Being White: Finding Our Place in a Multiethnic World

Review "I . . . recommend this title especially for individuals deemed white who desire to cross the racial divide and pursue the unity of the human race. Indeed, this book is filled with real-life stories, transformative insights, and practical guidance." -- Bradford McCall, Mission Studies, 2009 What does it mean to be white? When you encounter people from other races or ethnicities, you may become suddenly aware that being white means something. Those from other backgrounds may respond to you differently or suspiciously. You may feel ambivalence about your identity as a white person. Or you may feel frustrated when a friend of another ethnicity shakes his head and says, "You just don't get it because you're white."So, what does it mean to be white?How can you overcome the mistakes of the past?How can you build authentic relationships with people from other races and ethnicities?In this groundbreaking book, Paula Harris and Doug Schaupp present a Christian model of what it means to be white. They wrestle through the history of how those in the majority have oppressed minority cultures, but they also show that whites also have a cultural and ethnic identity with its own distinctive traits and contributions. They demonstrate that white people have a key role to play in the work of racial reconciliation and the forging of a more just society. Filled with real-life stories, life-transforming insights and practical guidance, this book is for you if you are aware of racial inequality but have wondered, So what do I do? Discover here a vision for just communities where whites can partner with and empower those of other ethnicities. Review "This book is an important encounter for any person who wants to be a part of God's global redemptive mission. The feel of the book is very personal, and its context is racism in the U.S. However, it is really a book about personal participation in God's crosscultural mission in a multicultural world. Flowing from their passionate commitment to Christ and to people different than themselves, the authors call all who would be ambassadors of Christ to live out God's passion for justice in a world defined by power allied with race or color." -- Paul McKaughan, President, Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies From the Inside Flap "This is a book after God's own heart. It is a book I needed to read personally. People who need to read this may never do so if you and I don't give them a copy." George Verwer, Founder, Operation Mobilization "Being White is a book that everyone should read. It's a book that whites in particular need to read to have a better understanding of the struggles of minorities." John Perkins, Founder, John Perkins Foundation "An excellent book on what remains our nation's greatest failure. What a tragedy white evangelicals did not face their sin fifty years ago. What a joy that we are finally hearing God?s call to reject racism." Ronald J. Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action About the Author Paula A. Harris is currently serving as the priest at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. She also speaks and writes on missiology, missionary recruitment, postmodernism and racial issues. She is the author of "Listening to Mission that Rises from Community and Spirituality" in Global Missiology for the 21st Century and is a contributor to the book Postmission.Doug Schaupp is associate director of evangelism for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. A writer and teacher, he focuses on racial issues, postmodern evangelism, and leadership development. He is based in Los Angeles and graduated from Fuller Seminary. He is the coauthor of I Once Was Lost and Being White.