Christian parents looking for a resource on race for their youth and children need look no further

Ben Lindsay’s new book about race informs and inspires and is well worth buying for youth and children, Nesu Kwaramba says why

The death of George Floyd during the Covid-19 pandemic brought the enduring reality of racism to the forefront of the global community in a striking and new way. Not that racism had been non-existent up until now, but rather that Floyd served to highlight – in a glaring way – the inadequacy of international legislation and anti-racism movements over the years to smother the ancient monster. Ever since, conversations about racial justice have suffused global society – whilst the prevalence of racism today is ceaselessly supported by fresh swathes of evidence the world over.

At home, in the UK, we have been inundated with narratives that illustrate that racism is resident amongst us – whether it is within the world of politics, as Diane Abbott can tell you; or in the world of sport, where the glory of the lionesses was juxtaposed with a fear of racial violence that forced Jess Carter to feel ‘relieved’ that a white teammate had also missed a penalty at the Euros. In fact, so pressing is this issue, that efforts to address racism and its highly politicised history are gathering momentum within our finest educational establishments and also within the church – where, to be sure, racism has also reared its ugly head.

This is a must read for all those working and interacting with young people, from parents to church leaders and youth workers – not least young people!

Against this weighty backdrop, and the growing tide of willingness to confront the past and present of racism, never has there been a greater need to equip the leaders of the next generation – our young people – with tools of resilience and advocacy to face and fight this foe. Ben Lindsay’s We Need to Talk About Race …Christian Faith and Racial Justice: A Young Person’s Guide (2025) is