Untangling Critical Race Theory: What Christians Need to Know and Why It Matters

Untangling Critical Race Theory: What Christians Need to Know and Why It Matters

What is Critical Race Theory? It may be one of the most widely referenced issues of the day, but it's also one of the least understood. In its translation from the academic world to the general public, Critical Race Theory (CRT) has inaccurately become a catch-all term for anything related to race. But what does it actually mean, and how should Christians engage it? Ed Uszynski―whose PhD in American culture studies navigated readings in Marxism, Critical Theory, and Critical Race Theory―carefully unpacks what critical race theorists seek to accomplish and what Christians can learn from them. Uszynski generously explores CRT's roots, context, and central tenets, revealing how its insights are used and distorted but also how they might benefit the church. With responsible answers to legitimate concerns, Uszynski goes beyond the surface to provide a reliable path of just discernment and cultural engagement. "Ed's book is not only a responsible, fair, and honest evaluation of CRT and its Marxist roots, but it is also a model of what evangelical scholarship should look like. If you want an intellectually lazy approach to CRT that takes a binary―'CRT is evil!' or 'CRT is 100 percent true!'―then stick to your favorite partisan pundit to spoon feed you the 'truth.' But if you want an honest and responsible guide to help you think through the complexities of CRT and how it contributes to our understanding of race relations, then I cannot more highly recommend this book." -- Preston Sprinkle, author and host of Theology in the Raw podcast, from the foreword "This is one of the most important books I have read in recent years. . . . Understanding what gave rise to Critical Race Theory should put the spotlight on compassion and motivate followers of Christ to do what should have been done. Thank you, Ed, for calling us to be portraits of the solution." -- Crawford Loritts, founder and president of Beyond Our Generation, from the foreword "Critical Race Theory can be used as an excuse to not talk about race, racial divisions, or systemic racial disparities. But we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. That requires us to talk honestly about the history of race in our country and the church. Part of that conversation is an accurate understanding of CRT: what it is, what it is not, and what we can learn from it. I have yet to come across anyone who leads that conversation with the same level of background, gospel-centered truth, and wisdom as Ed. This book is a vital part of engaging in the work of racial justice and reconciliation." -- Schelli Cronk, chief operating officer of Transform Minnesota "If you have questions about Critical Race Theory, Marxism, or social justice, Untangling Critical Race Theory has approachable, relatable answers. Ed unpacks scholarly frameworks in understandable terms, with essential context from Scripture, history, and present-day culture. This book is far from a dense academic read, and I was pleasantly surprised I couldn't put it down! If you want advice for navigating conversations on these topics with grace and intelligence, you will devour this book. If you're concerned about progressive ideology infecting society, you need to read Untangling Critical Race Theory ." -- Brooke Hempell, researcher and host of Race and Redemption podcast "In recent years, few topics have delivered such heated opinions as Critical Race Theory. Still, many remain unclear of what it is, forming opinions based on popular catch phrases and political narratives. In Untangling Critical Race Theory , Ed Uszynski distills voluminous material to provide a truthful assessment of CRT that will both inform and challenge his readers. Specifically, Ed pleads for Christians who have dismissed CRT not only to reevaluate its contributions but also to understand why its concepts were developed in the first place. If you're looking for a theologically faithful, sociologically astute, and academically honest treatment of CRT, Uszynski's book is for you." -- Eric Rivera, assistant professor of pastoral theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and lead pastor of The Brook Chicago "I wish I had read this book fifteen years ago! In an era where Critical Race Theory is weaponized by both the secular left and the secular right, and demonized by many Christians, Ed Uszynski intellectually, lovingly, and biblically calls Christians to more. The research, accessibility, and nuance of this book make it extremely helpful for people who are willing to ask what we should accept and what we should reject in the CRT conversation, and what impact that can have in our churches and communities." -- Jim Davis, pastor of Orlando Grace Church, coauthor of The Great Dechurching, and host of the As In Heaven podcast "In many ways, this book feels like a bunch of my chats with Ed Uszynski over the last few years, helping me make sense of inaccessible academic theories reduced to acronyms, ill-informed assumptions,