The Color of Christ

“The authors’ breadth of research is impressive, and their incorporation of material culture is a model for future scholarship.”—Journal of American History

“Thoroughly fascinating.”—Booklist, starred review, and 2013 Top 10 Black History Nonfiction

“A powerful and groundbreaking book. . . . [Blum and Harvey] masterfully probe how a sacred icon can be a tool at once of racial oppression and liberation. A must-read for those interested in American religious history, this book will forever change the way you look at images of Jesus.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This model of academic inquiry and analysis is clearly written, deeply researched, socially engaged, ambitious in the intellectual scope of its questions about race and religion, and methodical in its answers.”—A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2012

“An ambitious book that is a must read for anyone interested in how the white Jesus captured the modern American religious and racial imagination. Blum and Harvey’s coverage of a wide-ranging historical, religious, racial, and ethnic material is impressive. The book is lucid and well-written for a general readership.”—Religion & Theology

“A solid contribution to the conversation on religion and race in U.S. history. . . . The American Christian community remains trapped within a web of racial hierarchies, flawed theological assumptions and dangerous patriarchal precedents that continue to inform Christian doctrine and liturgy. The best way to treat an illness is to begin by discovering its root causes. The Color of Christ does just that.”—Christian Century

“A fascinating story that we cannot afford to ignore.”—Books & Culture

“A compelling study. . . . This work will captivate readers of American religious and racial history.”—Library Journal

“This is a key work for students of American Christianity, but also a worthwhile read for undergraduates and general readers interested in the intersection of race, Christianity, and religion. It is an important acquisition for religion collections of all types. Essential. Lower-level undergraduates and above.”—CHOICE

“[The Color of Christ is] an eye-opening look at how not just the image but also the idea of Christ has shifted within varying communities and schools of thought throughout American history.”—Pop Matters