Tom Skinner – The U.S. Racial Crisis and World Evangelization

This might be a little much for a first introduction to ideas of racial injustice and reconciliation in American, but I hope it’s something that all of you can appreciate. It’s about 50 minutes long, maybe a little more, and it’s really, really, really worth a listen. This is a talk by a guy named Tom Skinner at Urbana (an InterVarsity event) 1970, and according to Berry, it’s the talk that finally sparked IV’s passion for racial reconciliation. Skinner was a former gang leader in Harlem, and he talks here about how Christianity looked to him as an angry black man, and what made that change; he also addresses the history of black oppression in America and the current state of racism within evangelical religion. It’s very, very good.

The link goes to a transcript, but I’d suggest listening to it. You need to hear every thing he has to say, and if you hear his voice you’ll more easily hear his heart.

Tom Skinner – The U.S. Racial Crisis and World Evangelization (Urbana 1970)

Oh! Crap! It’s a Real Audio file. If you would like to listen, but you don’t like Real Audio, let me know in the comments, and I can rip it to MP3 and put it online somewhere.

EDIT: A little background from Urbana’s web site.

EDIT TWO: Mp3 version. Please let me know if this download site works.. I tested it and did what I could to make sure the ads weren’t too risque, but I’d still love feedback if you have any.