Enter the River: Healing Steps from White Privilege Toward Racial Reconciliation [Paperback]

Tobin Miller Shearer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0836136608 | ISBN-13: 978-0836136609 | Publication Date: March 1, 1994

Jody Miller Shearer explores definitions of prejudice and racism, the different effects of racism on white people and people of color, affirmative action, and many other issues. 216 pages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Herald Press (March 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836136608
• ISBN-13: 978-0836136609
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #287,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not what you think., November 28, 2003

By 

Matthew Jacobs (Fresno, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Enter the River: Healing Steps from White Privilege Toward Racial Reconciliation (Paperback)

I decided to pick this book out of list of choices for reading for a class. I did not expect it to be an enjoyable book, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I know that the topic of racism generally has an accusatory feel for "white" people like me. Miller-Shearer wants to encourage us to change, but avoids condemning us personally either.

I think that the way he uses the word "racist" can get confusing at times. Miller-Shearer uses the word to describe systems, rather than individuals. Getting past that will go a long way towards understanding his point.

I have rarely seen the topic of racism handled in a way that doesn't make me feel like I'm being personally attacked as a bad person. Miller-Shearer pulls it off.

I highly recommend this book. I know most people will probably be a bit uncertain like I was, but I think it is worth the time.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a Biblical response to racism, July 9, 2003

By 

"ngaimoko" (Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enter the River: Healing Steps from White Privilege Toward Racial Reconciliation (Paperback)

So rarely do White American males speak out on racism, and this is especially lacking in the Christian Church, which remains frightfully split along racial lines (read "Divided By Faith" if you're unconvinced of this). Which is why this book is so necessary. Jody writes out of his experience especially to other White Christians in America, giving Biblical, historical, personal, and and social reasons to examine racism and work for reconciliation. The chapter on affirmative action alone makes the book extremely relevant, though a decade old, in light of the continued controversy and misinformation about this issue surrounding the recent Supreme Court rulings.