We Stand Together: Reconciling Men of Different Color (Men Of Integrity Books)

Good, But Somewhat Outdated Primer 2007-07-31

Reviewer: Robert W. Kellemen

"We Stand Together" would be a five-star book if it were not now somewhat dated. Editor Rodney Cooper is a leading Black Evangelical educator. Active in the 90s in the Promise Keepers' movement, he surrounded himself with men of diverse ethnic groups to edit this primer on how men of different races can understand, forgive, reconcile with, and minister together.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.

men's studies, racial reconciliation, and Christianity 2002-04-29

Reviewer: Jeffery Mingo

This book encourages Christian men to cooperate across racial lines. There is a chapter on African-American men, Latino men, Asian-American men, Native-American men, and white men written by men from those respective backgrounds. In each chapter, the men discuss burdens that men of their race must bear and characteristics of their cultures that men outside of that culture may not understand. The editor, Mr. Cooper, compares racial tensions to the operations of a dysfunctional family and says each group of men plays their role in that dysfunction. The editor is a Promise Keeper, a member of a movement of Christian men that recently announced that they must do more to curb racism among Christians. Though the book assumes that every one is or should be a Christian, the valorous principles of men's studies are present here (examples: the book doesn't put down women, it discusses the burden of rigid gender roles, even the editor admits how often powerful advice from other men makes him cry, etc.). I was disappointed, though not surprised, that non-Christian men and gay men (both groups of whom have many men of color in their population) were not brought up. Each chapter ends with a section on what men of that racial group can do, what men outside that racial group can do, and further questions meant to stimulate action. As most of the authors are counselors, this book is modeled in that self-help style. It is written for the average American man, so academics and certain activists may be frustrated by it. Many of the ideas are borrowed (examples: references to Ellis Cose's "Rage of a Privileged Class", a psychological model of race that the editor mimicks for two consecutive chapters, allusions to the Woody Harrelson's "White Men Can't Jump", etc.) It may appear that the authors assume that if a man is from one race, then he has no connections to another. However, the editor and another author are mixed, prejudice against interracial coupling is condemned, and the white author discusses his experiences in a majority-black neighborhood; thus, mixed-race readers should feel included. When you consider who the intended audience is, this is a much-needed and well-done book. Though a little simplistic, it goes a ways in encouraging anti-racist activism among men who are often quite conservative and suspicious of diversity.