Love and Hate in Small-Town America: Christian Reflections on Growing Up Black in the Segregated South

Love and Hate in Small-Town America: Christian Reflections on Growing Up Black in the Segregated South

Love and Hate in Small-town America narrates the author's experiences living in a small, racially segregated Mississippi town in the Jim Crow South. The story pivots on his relationship with his godly grandfather, a beloved citizen of Bolton, who treated his fellow townspeople, black and white, with genuine friendliness, fairness, and respect, all the while being subjected to laws designed to keep him and other blacks "in their place." As a Christian, he followed the "golden rule": treat others as you want them to treat you. Unfortunately, some white Christians in his town gave their blessings to the racist system that routinely discriminated against blacks. Through the lens of the author's relationship with his grandfather and the teachings of the Bible, the author contends that God's love in a Christian's heart precludes hatred of other people. This book challenges any and every notion that attempts to reconcile racism and genuine Christianity.