The Death of Race: Building a New Christianity in a Racial World Paperback – November 1, 2016

This book was partly autobiographical, and partly theological. It was engaging and the author brings a unique and important perspective.

This was a great yet exposing read from a Christian brother sharing his struggle of faithfully trusting God while living in a country that was founded on the words: “One nation under God in divisible with liberty and justice for all” but yet realizing that they were just words.

This book by Bantum is very enlightening for all those who wish to gain insight into being mixed race and African American in the United States today. The author's challenge to re-imagine false, dangerous, and suffocating understandings of race is compelling. Built on the foundation of Christianity, Bantum invites his readers to attend to the mystery of the Incarnation and to our own blessed embodiment in contributing to a "new Christianity in a racialized world." All those who consider themselves followers of Jesus Christ are charged to engage the author's considerations since all of our lives depend on it--especially black and brown sisters and brothers who bear the brunt of race-based exclusion and hatred.

I found this book useful for me to gain the benefit of someone else's experience but the author's writing style was often difficult to follow. The book reads like a sermon, with many ideas being presented symbolically and then later recalled and represented using different symbolic language. He does an excellent job at creating these powerful metaphors but I found myself many time losing the message somewhere in the metaphor. I had to do a lot of note taking to try and track his arguments and even then found I would lose the thread.Overall, this book was valuable to me for gaining an honest perspective of life in a racial world. As a white American protestant male, I found it beneficial to hear of the author and his wife's individual struggles in coming up against a world (and church establishment) which seeks to define and limit them based on their outward appearance or gender. I haven't had this experience in my life and was introduced to several new lines of thinking in Dr. Bantum's work.As far as practical application, the author himself said that this book is not a "how-to". His purpose was primarily in shining a new light on the issue of race in our culture and then inviting us to begin the risky work of entering one another's lives and seeking each other's flourishing.Overall, I'd recommend reading this work if you are interested in the topic of race and Christianity, but I'd say this is certainly more of a jumping-off point rather than a definitive work.

Ordered for a class I was taking. Was afraid to even open the book given the attitudes on my campus and class, but really enjoyed it and had great conversations surrounding the topics in the book.

Although I was unable to grasp the significance of Dr. Bantum's persistent reference to "the body" the message of respect for "differences" in human bodies continues to reshape my view of others. I recognize that I do not see others as image-bearers of God. Thanks to Dr. Bantum's hammering home this respect deficit, at 65 years of age I am regularly confronted with my discrimination toward those who are different. Thankful for this awakening. Good to be able to hear him speak on YouTube as well.

An incredible book that lays out an accessible theology of the body. It is not a how-to book, but instead offers a new way of seeing and being in this world.

Had to read as a text for a class and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It informed my understanding of the body as it relates to the Incarnation and led to many new questions and discussions.

Difficult to read.....back cover quotes "elegantly written".....NOT! He has good intentions but difficulty putting it into easy to grasp sentences.....could definitely have used a good editor to convey his message.