The Third Option

September 1, 2018
Former professional football player McPherson writes about racism from the perspective of a mixed-race Christian clergyman who identifies as black. Much of what he has to say about the problem and ubiquity of racism is familiar: he invokes the Golden Rule, advises readers to walk a mile in others' shoes to foster empathy, underscores the importance of humility, and more. What separates his book from other, similar ones is his focus on what he calls the third option, which invites us to honor the presence of His (i.e., God's) image in every person we meet. He defines honor as great respect and, he continues, as a verb it means thinking about, and treating, others with the utmost respect. Viewing someone as honorable, he adds, causes you to treat them with holy reverence. Sometimes dealing in abstractions, the book is highly anecdotal, always accessible, and?as a guide?rooted in the practical. Throughout, McPherson draws on his own life to offer commonsense counseling to those who wish to eradicate racism.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)