

Since 1900, the Christian Century has published reporting, commentary, poetry, and essays on the role of faith in a pluralistic society.
© 2023 The Christian Century.
No longer Black or White?
Perhaps the neither/nor of Galatians 3 isn’t really about moving beyond specific identities.
Lawrence Jackson’s memoir tells a story of location shaped by race
Baltimore—from Frederick Douglass to Freddie Gray—informs his whole journey.
by Kristi King
The Kindest Lie is a story about race and much more
In Nancy Johnson’s debut novel, a family secret draws a successful Black woman home to small-town Indiana.
Are we trapped by the way others see us?
Brit Bennett’s novel explores racial passing, gender transition, and family trauma.
What’s behind dehumanization?
A book about the psychology and politics of doing terrible things to one another
Sorry for Your Loss’s quiet exploration of race
A white woman, her black husband, and the struggle to be known
The intersection between blackness and whiteness
Emily Bernard’s essays insist that no conversation is about race alone.
What racism is—and how to organize against it
People already engaged in conversations about racial justice may find Ibram Kendi's analysis surprising.
Toni Morrison writes about race, religion, and her own fiction
Our language isn’t neutral. It has history embedded within it.
by Amy Frykholm
How The Hate U Give accomplishes what The Oath doesn’t
To bridge our country’s divides, we need deep emotion rooted in moral complexity—not jokey white-bro solidarity.
BlacKkKlansman, Sorry to Bother You, and the “white voice”
If whiteness is a fiction, it's one that does a lot of damage.
What we talk about when we talk about sex
The intersection of race and sexuality is the ur-story of American culture.
by Amy Frykholm
In the Fearless Dialogues movement, people try to truly see each other
Gregory Ellison II's book evokes the sort of honest conversations he has been convening.
The complex story of race and religion in the American South
Paul Harvey's history shows how things could have gone very differently.
The vocation of being a stranger
As a mother and a woman of color, I read Camille Dungy's book as a personal roadmap.
by Josina Guess
The sparkle of James McBride's stories
Five-Carat Soul is filled with hilarious storytelling, unusual characters, and stark realities.
by Debra Bendis
Ralph Ellison’s theology made visible
Cooper Harriss aims to rescue Ellison from neglect and misinterpretation—by reading him alongside theologians.
October 29, Ordinary 30A (Matthew 22:34-46)
"Love God, love neighbor." Sounds simple.
Happy birthday, dear Gwendolyn
Miss Brooks would be 100 years old today. Her poetic-prophetic vision is worth celebrating.
James Baldwin's tough love for America
Baldwin’s words in Raoul Peck’s film indict us, but they also help us envision a new future.
by Amy Frykholm