Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself: A Guide to Closing the Space Between Us

White Christians can harness their faith to better support the Black community in church, at work, and beyond, according to the wise and broad-minded debut from Griffin, a contributing writer for the Washington Post. Advising that a strong spiritual grounding is “the foundation from which we love ourselves and our neighbors,” Griffin encourages readers to draw on God’s grace and forgiveness to set aside their pride and honestly assess whether they’ve been guilty of racism or racist microaggressions. After doing so, readers can begin to “close the space between you, God and your Black Neighbor.” Foregrounding “racial humility,” or the willingness to admit fault and learn from others, Griffin suggests such concrete steps as consuming Black news publications and other media sources, living in a racially diverse neighborhood to offset redlining and unequal resource distribution, and making one’s church more hospitable to Black congregants. Interweaving biblical analysis, prayer, and step-by-step guidance, Griffin outlines a clear vision for replacing performative allyship with a lifelong engagement on matters of racial justice. The result is an actionable resource for believers looking to build a more equitable world, starting from within. (June)