I have often said, "White Christian nationalism is the greatest threat to democracy and the witness of the church in the United States today." Now there's a documentary showing and telling why this is true.  I talk to Dan Partland, the director of "God & Country" a feature-length documentary film that "takes a closer look at the dangerous implications and explores how a base of Christians has radically stoked a movement erasing the line between Church and State."  Partland explains how he approached the delicate tension of truth-telling while still engaging a potentially skept ..read more

Michael Wear is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics. It's a book that takes a fresh approach to how faith and politics should interact. Instead of beginning with policies, pundits, or politicians, Wear encourages us to begin with our own spiritual formation.  We talk about everything from our similar conversion stories in evangelical contexts to how to engage people with radically different political persuasions.  Order The Spirit of Our Politics HERE.  Be sure to subscribe to my Substack: JemarTisby.Substack.com  Get your merch here:&n ..read more

Finally, finally, finally you can pre-order my latest book The Spirit of Justice: Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance! This is a book for all those who are weary and heavy-laden. It encourages you by telling the true stories of people who found reservoirs of strength—what I call the spirit of justice—to resist oppression and keep on keeping on. If you pre-order the book you get several bonuses. You get exclusive access to the first chapter of the book. You get access to my keynote message from “The Color of Compromise 5-Year Anniversary Event” where I give a talk titled: Three Characte ..read more

I went to Northern Ireland as part of an endeavor hosted by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Telos Group. We were looking at justice and peacemaking in the context of worship. To that end we visited places such as Corrymeela, Derry, Giant’s Causeway, Clonard Monastery, and Stormont just to name a few. In this very special episode of Footnotes, I offer some of my reflections about the trip. The journey deeply impacted me, and I hope this is not my last trip to Northern Ireland! Read more HERE. Be sure to subscribe to JemarTisby.Substack.com And get your merch at&n ..read more

In this episode I talk with first-time author Ronald Olivier whose life is a movie...or at least a book. He wrote "27 Summers: My Journey to Freedom, Forgiveness, and Redemption During My Time in Angola Prison." As a historian and racial justice advocate, I've made incarceration one of my primary areas of focus in terms of action and raising awareness. That's why I was honored and excited to talk to Ronald about his experiences in Angola Prison and what he has share with us now that he's on the other side. You'll fee like you could listen to Ronald tell stories all day. Especially because ..read more

Racism, white supremacy, and the attempt to control Black bodies didn't go away after the Civil War. As I often say, "Racism never goes away, it adapts." One of the ways racism persists is through our criminal legal system, especially the death penalty.  Joia Erin Thornton is the founder and executive director of the faith leaders of color coalition (flocc). Through her organization she works toward eliminating capital punishment in the carceral system. She talks about her journey into this work and why faith leaders need to be involved.  Episode Highlights:  How growing up i ..read more

How do you keep the flame of justice burning in the midst of so much misery and disappointment? A new book, Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbor Well, is just what you need.  In this episode I get to interview first-time author and long-time artist, Dani Coke Balfour. We talk about how art relates to activism and how all of us have a role to play in doing "good work."  Be sure to grab your copy of Heart on Fire wherever books are sold!  Buy the Book On Amazon Bookshop Episode Highlights:  The difference between "equity" and "e ..read more

On this episode of Footnotes, join me as I delve into an enlightening conversation with the esteemed author Rev. Dr. Esau McCaulley, discussing his highly anticipated new book "How Far to the Promised Land."  Episode Highlights:  We talk about how Black Christians in white evangelical spaces get "pushed out, burned out, or sell out" and how McCaulley has endured in his place of work  How he thinks about his interracial marriage in view of the historic and ongoing Black experience with racism  What he teaches his biracial children about racial identity and the role of ..read more

According to a Psychology Today article, racial and ethnic minorities represent 30 percent of the population, yet 83.6 percent of mental health professionals identify as non-Hispanic White. And only about 5 percent of students enrolled in graduate level psychology programs are Black.  Adebisi Gbadamosi is a Black woman therapist who specializes in addressing racial and religious trauma. She specializes in working with peo[le of color to process racial trauma, Christians to process faith-related trauma, and women wanting to work through any aspect of life. In this episode she t ..read more

The United States has five percent of the world's population but 25 percent of its incarcerated individuals. But the statistics only tell part of the story. Behind the numbers are real people.  Stanley Frankart is someone who made it out of the prison system and is now helping others to do the same.  Through the nonprofit he co-founded, Young Christian Professionals, Frankart and his team offer character education and professional development to reduce rates of recidivism.  Learn More:  -Young Chrisitan Professionals: youngchristianprofessionals.org -Vera Institute ..read more