Monday, February 11, 2019

The Color of Life, By Cara Meredith



This is the memoir of an interracial marriage, issues of race, and race relations. James Howard Meredith, her father-in-law, has written the Forward. Cara Meredith has written the Introduction. Then she spreads her actual content throughout 17 chapters. Then she wraps it up with an Afterward, which is written by James Henry Meredith, her husband. Carol Meredith finishes with Acknowledgements, Notes (sources consulted for the book, broken down for each chapter)) and Recommended reading (books which she recommends). Cara and Meredith speaks and writes. Her works have appeared in many publications, including in CHRISTIANITY TODAY, iBELIEVE, and FOR EVERY MOM.She is married to the son of an African-American prominent civil rights leader. They have two children.

I have found this to be a fascinating and very honest and authentic nook. I belong to a church where there is one couple with an interracial marriage. The wife, a pro-life-activist and advocate, is married to an African-American. They currently have six biological, biracial children. The husband is one of the few African-American members in our congregation. Like many county congregations, our congregation is not too diverse as far as race is concerned. We used to have a couple there where the husband, a pastor, was a Filipino and his wife is white. They, too, have six biracial children. They are no longer members of our congregation. This book speaks to these experiences and frequently discusses "white privilege," which the author became aware of only after she married her husband. Even how they came to celebrate Christmas reminded her of her white privilege. Reading this book makes the white reader feel guilty about the "white privilege" and how those of us who are white profit in numerous ways from the oppression of those who have black or brown skin.

I recommend this book for everyone, Christian and non-Christian. This book is quite light on God-talk so non-Christians will not get lost in the text and probably will not get turned off. Christians should read the book to educate themselves about race issues if they are, especially if they are white.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a favorable review of this book.

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