Matt McAvoy Book Review

The history of black America contains a lot of twists and turns. In case you think this is obvious, On the Wrong Side of God by Harry Boyd highlights many subtle political deviants of which I was unaware. 

Boyd is reaching out to the black Christian Church: ‘This book is to draw believers back to the word of God and into an intimate relationship with Christ.’ It is engaging and readable, a lively testament to the work of the Holy Spirit. He is a committed black Christian with a deep love and concern for his people and, at times, I felt that he could teach us here in Sydney quite a lot. His book provoked many ideas I had not previously considered, and I was particularly struck by his parallels between black Americans and Jews.

Boyd highlights the alarming discordance in contemporary American society where blacks, who have suffered so cruelly under slavery and modern American apartheid, nevertheless have rates of crime far higher than those from whom the racism originated. His agony is poignant as he watches the slow self-destruction of his people scaling the slippery slope of politicians and their promises. The only answer to the senseless bloodshed from black-on-black crime is God; ‘Not blackness, not tradition, not blaming the white man or anyone or anything else.’

Boyd does not over-write, which was a relief to me. The chapters are short and specific (I admit to being prejudiced against the American habit of taking a millennium to get to the point). Politically, I found the book very interesting, although I didn’t always agree with the author and it is unfortunate that it has been released just as the coronavirus is ravaging the USA. I only make this comment because the manner in which American politicians are approaching the catastrophe is drawing criticism here in Australia.  

In short, On the Wrong Side of God is a revealing if painful glimpse into Black America today, yet free of bitterness and ending on a note of hope.