The following 20 books, mostly by Christian authors, that have influenced my thinking about oppression, justice and the kingdom of God, first biblically, then historically and finally sociologically. To get me started down this road, I first needed a second conversion to social oppression and social justice issues following Martin Luther King's assassination in April 1968. Next 35 years living in two black communities---one in the North (Jackson, Michigan) and one in the South (Jackson, Mississippi) greatly expanded my thinking on the above issues. Finally, I was exceedingly fortunate to have 12 years of mentoring by John Perkins after my retirement in 1994 from teaching sociology and anthropology at Spring Arbor University.
1. The Challenge of Bible Translations, Steven Voth, chapter 14 on Justice and Righteousness where one page lists the data on justice or the lack of justice in various language translation. English translations are very weak on justice in the NT when compared to Spanish, French, Latin and German translations. Wolterstorff asserts that English NT translations have been "dejusticized."
2. Dream With Me, John Perkins. A third grade dropout, creator of Christian Community Development, Perkins has authored 17 books and received 13 honorary doctorates. This is his 2017 memoir.
3. At Home With The Poor, Jean Thomas. Thomas, a Haitian, had a four year internship under John Perkins in the late 1970s. For the past 35 years he has been practicing Christian Community Development in rural Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti. A case where the disciple has done better than his master.
4. God So Loved The Third World: The Biblical Vocabulary of Oppression, Thomas Hanks. The subtitle describes the essence of the book. There is little theology on the biblical teaching on oppression so this fine study by a Hebrew scholar is of great importance. Oppression crushes, humiliates, animalizes, impoverishes, enslave and kills; traumatizes---creates PTSD or PTSS.
5. Shalom, Perry Yoder. This fine OT Mennonite scholar puts oppression in the context of justice and shalom.
6. The Wars of America: Christian Views, edited by Ronald Wells. Eight professional historians, each an expert in the war they discuss, show that most American wars were not justified. George Marsden proves that British tyranny was not bad enough to justify a violent revolution.
7. The Very Good Gospel, Lisa Sharon Harper. She probes the social dimensions of the gospel, something most white evangelicals are weak on; in the process, she reveals her own searing experiences as a black.
8. Divided by Faith, Michael Emerson. Emerson shows that white evangelicalism, an overly individualized faith, has not brought about racial healing; instead it has divided America.
9. Inheriting the [Slave] Trade, DeWolf. Modern descendants of the DeWolf klan discover the enormous evil of the northern slave trade. The 'great folks' were actually enormously evil.
10. All books by Jim Wallis. A genius at applying biblical principles to modern American society.
11. Dear White Christians, Jennifer Harvey. The well meaning reconciliation has largely failed; it has failed to address oppression/justice issues.
12. The Scandalous Message of James, Elsa Tamez. Tamez, a rare expert in OT oppression, reinterprets James through the lens of oppression, the rich oppressing the poor, the widows and orphans as oppressed, not afflicted.
13. Walking With the Wind, John Lewis. An insider's mature reflection on the civil rights movement.
14. W.E.B. Du Bois: American Prophet, Edward Blum. Contrary to most scholars of Du Bois who see him as a secular person, Blum sees Du Bois as deeply spiritual because of his understanding of and commitment to justice.
15. Reforging the White Republic, Edward Blum. Blum is an expert on the 1865-1900 period of American history which he sees as the reestablishment of white power in the South. Moody began this by calling a reconciliation meeting of northern white pastors and southern white pastors in St. Louis. Moody did not try to bring about reconciliation between northern white pastors and southern black pastors.
16. Tally's Corner: A Study of Negro Streetcorner Men in Washington, D.C., Eliot Liebow. A 1960s anthropological classic giving an inside look at what was really going on in the lives of these men, not the widespread stereotypes of them.
17. The Politics of Rich and Poor, Kevin Phillips. A conservative Republican partly responsible for Reagan's election shares his profound disillusionment with the 1980s.
18. Any book about Ella Baker, the second most important person in the 1960s civil rights movement.
19. Any book by David Shipler who relies on a combination of scholarship and numerous interviews with the poor and ethnics of America.
20. Google the blog by yours truly, "Lowell Noble's Writings." For biblical, historical and sociological perspectives on oppression and justice issues which are badly neglected and misunderstood by white evangelicals.
Three Recommended Experiences
1. Haiti Mission Trip to Haiti Christian Development Fund ministry in rural Fond-des-Blancs directed by Jean Thomas, the Haitian disciple of John Perkins. Represents 35 years of CCD; BEST PRACTICES of CCD. Guide: Cheri Lane, cheri.marie.lane@gmail.com
2. CCDA weeklong April Immersion in Chicago. An intensive on BEST PRACTICES in urban ministry.
3. A CCDA fall national convention.
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