The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism

The Color of Compromise is a non-fiction book by African American author, public historian, and national speaker Jemar Tisby, originally published in 2019. Tisby provides a survey on how the American church has historically compromised with racism and thwarted racial justice. The book examines the contradictions of white Christian theology and church practices from the colonial era to the present day. Tisby urges Black and white Christians to take action against racism and work for an inclusive, united, and equalitarian Christian church.

Jemar Tisby is a historian and an advocate of racial justice. As a speaker, he is devoted to conveying to the public the reality of the Black experience in America and upholding the humanity of all people.

This guide refers to the 2019 e-book edition by Zondervan.

Content Warning: The source material discusses racism, sexual violence, racial violence, and the history of enslavement in America.

Summary

Through a historical survey that traces race relations form the colonial era to the present, Tisby advocates for an understanding of history that can lead to justice and liberation.

In Chapter 1, Tisby introduces the book, referring to the limitations of a historical survey and stressing that such a survey provides a long-term exploration of how social and cultural trends transform over time.