Front Burner The books that explained 2025 (Part 2)
Dec 30, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Bryan Stevenson, a renowned lawyer and racial justice advocate, delves into the powerful narratives formed around Mother Emanuel AME, exploring its role in American history and the need for honest reflection on systemic injustice. Canadian journalist Paul Wells analyzes Adam Nagourney's The Times, shedding light on the evolution of media in the digital age and the challenges faced by news outlets today. Lastly, Mattea Roach shares insights on Maria Reva's Endling, discussing how fiction can frame contemporary crises and reflect the complexities of storytelling.
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Narratives Shape National Injustice
- Kevin Sack's Mother Emanuel shows how narratives of racial difference shaped American institutions over centuries.
- Bryan Stevenson argues confronting those narratives is essential to avoid repeating bigotry and violence.
A Church As A Mirror Of America
- Tracing Mother Emanuel's two-century history makes the abstract harms of racial narratives concrete and visible.
- Stevenson says the church's history mirrors America's failure to fully reckon with racial difference.
Don't Reduce Justice To Forgiveness
- Do not mistake forgiveness as the sole path to justice; it must be paired with accountability and structural change.
- Stevenson urges moral commitment to grace while building institutions that prevent repetition of harm.