BOOK REVIEW: Under Our Skin

Ferguson. Perhaps many in this country had never known of this city in Missouri before last summer. Suddenly, Darren Wilson and Michael Brown were household names, and many people debated for and against one and the other...their opinions on the situation perhaps determined by the color of the opinionee's skin.

Into this cacophony of strong emotions and words came a Facebook post by NFL tight end Benjamin Watson, after the grand jury voted not to indict Officer Wilson for Brown's shooting. The post, expressing strong emotions and yet seasoned wisdom, went viral. In Under Our Skin, Watson takes each point from his post and expands it, weaving in anecdotal information from his father and grandfather as well as his own experiences as a black man in 21st century America.

I found Brown's book to be thoughtful, balanced, and kind. He stands in the shoes of those on either side of the race problem (because it is still a problem today), both describing what the world looks like from that vantage point as well as how each view is faulty. He does this without anger or accusation.

The chapter "Fearful and Confused" was probably my biggest takeaway from this book. Watson describes the constant background fear for many black men, sometimes grounded in reality and sometimes not, of negative--perhaps even deadly--interactions with white police officers. Although he is an upstanding, educated Christian man who has a recognizable face from Sunday football and does not choose to violate the law, a simple police stop breeds a fight-or-flight response. This helps me to understand why I look at the news clips on my TV and see that yet again, another black teen or man has fled from what could have been a simple few moments of compliance with a law enforcement officer. My not understanding this to this point in my life is humbling. I get it now.

The solution, according to Watson? The gospel. Jesus' blood ran red for skin of all different hues, and the ground is even at the cross. We each need to admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Once we are set right with God, He transforms minds and hearts to bring unity. I agree.

The book ends with some practical suggestions to bridge the gap between races. We can start in our own neighborhoods and workplaces to step across lines of color and begin understanding.

If you would like more information about the book, you can visit the website here.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for a fair review.