The Gospel in Color – For Kids, by Curtis A. Woods & Jarvis J. Williams

Such a simple message.  Such a clear presentation.  Curtis Woods and Jarvis Williams have put together a message about race in The Gospel in Color--For Kids.  Despite the title, this is a message people of all ages need to hear. 

With simple text and some colorful illustrations, Woods and Williams describe what racism is.  Without getting into tons of history or political demarcation, they state that "race" simply refers to "the human race or a specific ethnic group" and that "racism" is "the poisonous idea of people or governments rewarding social and economic privileges to one group of people by virtue of skin color or ethnic background."  I'm not sure I've read a more clear, succinct, or helpful definition of racism.

But it's not enough simply to say that racism is bad and that equality is good.  The central chapter of the book is about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus reconciles us to God, which enables us to be reconciled to one another.  "The sin of racism makes people enemies of one another based on their skin colors or where they came from.  But Jesus came to reconcile enemies and make them friends.  Jesus dies on the cross for all our sins--including the sin of racism.  As a result, people who believe in Jesus are brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what we look like."  Amen, amen, and amen!

In an age of Black Lives Matter, trigger warnings, Trump hating, white supremacist rallies, and activism of all kinds, it seems that race relations are at an all-time low.  Woods and Williams have a message for this generation of young people: Jesus is the answer.  The Gospel in Color should be required reading for kids of any age and any race.  We should all aim to "live out the gospel in color."

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!