America’s Unholy Ghosts
The Racist Roots of Our Faith and Politics
- Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
- Publisher: Cascade Books (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2019
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Publisher's Description
America's Unholy Ghosts examines the DNA of the ideologies that shape our nation, ideologies that are as American as apple pie but that too often justify and perpetuate racist ideas and racial inequalities. MLK challenged us to investigate the "ideational roots of race hate" and Ghosts does just that by examining a philosophical "trinity"--Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Adam Smith--whose works collectively helped to institutionalize, imagine, and ingrain racist ideologies into the hearts and minds of the American people. As time passed, America's racial imagination evolved to form people incapable of recognizing their addiction to racist ideas. Thus, Ghosts comes to a close with the brilliant faith and politics of Martin Luther King, Jr. who sought to write the conscience of the Prophetic Black Church onto American hearts, minds, and laws. If our nation's racist instincts still haunt our land, so too do our hopes and desires for a faith and politics marked by mercy, justice, and equity--and there is no better guide to that land than the Prophetic Black Church and the one who saw such a land from the mountaintop.
Endorsements (12)
“An impressive analysis of the some of the religious and secular thinkers who inspired America’s addiction to racist ideas—an addiction that continues to destroy America. America's Unholy Ghosts is for anyone daring to be anti-racist, daring to end racial inequity.”
“This is a major and thoughtful contribution to the anti-racism movement.”
“Joel Goza could not have perceived how racism was and is imagined, institutionalized, and ingrained in U.S. American life had he not experienced the black church. America’s Unholy Ghosts is a probing, spirited, edgy, ethical reflection on how both things happened, perceiving a baleful national legacy through the lens of black church faith and struggle.”
“Joel Goza writes within the faith traditions of the Black Prophetic Church with the passion of a modern-day racial justice apostle, and with the mind of a philosopher unraveling some of the oldest ideas to justify racism and poverty. America’s Unholy Ghosts is an urgent offering to its readers who seek exorcism and rebirth for a new nation.”
“America’s Unholy Ghosts is a paradigm shifter. This book fundamentally reorients our understanding of race, faith, politics, and our intellectual heroes. You will see the world differently after reading this book. A tour de force.”
“A wonderful read. . . . The depth of thought and writing are so savory that I find myself going over the lines again to make sure that I have received the full force of what America’s Unholy Ghosts puts before us . . . this kind of book is the pause that refreshes my spirit!”
“Joel Goza has done his homework and paid his dues. He is the best of all possible interpreters of the racial dilemmas facing America. He has read the books and, simultaneously, lived the life in Houston's challenging 5th Ward. America's Unholy Ghosts is the result of years of digging into the philosophical roots of American racism. Goza's easy, conversational style demystifyies the philosophers who helped shape our thinking. He skillfully reads the world they created through the lens of Martin Luther King's prophetic critique. This is a challenging and delightful essay on endurance and hope.”
“From the front lines of battling America's original sin, Joel Goza has written a truthful, immediately relevant book. Joel raises the ghosts of the genteel philosophical roots of our racialized thinking to show us how white supremacy required the assistance of some of Europe and America's most revered thinkers. Joel exposes the bad thinking that led to evil ideas and deeds, then ends with an eloquent call for us to move from hearing the truth to doing the truth in regard to race in America. We'll be coming to terms with and benefiting from this book for a long time, thank God.”
“This book is an illuminating, challenging and well-written exploration into the hidden roots and unnoticed manifestations of racism. Reading it has helped me understand the frightening circumstances of our day in the light of our past. I recommend it enthusiastically.”
“Joel Goza introduces us to those respected intellectuals whose ideas became the D N A of white supremacy and American exceptionalism. He carefully and clearly documents his presentation with preciseness and ethical urgency that calls for an awakening from our apathetic slumbers. This book is a must read.”
“Joel Goza boldly and eloquently confronts white supremacy’s sadistic presence. America’s Unholy Ghosts insightfully strands together philosophy, politics, theology, race, and memoir to elucidate the contemporary predicaments of racial and economic inequality. It is an urgent and compelling call to action.”
“In this book, Joel Goza explores the role that ideas can play in justifying and normalizing racialized injustice. In undertaking this type of intellectual archeology, Goza makes the case that racism is not an aberration but is buried deep in the DNA of our political and economic system. Goza's own active commitment to racial justice shines through in his prose. He makes a contribution here to a long-overdue conversation on the intellectual roots of racism, and inspires us not only to think but also to act.”
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