White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity

White Too Long examines the deep historical connections between white supremacy and American Christianity, particularly in Protestant denominations. Drawing on historical documents, personal experiences, and contemporary survey data, Robert P. Jones traces this relationship from the colonial era through the Civil Rights movement to the present day. The book combines academic research with firsthand accounts from Jones's own background as a Southern Baptist in Mississippi. Through statistical analysis and historical investigation, it documents how white Christian churches actively shaped and maintained racial hierarchies in American society. Jones presents evidence from multiple sources to analyze how theological frameworks were used to justify racial oppression and how these influences persist in modern religious institutions. The research spans denominations including Southern Baptist, Methodist, and Catholic churches. This work challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the role of religion in perpetuating racial inequality while offering a framework for understanding how faith institutions can acknowledge and address their historical complicity.

Readers describe this as a well-researched examination of Christianity's role in perpetuating racism in America. Many cite the statistical data and historical documentation as compelling evidence for Jones's arguments. What readers liked: - Clear connection between historical events and present-day impacts - Personal anecdotes from Jones's Southern Baptist background - Extensive polling data and research methodology - Specific examples from church histories and denominational records What readers disliked: - Focus primarily on Southern white Protestant denominations - Limited discussion of Catholic and other Christian traditions - Some found the statistical analysis sections dense - Critics say it understates progress made by churches Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,100+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Eye-opening but difficult to read due to uncomfortable truths about one's own religious background." Several reviewers noted the book prompted discussions in their church groups about addressing racial justice.

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🔷 Author Robert P. Jones is the CEO and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), which conducts groundbreaking research at the intersection of religion, culture, and politics. 🔷 The book's title comes from a quote by civil rights activist James Baldwin: "I will flatly say that the bulk of this country's white population impresses me, and has so impressed me for a very long time, as being beyond any conceivable hope of moral rehabilitation. They have been white, if I may so put it, too long." 🔷 Using statistical analysis, the book demonstrates that white Christians are more likely than other groups to hold racist views, even when controlling for political ideology and party affiliation. 🔷 The book won the 2021 American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation, which recognizes outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors. 🔷 Jones grew up as a Southern Baptist in Jackson, Mississippi, and uses his personal experience alongside historical research to examine how white Christian churches have perpetuated racial inequality.