He's My Brother: Former Racial Foes Offer Strategy for Reconciliation

by John M. Perkins, David Wimbish, Thomas A. Tarrants

New

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

233 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

About the author

Dr. John M. Perkins is the founder and president emeritus of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation and cofounder of Christian Community Development Association. He has served in advisory roles under five U.S. presidents, is one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American civil rights movement, and is an author and international speaker on issues of reconciliation, leadership, and community development. For his tireless work he has received 14 honorary doctorates. One Blood, along with Dr. Perkins other books, provides an enduring legacy for a man who continues to leave his mark on American culture.

Reviews

[Tarik Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an eye opener if you don't know how bad racial tensions really were in the 1950s/60s. Both authors (who are friends one black, one white) gave their experiences during Jim Crow. I especially enjoyed how the other author spoke of his experiences in the Ku Klux Klan, what drove him to commit heinous acts against blacks, and his redemption to loving all people. Gives me hope that racial barriers can be broken if we make the effort, empathize, and change our thinking. Must read for sure.

[Linda Leigh Hargrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Their tales are gritty but easy to follow and even identify with. The use of the word ‘nigger’ may offend some people, but I think this book is an excellent resource for any Sunday school study on real racial healing, intentional relationship, and commitment to change.

Listen. Learn. Love.

ps. Read more about it on 17Seeds

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the beginning of my own journey towards learning about racial injustice, forgiveness and hope- a very powerful book indeed.

[Stephen Matlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly very good. It was good to get insight about the two people. I am very glad that they both kept their "voices" and didn't have someone come along and try to smooth everything out.

[J. Alfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

One guy was in jail for eight years because he: got into a gunfight with a bunch of cops while trying to plant a bomb at a Jewish lawyer's house as a member of a far-right hate group.
The other guy was in jail just one night, but spent the night getting torturously beat up by police officers because he was an uppity negro.
And then they both became ministers of the Christian gospel and in the nineties wrote this book together, which says that:

The truth is that our country is deeply divided among racial lines. Racial tensions and hatreds smolder barely beneath the surface-- like the Rodney King verdict [like George Floyd]-- to set off the explosions...
Unless things change. Unless we individual Christians, and the Church as a whole, begin investing ourselves to end racism once and for all, to establish justice, to bring about reconciliation....
This is at time for the men and women of God to work through Him to bring a miracle of healing and recovery to our divided land.

This is an exciting, bracing, and hope inducing book. As the authors suggest, the mere fact of their joint authorship is a hint that real change is possible in Jesus. SO let's get to work.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 gripping stories from the Civil Rights Era in the first 3/4 of the book.
Tips for working towards racial reconciliation at the end of the book.

[Brandon Stiver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book from John Perkins. Tarrants' story is quite compelling and insightful as well, it's helpful to get a view of extreme white supremacists (like KKK) ideology. You can see just how delusional the viewpoint is, but you also see the path that leads to that extremism. Stories from Perkins are the same from Let Justice Roll Down, but they're rewritten and he provides more reconciliation commentary and teaching in this book. His story is so compelling, it's worth rereading in a different book all the same. Definitely worth the read!

[Matt Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving and very challenging.