Why You Need to Watch This Documentary on ‘Racism in the American Church’

A recent documentary that examines how the U.S. church has been shaped by, and remains entangled with racism and white supremacy should be mandatory viewing for all Christians, especially those of European descent.

“White Savior: Racism in the American Church” was released some months ago, but the documentary didn’t land on my radar until recently. Americans, especially White Christians, would benefit from watching this documentary on the racist roots of the faith they hold so dear.

“White Savior” features figures such as pastor Lenny Duncan, professor Soong Chan Rah, author Jacqueline Woodson, Native American pastor Jim Bear Jacobs, Rethinking Mass Incarceration author Dominique Gilliard, historian Dr. Crystal Moten, and others who provide insight and anecdotes about U.S. Christianity’s tumultuous and shameful ties to racism.

“White Savior” is divided into several chapters, each focusing on a particular theme. For example, Chapter One asks, “What is race?”

Viewers learn that race is not a thing in the Bible. The Bible focuses more on “people” and “the nations,” or those who belong to God’s covenant community and those who don’t. While the book of Revelation paints a futuristic vision of people “from every nation, tribe, people and language”…