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. 2d ago

    Racism, Patriarchy, and the Southern Baptist Convention

    In this episode of The Justice Briefing, Dr. Jemar Tisby breaks down the Southern Baptist Convention's recent vote to amend its constitution—by a 77 percent margin—banning women from preaching to assembled congregations. Dr. Tisby draws on his own history with the SBC to offer an insider's analysis of what the Truth and Unity Amendment actually says, why Al Mohler pushed for it, and what the election of new SBC president Willy Rice signals about the denomination's continued rightward turn. But Dr. Tisby goes deeper than the headlines. Tracing the SBC's origins back to 1844 and the case of James Reeve—an enslaver whose deliberate nomination as a missionary candidate was the spark that led to the denomination's founding—Dr. Tisby makes the case that the SBC's patriarchy and its racism are not two separate problems that happen to coexist. They share a common theological architecture: the divine sanctioning of hierarchy, the use of Scripture to compel submission, and the punishment of those who resist. From the household codes that justified chattel slavery to the amendment that just passed, the logic is the same, and understanding that connection, Dr. Tisby argues, is essential to understanding what faithful resistance must look like today. In This Episode...The Truth and Unity Amendment, what it says, and why Al Mohler pushed for it even though the restriction on women pastors was already denominational policyThe case of James Reeve—the 1844 missionary nomination that was a deliberate pro-slavery provocation and led directly to the founding of the SBCHow the biblical defense of racial hierarchy and the biblical defense of gender hierarchy draw from the same New Testament household codesThe “purity of white womanhood” trope—how white women were simultaneously subordinated to white men and weaponized against Black peopleSaddleback Church, Beth Moore, and the enforcement mechanisms the SBC already had in place before this amendmentThe parallel between the SBC’s centralizing of authority and unitary executive theory in the Trump administrationThe election of Willie Rice as SBC president and what it signals about the denomination’s further rightward turnWhy you cannot address patriarchy in the SBC without also addressing its racism and why the denomination is case in point I believe women are called and qualified to preach and pastor. And I name the links between racism and patriarchy. If that’s the kind of insight you value, become a paid subscriber. JemarTisby.Substack.com Host a screening of Jesus Was a Migrant: jesuswasamigrant.com

    47 min

  2. Jun 5

    How the Supreme Court Is Rigging the Midterm Elections

    In this urgent episode of The Justice Briefing, Dr. Jemar Tisby breaks down the Supreme Court's latest ruling in Allen v. Milligan--a decision that allows Alabama to eliminate one of its only two majority-Black congressional districts just months before the 2026 midterm elections and while primaries are already underway. Drawing on his training as a historian and his recent trip to Selma to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Dr. Tisby explains how the Court's selective application of the Purcell Principle exposes a legal system being weaponized to dilute Black political power rather than protect it. He traces the historical roots of Black voting patterns from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights Movement to make the case that Black voters aren't loyal to a party--they're loyal to their survival. Dr. Tisby also examines the Congressional Black Caucus's pointed letter to Corporate America, holding hundreds of major corporations accountable to voting rights commitments they made publicly in 2021--and demanding they prove those words still mean something before a June 9th deadline. From the courtroom to the boardroom, Dr. Tisby asks the question that drives the entire episode: do you care? In This Episode The Supreme Court's ruling in Allen v. Milligan and what it means for Black congressional representation in AlabamaWhat the Purcell Principle is, where it comes from, and why the Court is applying it selectivelyHow the Louisiana v. Callais decision gutted the Voting Rights Act and opened the door to rapid redistricting across the SouthWhy Republicans stand to gain up to 15 additional House seats through redistricting — and what's at stake in the 2026 midtermsThe historical roots of Black voting patterns, from Reconstruction and the New Deal to LBJ's Civil Rights ActGovernor Kay Ivey's response to the ruling — and what the language of "states' rights" has always meant in the context of Black political powerThe Congressional Black Caucus's letter to Corporate America and its June 9th deadline for actionJustice Sotomayor's dissent — and why Dr. Tisby says every justice-minded person should be reading it We have a lack of voices raising the alarm about voting rights in the church. If you think that work is important, you can help make it possible. Become a paid subscriber today. JemarTisby.Substack.com A news report just revealed that children are still being separated from their parents in the immigration crackdown. We must speak up. This film will help you. Host a screening of Jesus Was a Migrant: jesuswasamigrant.com

    46 min

  3. May 30

    The Most Corrupt Senate Nominee in America Just Won

    In this episode of The Justice Briefing, Dr. Jemar Tisby examines the stunning victory of Ken Paxton in the Texas Republican Senate primary and asks what it reveals about the moral state of American politics. Despite years of scandals, impeachment, felony indictments, and allegations of corruption, Paxton not only survived politically—he won decisively. Dr. Tisby explores why voters embraced a candidate with such a record, how loyalty to Donald Trump has eclipsed character as a political qualification, and why this race represents a larger battle over the meaning of Christianity in public life. Contrasting Paxton's vision of faith with that of Democratic nominee James Talarico, Dr. Tisby argues that Texas is becoming a testing ground for two competing religious and political visions: domination versus care, power versus conscience, and white Christian nationalism versus a faith rooted in justice and love. In This EpisodeWhy Ken Paxton's primary victory shocked even seasoned observers of American politicsThe corruption allegations, impeachment, and legal controversies surrounding PaxtonHow loyalty to Donald Trump became more important than character or experienceWhy Paxton's victory signals a deeper shift within the modern Republican PartyThe contrast between Paxton's and James Talarico's competing visions of ChristianityHow white Christian nationalism shapes contemporary political debatesWhy Black Christian political traditions are often overlooked as authentic expressions of faithWhat the Texas Senate race reveals about power, religion, and democracy in America When corruption becomes normal, context becomes essential. To support independent analysis at the intersection of faith, history, and justice that helps make sense of this political moment, become a paid subscriber: JemarTisby.Substack.com Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@jtisby Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/jemartisby

    42 min

  4. May 22

    Why Isn't Your Pastor Talking about Voting Rights?

    Episode DescriptionIn this episode of The Justice Briefing, Jemar Tisby confronts a pressing question facing the American church: Why are so many pastors silent about voting rights in this moment? Drawing from his firsthand experience at the “All Roads Lead to the South” march and rally in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, Tisby connects today’s attacks on voting rights to the long struggle for Black political power during the Civil Rights Movement. He reflects on the spiritual weight of marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the legacy of Bloody Sunday, and the urgent need for moral courage from clergy and congregations alike. Tisby also examines the Supreme Court’s recent Voting Rights Act ruling, critiques pastoral silence through the lens of God's Long Summer and Letter from Birmingham Jail, and challenges churches to move beyond “deracinated piety” toward the concrete application of Christian ethics in public life. This episode is both a prophetic critique and a pastoral plea for believers to speak up, organize, and act courageously in what Tisby calls “the civil rights movement of our day.” In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:The “All Roads Lead to the South” march and rally in Selma and MontgomeryWhy voting rights are deeply personal in the Black freedom struggleThe Supreme Court ruling that further weakened the Voting Rights ActHow racial gerrymandering operates under the language of “colorblindness”The silence of many pastors and churches around voting rightsMartin Luther King Jr.’s warning about the “white moderate” from Letter from Birmingham JailThe example of Reverend Douglas Hudgins and church complicity during segregationBiblical models of courage, prophetic witness, and justice in times of crisisWorks ReferencedGod's Long Summer by Charles Marsh"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King Jr.Register for The Justice JourneyThe next cohort of The Justice Journey begins June 2nd. This eight-week online course explores the biblical, historical, and practical foundations of justice and faithful public witness. Join a community committed to truth-telling, courage, and action in this critical moment. JemarTisby.Substack.com Support The Justice BriefingIf you value independent analysis at the intersection of faith, history, and justice, support this work by becoming a paid subscriber. JemarTisby.Substack.com

    57 min

  5. May 8

    The Anti-Christian Bias Task Force and Christian Privilege

    The Trump Administration has released a massive new report from its “Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias,” arguing that conservative Christians were targeted by the federal government under President Biden. The report frames conflicts over abortion, LGBTQ rights, education, COVID policies, and workplace protections as evidence of anti-Christian discrimination. In this episode of The Justice Briefing, Dr. Jemar Tisby examines the report’s arguments, historical claims, and political implications. He explores how white Christian nationalism uses grievance politics, why some Christians conflate losing cultural dominance with losing religious freedom, and what happens when Christianity becomes closely aligned with state power. This episode also asks a deeper question: What kind of faith are we cultivating if Christianity requires political dominance to feel secure? In this episode, you’ll hear about:Trump’s “Anti-Christian Bias Task Force” and Executive Order 14202Why the report focuses heavily on abortion, gender, and sexualityThe difference between religious freedom and religious privilegeHow grievance politics fuels white Christian nationalismWhy “Christian America” rhetoric pushes certain groups to the marginsThe relationship between Christianity and state power throughout historyHow pluralism gets reframed as hostility toward ChristianityWhy true faith does not depend on cultural dominance to survive Join The Justice Journey Waitlist Subscribe to Dr. Jemar's YouTube page. If you value historically grounded analysis on faith, politics, and justice, support The Justice Briefing by becoming a paid subscriber at JemarTisby.Substack.com.

    45 min

  6. May 1

    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

    1h 12m

  7. Apr 24

    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

  8. Apr 16

    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
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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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