The story revolves around a white man from an affluent neighborhood who goes into "the other side of town" to deliver some groceries to a needy family. He ends up getting carjacked and stranded with a young black man. As the two strangers begin to open up to one another and share their stories, readers can be challenged to explore their own views and prejudices regarding race.
I was drawn to one observation that the author made about violent crime. He writes "Some simply label things too quickly and try to connect violence to race rather than to circumstances or context. The reality is that any community - regardless of race - that is facing...poverty, joblessness, and brokenness tends to use violence in equal measure. In most cases, when violence emerges in a community, it has become the currency of negotiation for people who feel like they have no other option." This story aims to provide understanding and get us thinking about how to fix the root problem and bring reconciliation, rather than just the quick fix.
This book is an engaging tool that can be used to get the conversation about racial tension started....there are even 20 discussion questions provided to get things rolling!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
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