Myth of Colorblind Christians: Evangelicals and White Supremacy in the Civil Rights Era

White evangelicals embraced colorblindness in the decades following the civil rights movement, viewing personal kindness as the solution to racial issues. This ideology led to the growth of evangelicalism as a political force, but it also created an evangelical form of whiteness that protected new investments in whiteness. Black evangelicals challenged racism through Christian unity rhetoric, but white evangelicals repurposed this language to silence their black counterparts and maintain power. Christian colorblindness became a pillar of America's religio-racial hierarchy, anchoring white identities and shaping the meaning of whiteness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2021
Publisher: New York University Press

In the aftermath of the civil rights movement, white Americans embraced a belief in colorblindness, emphasizing personal kindness as a means to address racial issues. Simultaneously, evangelicalism emerged as a significant political force, captivating the nation's attention. In his book, "The Myth of Colorblind Christians," Jesse Curtis explores how white evangelicals' efforts to expand their own institutions resulted in the creation of an evangelical form of whiteness, infusing the politics of colorblindness with sacred fervor. Curtis argues that white evangelicals employed a Christian brand of colorblindness to safeguard their investments in whiteness, particularly in light of new opportunities for growth.

On the other hand, black evangelicals used the rhetoric of Christian unity to challenge racism, seeking to unite Christians across racial lines. However, white evangelicals repurposed this language to silence their black counterparts and maintain power, asserting that all were equal in Christ and that discussing race was not appropriate for Christians. As white evangelicals portrayed movements for racial justice as threats to Christian unity and presented their own racial commitments as faithful to the gospel, they solidified Christian colorblindness as a fundamental pillar of the religio-racial hierarchy in America.

Through this process, white evangelicals established their own identities and shaped the very definition of whiteness in American society. "The Myth of Colorblind Christians" is a compelling and timely work that sheds light on how white evangelical communities have avoided antiracist action and continue to thrive today. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding race and religion in the United States.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479809387