Here at Focus on the Family, we hear from parents who wonder how to guide their children through cultural messages about race and ethnicity that are often divisive and dehumanizing.

Author Trillia Newbell has a balanced, informed, and grace-filled approach. Despite the racism she’s experienced, she has learned to move through life with forgiveness, compassion, and understanding. But she also believes parents should prioritize teaching their kids proper views about race, saying, “Either we teach our children, or the culture will.”

Trillia is joining me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to help Christian parents teach their children a biblical perspective about racial unity. To do that, she shares stories about historical and contemporary figures who confronted racism while treating people with dignity and love.

Like John Perkins, who was born in Mississippi during the Great Depression and suffered severe racism. His brother was killed by police. After World War II, John became a Baptist minister and led many to Christ. He also organized the Mendenhall boycott, which stood against businesses that refused to hire Black people. In one incident, John was wrongfully arrested and brutally beaten for hours. Nevertheless, through God’s grace he rose above hatred and shared Christ’s love with former KKK members and advised presidents about race relations. Throughout his life, John confronted bigotry with love.