In this episode I talk with first-time author Ronald Olivier whose life is a movie...or at least a book. He wrote "27 Summers: My Journey to Freedom, Forgiveness, and Redemption During My Time in Angola Prison."
As a historian and racial justice advocate, I've made incarceration one of my primary areas of focus in terms of action and raising awareness. That's why I was honored and excited to talk to Ronald about his experiences in Angola Prison and what he has share with us now that he's on the other side.
You'll fee like you could listen to Ronald tell stories all day. Especially because of his mellifluous Louisiana accent. You will also be inspired by the depth and richness of his faith. He's sincere when he says he lives by the motto: "Don't tell me what God can't do!"
Support Ronald's Work:

Get the Book: 27 Summers

Follow Ronald on IG: @RonaldSlim75


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Don't Tell Me What God Can't Do: Ronald Olivier and the 27 Summers in Angola Prison

News comes at you fast. It’s not just hard to keep up with everything that’s happening, sometimes you don’t know which voices to trust to help you interpret what’s going on. That’s where Footnotes comes in. Jemar curates the week’s current events with a focus on issues related to black communities, justice, and politics. He’ll also offer commentary from a black Christian perspective to help you think through complex issues. Footnotes adds the details you need to be an informed citizen, activist and believer.

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In my second book, How to Fight Racism, I wrote a section called "Create a Pipeline of Mental Health Therapists of Color." In it I suggested that "you or your church could contribute to scholarship funds for people of color interested in getting trained in mental health and therapy."  
 Well, a group actually did this and formed the Black Mental Health Counselors Reparations Foundation. I spoke to the three founders: Drs. Dr. Layla Bonner, DeAndrea Witherspoon Nash, and Danny Bryant.  
 They explain the extensive and EXPENSIVE process of training to become a professional counselor. They also talk about their organization and how they are raising $1 million to completely pay for the education and credentialing of Black mental health professionals.  
 Contribute to their cause. Visit: bmhcr.org 
 Remember to pre-order my next book! The Spirit of Justice Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance

Reparations for Black Mental Health Counselors

There is a movement of people who grew up in evangelical Christianity out of those circles. These are ex-evangelicals or "exvangelicals." 

Now Sarah McCammon, a politics reporter for NPR, has given us the first book-length treatment of this movement and the individuals within it. 

In this interview we talk about her very evangelical upbringing (and wax nostalgic about growing up in the 90s along the way). She tells us her thoughts about what's leading to this disillusionment with evangelicalism. We talk about how race affects people differently within and outside evangelicalism. And she tells us what it's like to be a journalist in these politically tenuous times. 

Order "The Exvangelicals" here. 

Buy my books: JemarTisby.com/Books 
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"The Exvangelicals": An Interview with NPR Reporter Sarah McCammon

I have often said, "White Christian nationalism is the greatest threat to democracy and the witness of the church in the United States today."

Now there's a documentary showing and telling why this is true. 

I talk to Dan Partland, the director of "God & Country" a feature-length documentary film that "takes a closer look at the dangerous implications and explores how a base of Christians has radically stoked a movement erasing the line between Church and State." 

Partland explains how he approached the delicate tension of truth-telling while still engaging a potentially skeptical audience. He describes how film can be a uniquely effective medium for opening people to dialogue. And we explore the controversy that has already surrounded the film. 

See the "God & Country" trailer here. 

By my books: JemarTisby.com/Books 
Subscribe to my Substack: JemarTisby.Substack.com 
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"God & Country": An Interview with Director Dan Partland

Michael Wear is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics. It's a book that takes a fresh approach to how faith and politics should interact. Instead of beginning with policies, pundits, or politicians, Wear encourages us to begin with our own spiritual formation. 

We talk about everything from our similar conversion stories in evangelical contexts to how to engage people with radically different political persuasions. 

Order The Spirit of Our Politics HERE. 

Be sure to subscribe to my Substack: JemarTisby.Substack.com 
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The Spirit of Our Politics

Finally, finally, finally you can pre-order my latest book The Spirit of Justice: Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance!
This is a book for all those who are weary and heavy-laden. It encourages you by telling the true stories of people who found reservoirs of strength—what I call the spirit of justice—to resist oppression and keep on keeping on.
If you pre-order the book you get several bonuses.
You get exclusive access to the first chapter of the book. You get access to my keynote message from “The Color of Compromise 5-Year Anniversary Event” where I give a talk titled: Three Characteristics of Historical Truth-Seekers. Finally, you get 30% off when you order from ChristianBook.com or the guaranteed lowest price when you order from Amazon.
Plus, pre-orders help put the book on the radar for other bookstores so it can be distributed widely, and they are a huge part of helping a book get on bestseller lists.
So tell everyone! Tell you local library, indie bookstore, church, seminary, college, and more to get copies of the book.
Share this message on social media and with your friends.
Pre-orders are now OPEN!!! 

Remember to support historical truth-telling and racial justice: Subscribe to JemarTisby.Substack.com


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Don't Tell Me What God Can't Do: Ronald Olivier and the 27 Summers in Angola Prison

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