Retro Review: *Let Justice Roll Down by John Perkins

The life of John Perkins offers the only true way to justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness for our tragic racist history.

*Let Justice Roll Down by John Perkins. Gospel Light, 1975, 215 pages.

Reading Level: Teen, ages 15-18

Recommended for: ages 14-up

Life was no crystal stair for John Perkins. His mother died of pellagra, a protein deficiency, while he was only seven months old. His father, Jap, left Mississippi soon after, and his paternal grandmother took in all the Perkins children, from Clyde (age 12) all the way down to the baby. Clyde was like a second father to John, who idolized his proud walk and independent ways. Those traits were even more pronounced when Clyde returned from fighting in Germany with a U. S. Army uniform and a Purple Heart. But none of that made any difference when Clyde got into an alternation with the white deputy marshal at a movie theater in New Hebron, MS. With almost no provocation, the deputy shot Clyde twice in the stomach, and the young man died on the way to the hospital with his head in his little brother’s lap.

Done with Mississippi, John headed for California as soon as he could, landed a decent job, married his teenage sweetheart, and was headed up in the world. But then he met Jesus, who set him free from bitterness and hate. Few men were as thoroughly converted at once—John plunged into Bible study, Bible teaching, youth clubs, young men’s discipleship. Eventually, he decided to move his family back to Mississippi, where he could help his people secure their civil rights. And more than that, their freedom in the Lord.

This memoir, published in the mid-seventies, is bracketed between two horrifying events: the murder of his brother in broad daylight, and the brutal beating of John himself and other civil rights leaders during a hellish night in Mendenhall, Mississippi. In between is the story of his total conversion from secularism to the clear light of the gospel and its power to save and heal. This, he insists, is the only sure road to racial reconciliation: at the cross there is no black and white, only repentant sinners. Written in a colloquial, easy style, his message is convicting, challenging, and ultimate encouraging for believers of every shade.

*The phase “no crystal stair” comes from the poem “Mother to Son,” by Langston Hughes, reworked by Nikki Grimes in her poetry collection, One Last Word.

Overall Rating: 4.75 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

Related Reading on the Web:

John Perkins was WORLD Magazine’s 2020 “Daniel of the Year.” Read the article: “After the Election, Reconciliation?”

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• See our list of “Books about Racism for Children and Teens.” Under Our Skin by Benjamin Watson is especially helpful for bringing Let Justice Roll Down up to date.
• Classic children’s literature has come in for a lot of scrutiny lately owing to the insensitive attitudes displayed by characters like Ma and Pa Ingalls. See “Historical Racism in Children’s Books–What Can We Do?” for further thoughts.

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