RACIAL RECONCILIATION
Racial reconciliation is the ongoing effort to address the harm caused by racism—both past and present—and to build more just, inclusive communities. It involves acknowledging historical injustices, understanding how they continue to shape society today, and working intentionally toward healing and equity. This collection of interviews explores the role religious institutions, particularly the American Church, have played in both perpetuating and challenging racial injustice. Through honest conversations and personal stories, these episodes highlight the importance of truth-telling, accountability, and collective action in the pursuit of meaningful change.
Anthea Butler
Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Anthea Butler joins Faithful Politics to explore how morality has been weaponized in American politics—particularly by the religious right. From the creation of the "Negro Bible" during slavery to the modern-day legacy of white evangelical racism, this conversation traces how biblical narratives have been distorted to justify power, oppression, and exclusion. Butler offers critical insight into what this means for 2024 and the future of faith and politics in America.
Robert Jones
President and Founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI); Author and Columnist
Robert P. Jones, president of PRRI, unpacks the lasting impact of white Christian nationalism on the 2024 election and American democracy. Drawing from his Time article and book The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy, Jones explores how white Christian identity continues to shape political behavior, fuel division, and challenge pluralistic democracy. This candid conversation traces the historical roots and modern implications of a movement reshaping church, culture, and country.
Jemar Tisby
President of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective; Author and Historian
Jemar Tisby shares powerful stories from his new book The Spirit of Justice, spotlighting unsung heroes like Jarena Lee and Robert Smalls who embodied faith-driven resistance to racism. He reflects on the importance of preserving Black history, the role of the church in racial justice, and the need for Christians to confront hypocrisy and learn from the past. This conversation challenges listeners to pursue justice with boldness, truth, and historical clarity.
Greg Garrett
Professor of English at Baylor University; Contributing Writer at Baptist News Global
Dr. Greg Garrett unpacks how white Christian nationalism has moved from the margins to the mainstream—and why it's driving younger generations away from the church. Drawing on his work in faith and justice, Garrett explores how Christianity is being weaponized for power rather than love, and how believers can resist with humility, truth, and courage. This conversation offers a powerful call to reclaim a Gospel rooted in justice, service, and hope.
John Fanestil
United Methodist Pastor, Historian, and Author of American Heresy
Dr. John Fanestil traces the deep roots of white Christian nationalism to early English Protestant colonization, showing how ideas of land, race, and divine chosenness shaped America’s founding—and still echo today. From the theology behind the American Revolution to the rhetoric of modern political leaders, Fanestil explores how religious mythologies gave rise to a dangerous blend of nationalism and supremacy that continues to challenge American democracy and Christian witness.
Robert Callahan, II
Attorney at Callahan & King, PLLC; Adjunct Professor of Law at Baylor University; Author and Justice Advocate
Attorney and author Robert Callahan II discusses his book Fire in the Hole, exploring how righteous anger can be a holy response to injustice within white Christian spaces. Reflecting on spiritual abuse, systemic racism, and the racial reckoning of 2020, Callahan offers a powerful call for healing, inclusion, and transformation. This conversation unpacks how faith and activism can coexist—and how confronting injustice is an act of love.
Greg Jarrell
Cultural Organizer with QC Family Tree; Author and Musician; Contributor to Baptist News Global and Sojourners
Greg Jarrell, author of Our Trespasses, explores the devastating impact of urban renewal on Black neighborhoods and the complicit role white churches played in justifying displacement through theological narratives. Drawing from history and his work in Charlotte, NC, Jarrell unpacks the lingering effects of systemic racism in housing policy and calls for reparative justice, truth-telling, and structural change rooted in faith and community.
Grace Ji-Sun Kim
Professor of Theology at Earlham School of Religion; Ordained Minister; Author and Public Theologian
Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim discusses her book When God Became White and explores how whiteness, as a social construct, has shaped theology, distorted depictions of Jesus, and upheld systems of oppression within the church. Drawing from personal experience and theological insight, she calls for a reimagining of God that embraces justice, inclusion, and liberation—inviting listeners to confront racism and decolonize their faith.