The Justice Briefing with Dr. Jemar Tisby

Dr. Jemar Tisby
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The Justice Briefing is your weekly guide to understanding current events through a historically grounded, theologically rooted, justice-centered lens. Instead of framing the world through fear or culture-war panic, we draw from the spirit of justice—from the biblical prophets to the Civil Rights Movement. This isn't just commentary; it’s discipleship for truth and justice.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    The Supreme Court and the Slow Death of the Voting Rights Act

    Conservatives on the Supreme Court dealt what amounts to a “death blow” to the Voting Rights Act. But you don’t have to be a legal scholar to understand what really matters here. The effect is to dilute the voting power of Black people and other people of color who tend to vote Democratic.  But the entire decision rests on a faulty understanding of racism and how to address it. This assumption has a name: colorblindness. It is not a virtue. If race caused the inequality, then race must be named in order to create equity.  In this episode you’ll hear about…What the Supreme Court just did to the Voting Rights Act and why some are calling it a “death blow”How shifting from discriminatory impact to intent makes voting rights cases nearly impossible to winWhy this decision could dilute Black voting power while appearing race-neutralThe long history of voting rights—from Dred Scott v. Sandford to the Fifteenth Amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965How racism adapts over time and why “race-neutral” laws can still produce unequal outcomesThe flawed logic of colorblindness and why ignoring race doesn’t solve racial inequalityWhy many churches are ill-equipped to respond to this moment—and how that happenedPractical ways to mobilize, dissent, and take action—from local engagement to national advocacy The best way to support The Justice Briefing is to become a paid subscriber: JemarTisby.Substack.com Book a screening of our short documentary: Jesus Was a Migrant

    1hr 12min

  2. 24 APR

    Doug Wilson and the Danger We Tried to Warn You About

    In this episode of The Justice Briefing, Jemar Tisby examines the recent spotlight on Douglas Wilson—and why his influence is not new, just newly visible. For years, Black Christians and other truth-tellers warned about Wilson’s theology, his views on race and gender, and his vision for a theocratic society. Those warnings were largely ignored. Now, as his ideas gain wider attention, the consequences are becoming harder to dismiss. Tisby explores who Douglas Wilson is, how his influence spread through evangelical institutions, and what this moment reveals about the church’s failure to heed earlier warnings. This episode is a call to discernment, accountability, and a renewed commitment to protecting the vulnerable. Summary article on Church Leaders Sons of Patriarchy The Justice Briefing is completely independently produced and powered by listeners like you. Become a paid subscriber: JemarTisby.Substack.com

    1 hr

  3. 16 APR

    Stop Trying to Persuade White Christian Nationalists

    In this episode of The Justice Briefing, Dr. Jemar Tisby makes a clear and urgent case: stop trying to persuade white Christian nationalists. After nearly a decade of hardened political and theological divisions, the question is no longer who is confused—it’s what we do with the clarity we now have. Drawing on history, current events, and a powerful re-reading of Mark 6, this episode reframes faithfulness not as endless argument, but as discernment, boundaries, and strategic action. If you’ve felt drained by unproductive debates, this conversation will help you reclaim your time—and your mission. In this episode: Why this is a moment of moral clarity, not confusionThe limits of persuasion in polarized media ecosystemsThe anatomy of white Christian nationalismHow the church has weaponized “unity”A biblical case for setting boundaries (Mark 6)Why Jesus instructs his followers to move onWhere to invest your energy for real impactStudy cited in episode: "When Fox News viewers flip to CNN, their opinions shift too, study finds"  https://news.berkeley.edu/2022/04/07/when-fox-news-viewers-flip-to-cnn-their-opinions-shift-too-study-finds/ Book your screening of our short documentary "Jesus Was a Migrant": jesuswasamigrant.com The best way to support The Justice Briefing and our indie film studio, Tisby Studios, is by becoming a paid subscriber: JemarTisby.Substack.com

    52 min

  4. 10 APR

    The Birth of a New Kind of Christian Film Studio

    People keep asking me, “How did it go?” And I understand the question. But there’s actually a better question. The better question is, “What did last night signal?” What happened last night was more than just a sold-out film premiere. It was a signal. A shift. A glimpse of what the future of Christian storytelling could be. This film is the first official production of Tisby Studios. It’s proof that there is an audience for what I call Transformational faith films—stories that don’t just resolve tension, but channel it into action. This is not a one-off project. It’s the beginning of a pipeline. Take Action If this reflection with you—if it challenged you, unsettled you, or stayed with you—here are a few ways to take the next step: 1. Become a paid subscriber Most of the support for this film came from this community. If you want to see more projects like this—films that tell honest stories about faith, history, and justice—become a paid subscriber to Footnotes. Or upgrade to our FOUNDING TIER. That’s how we keep building. 👉🏾 JemarTisby.Substack.com 2. Host a screening in your community This film is meant to be experienced together. Not alone on a screen, but in a room where people can turn to one another at the end and ask: “What are we going to do?” If you want to bring Jesus Was a Migrant to your church, school, or organization, start here: 👉🏾 jesuswasamigrant.com 3. Share this post If this vision resonates with you, share it. This is how movements grow—person to person, room to room. If last night showed us anything, it’s this: The future of Christian storytelling won’t be safe, simple, or sentimental—it will be truthful, communal, and transformational. And the question now isn’t what we watched. It’s: What are we going to do next? P.S. Mark your calendar for a LIVE ONLINE SCREENING of Jesus Was a Migrant. April 16, 7:30 pm ET. (registration details forthcoming) Book a screening: JesusWasAMigrant.com Support transformational faith films: JemarTisby.Substack.com

    22 min

  5. 2 APR

    Four Types of Christian Films

    Right now the Christian film industry is dominated by what I’ve called “Devotional” films. These films are often produced by people promoting a conservative—even fundamentalist—and heavily right-leaning version of Christianity. Not every film needs to do everything. And each type of film has its place. But we need more films in the Transformational category. Too many stop with personal piety and holiness. Which is not bad but it’s incomplete. Not enough films show how faith turns worldly logic upside down. Not enough Christian films show how the heavenly Kingdom confronts earthly kingdoms. Not enough Christian films interrogate laws, policies, and institutions. This is the work of Tisby Studios and our first production--Jesus Was a Migrant. Watch the trailer: HERE Host a screening: HERE Support more Christians films in the transformational category. Become a paid subscriber today: JemarTisby.Substack.com Watch: How to Watch a Movie (As a Christian) Watch: Homestead Movie Review

    44 min

  6. 27 MAR

    'Get Out,' 'Sinners,' and the Rise of Black Horror Films

    The scariest thing about the movies Get Out and Sinners isn’t the body-snatching or the blood-sucking. It’s how accurately they show us what whiteness does. These films are not just horror stories. They are commentaries on extraction, exploitation, and colonization. In this episode, Dr. Jemar compares the two films and the use of horror to convey deeper social truths. -------- Learn about new short documentary and schedule a screening: jesuswasamigrant.com Invest in truth-telling at the intersection of faith, history, and justice: JemarTisby.Substack.com

    31 min

  7. 20 MAR

    Why Democracy Needs the Church

    What role should the church play in a moment of rising authoritarianism and political instability? In this episode of The Justice Briefing, Jemar Tisby sits down with Rev. Michael McBride—pastor, organizer, and executive director of Live Free USA—to explore why democracy depends on moral vision, collective action, and faith communities willing to show up. This conversation goes beyond politics. It’s about the spiritual stakes of this moment—and what it means to practice a faith that actively pursues justice. In this episode: Why democracy cannot survive without a moral foundationHow faith is being distorted and weaponized todayThe historic role of the Black church in expanding democracyWhat “public theology” looks like in practiceA real-world model for organizing: Live Free Love FreeWhy passive faith is not an option in this momentIf you’ve been wondering what faithfulness looks like in a time like this—this episode is for you. Invest inThe Justice Briefing. Become a paid subscriber. Share this with someone who needs a hopeful, grounded perspective #JusticeBriefing #Democracy #Christianity #Faith #History #Justice

    1 hr

  8. 13 MAR

    Why White Christians Love James Talarico

    Something strange happens whenever a certain kind of white Christian politician speaks about justice in public. Suddenly commentators act like they’ve discovered a brand-new species: the Christian who actually sounds like Jesus. David French wrote that James Talarico is “one of the few openly Christian politicians in the United States who acts like a Christian.” You can really only write a sentence like that if you have one kind of Christian in mind. Because if the Black church is in your imagination, that sentence simply doesn’t make sense. ---- Invest in The Justice Briefing by becoming a paid subscriber at JemarTisby.Substack.com.

    49 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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4 Ratings

About

The Justice Briefing is your weekly guide to understanding current events through a historically grounded, theologically rooted, justice-centered lens. Instead of framing the world through fear or culture-war panic, we draw from the spirit of justice—from the biblical prophets to the Civil Rights Movement. This isn't just commentary; it’s discipleship for truth and justice.

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