about immigrants from other countries who also face cultural theft?" Those interested in exploring these questions ought to read this short but helpful book, but as the authors themselves have said, let us not pretend we are off the hook just because we don't know the details of how reparations should be done.
Part of the appeal in Kwon and Thompson's defense is their willingness to hand the responsibility back to the church to generate creative and reparative solutions, an incarnational model that refuses a "one size fits all" proposal for the entire country. Those looking for a quick fix from Reparations will be disappointed as it is not Kwon and Thompson's intended purpose. However, I wholehearted recommend this to anyone looking to be convinced of the necessity of reparations from a Christian perspective or those looking for an accessible book to convince others.
A sensible defense of reparations for a Christian audience, making the case for how black wealth, culture, and heritage have been stolen throughout the history of slavery in the U.S.. What's refreshing about Kwon and Thompson's case is how rooted their arguments are in the Biblical story. Drawing from many examples throughout Scripture, Kwon and Thompson illustrate the way in which repentance is almost always paired with repayment (and in the New Testament, restoration) especially when it comes to human-human relationships. Repentance alone isn't sufficient if what has been stolen is not returned. Though we'd like to be cleared of this responsibility, the passage of time does not erase this debt, even after saying "we're sorry."
In a gentle and understanding manner, Kwon and Thompson patiently spend many of the book's chapters answering common misconceptions, questions, and pushback: "Slavery has been abolished. Why do I owe anyone anything?" "Who owes what? How can we quantify what needs to be repaid?" "What about immigrants from other countries who also face cultural theft?" Those interested in exploring these questions ought to read this short but helpful book, but as the authors themselves have said, let us not pretend we are off the hook just because we don't know the details of how reparations should be done.
Part of the appeal in Kwon and Thompson's defense is their willingness to hand the responsibility back to the church to generate creative and reparative solutions, an incarnational model that refuses a "one size fits all" proposal for the entire country. Those looking for a quick fix from Reparations will be disappointed as it is not Kwon and Thompson's intended purpose. However, I wholehearted recommend this to anyone looking to be convinced of the necessity of reparations from a Christian perspective or those looking for an accessible book to convince others.
jarreloliveira's review
5.0
A much-needed conversation to determine what reparations look like in the 21st century and beyond. And this book is written primarily for the Christian conscience because the adherent and reader have a written framework by which to guide them on the path of restitution and reconciliation. Now, this is not to say that other religions or worldviews, even, say, secular efforts cannot venture into the topic of reparations and come up with wholesome resolutions. What the authors intend to promote is the idea that the Christian conscience produced a society within the American west or perhaps the Americas in general that favored one race over all others. This conflation of faith or perhaps the misuse and distortion of faith with a supremacist ideology spawned the centuries of genocide we are still attempting to reconcile to this very day.
What is troubling and also new to me is that reparation is not a monetary issue alone. We cannot give a monetary value that can reduce the amount of suffering experienced in the past nor can we pay people a one-time amount to do away with the compounding consequence and legacy of centuries of white supremacy.
The authors identify the cultural, communal, personal, financial, emotional, and spiritual life-long commitment Christians must make to not only better our racial relations but also stand for the just cause of restitution.
If we limit reparation or the repair of a dilapidated society to an economic layer alone we miss the point altogether.
Reparation is not a hush-money payout. They're not giveaways. This effort is a conscious commitment to continual relationship repair and restoration between several communities who have for centuries been at odds and whose disparities must be amended by the very people who claim to hold the words of the Divine Creator.
If the Christian conscience will not take on this task with a clean heart and a clear conscience, without bitterness or ill will, then someone else will with the aim of returning harm-for-harm and economic distress for the same.
Mind you, this is also a call for the federal government to take on as well. It is not new nor is it impossible for the government to pay out reparations to the families of former slaves, native Americans, or the poor within the land because this same government paid reparations to former slaveowners through Abraham Lincoln's District of Columbia Emancipation Act.
Reparations are doable but their success and fruition depend upon the tenderheartedness and gracefulness of regenerate minds and souls.
Push for them, in Christ's name. Push.
What is troubling and also new to me is that reparation is not a monetary issue alone. We cannot give a monetary value that can reduce the amount of suffering experienced in the past nor can we pay people a one-time amount to do away with the compounding consequence and legacy of centuries of white supremacy.
The authors identify the cultural, communal, personal, financial, emotional, and spiritual life-long commitment Christians must make to not only better our racial relations but also stand for the just cause of restitution.
If we limit reparation or the repair of a dilapidated society to an economic layer alone we miss the point altogether.
Reparation is not a hush-money payout. They're not giveaways. This effort is a conscious commitment to continual relationship repair and restoration between several communities who have for centuries been at odds and whose disparities must be amended by the very people who claim to hold the words of the Divine Creator.
If the Christian conscience will not take on this task with a clean heart and a clear conscience, without bitterness or ill will, then someone else will with the aim of returning harm-for-harm and economic distress for the same.
Mind you, this is also a call for the federal government to take on as well. It is not new nor is it impossible for the government to pay out reparations to the families of former slaves, native Americans, or the poor within the land because this same government paid reparations to former slaveowners through Abraham Lincoln's District of Columbia Emancipation Act.
Reparations are doable but their success and fruition depend upon the tenderheartedness and gracefulness of regenerate minds and souls.
Push for them, in Christ's name. Push.
terryjstokes's review
5.0
A great theological and historical premise for reparations. I appreciated the breakdown of repair into the areas of not just wealth but also truth and power. I also appreciated their framing of white supremacy as a cultural order (with individual, interpersonal, and systemic components, but yet beyond all of those).
As with most things I've read on reparations, I did wish for more space to be given to what reparations can/has looked like.
As with most things I've read on reparations, I did wish for more space to be given to what reparations can/has looked like.
mjvanhusen's review
4.0
(4.25/5) The style in which it was written reminded me of a See, Judge, Act CST-esque argument which made it quite easy to follow. It’s the first more “academic” book I’ve read in awhile so it took my brain a little time to adjust. I appreciated the use of scripture and the historical context in which the texts emerged in order to support the cause of reparations.
“The church must take seriously the work of repair because, in the most profound way, love is simply who we are.”
“The church must take seriously the work of repair because, in the most profound way, love is simply who we are.”