A Sin by Any Other Name

Reckoning with Racism and the Heritage of the South

By: Robert W. Lee, Bernice A. King - foreword

Narrated by: Robert W. Lee, January LaVoy

Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

A descendant of Confederate General Robert E. Lee chronicles his story of growing up with the South's most honored name, and the moments that forced him to confront the privilege, racism, and subversion of human dignity that came with it.

With a foreword by Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King.

The Reverend Robert W. Lee was a little-known pastor at a small church in North Carolina until the Charlottesville protests, when he went public with his denunciation of white supremacy in a captivating speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. Support poured in from around the country, but so did threats of violence from people who opposed the Reverend's message.

In this riveting memoir, he narrates what it was like growing up as a Lee in the South, an experience that was colored by the world of the white Christian majority. He describes the widespread nostalgia for the Lost Cause and his gradual awakening to the unspoken assumptions of white supremacy which had, almost without him knowing it, distorted his values and even his Christian faith. In particular, Lee examines how many white Christians continue to be complicit in a culture of racism and injustice, and how after leaving his pulpit, he was welcomed into a growing movement of activists all across the South who are charting a new course for the region.

A Sin by Any Other Name is a love letter to the South, from the South, by a Lee - and an unforgettable call for change and renewal.

©2019 Robert W. Lee (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“In April 1963, my father wrote to the clergy his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Now, fifty-five years later, Robert W. Lee IV, a descendant of General Robert E. Lee, has written the love letter to the church and to the South that you now hold in your hands.... Perhaps for such a time as this, in answer to my father’s prayer, God has raised up Robert W. Lee IV to join the cause of opening ‘the channels of communication between races.’” (Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, from the book’s foreword)

“A Sin by Any Other Name is the rarest of books - a social justice coming of age memoir. In these pages, young pastor Robert Lee, a descendant of General Robert E Lee, grapples with his family history and invites southerners to finally come of age by facing their own history of racism.” (Diana Butler Bass, author of Grounded)

“One of the best things that happened to me over the last two years was getting to listen to Rev. Rob Lee talk - and not just talk, but share ideas of how we all can do a better as Christians, non-Christians, as human-beings. I think he may be on to something.” (Whoopi Goldberg)

“Lee shares his path to fighting for racial justice in this revealing memoir... open minded readers will appreciate Lee’s perspective on race in America as well as his story of working to overcome division, bigotry, and his own family’s fraught history.” (Publishers Weekly)

Good argument

Padtor Lee is from my home state and while I grow up recognize the injustice towards my black neighbors, I was not as naive as he expecting members of his church would accept his words. Though things have changed and I hope and pray for racial justice and reconciliation.

Wish more people had this type of courage.

I am not religious but I enjoyed hearing how Rev Lee is helping with socialjustice

This Robert Lee will lead us toward our best.

"A Sin by Any Other Name" is a powerful message from someone whose family legacy could easily have been lazily ignored, thereby continuing the wrongs of previous generations. Instead, Reverend Robert W. Lee slices through the falsehoods that have been used to whitewash the evil of enslavement and racism. I look forward to reading Rob Lee's future books. Highly recommend.

Powerful

As a white Southern pastor reckoning with the South's heritage of racism myself, this book was a balm for my soul. Lee's speaks prophetic hope that through God's grace, we can build a better future for the South and for our country rather than continue to obsess over our ugly racist baggage.