Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a national holiday that occurs at this time of year, commemorating King’s impact on civil rights in this country, particularly equality for blacks.

Decades after King, the issue of race and racism hasn’t died down.  In fact, race and racism are hot-button issues today, not just in broader society but also within Evangelicalism.

For example, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary recently issued a Report on Slavery and Racism in the History of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, reaffirming a formal apology made in 1995 for the seminary’s “participation in individual and systemic racism” in past eras.

Whether in the nation or the church, there is a growing call that more must be done than simply apologize for slavery—reparations must be paid (money and/or benefits) to the descendants of those who were wronged generations ago.

Ekemini Uwan, graduate of Westminster Seminary said in response to the Southern Baptist Seminary report:
“Good first step. Now reparations are due; not only symbolically but financially. This can take various forms but nothing short of free tuition & student loan debt cancellation for Black Americans who attended and will attend SBTS in the future.  Reparations must follow repentance.”

This weekend on The Christian Worldview, Darrell Harrison, former fellow of the Black Theology and Leadership Institute at Princeton Theological Seminary, will join us to discuss whether there is a biblical basis for paying reparations for slavery, along with a host of other questions about race in society and the church today.