Congratulations to the UMI Board Member on His New Book

Rev. Dr. Ronald Bonner Unmasks Racism in Bold New Book Making It Plain

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 2025 – Ronald Bonner, seasoned activist, minister, and scholar, announces the release of his highly anticipated book, Making It Plain: Deconstructing a Fictitious and Vicious Story About Racism. In this groundbreaking work, Bonner offers a rigorous and accessible examination of how racist narratives are constructed, sustained, and internalized, equipping readers with the tools to confront and dismantle white supremacist thought.

Drawing on decades of experience in activism, ministry, and organizational leadership, Bonner interrogates the teaching methods that establish dominant white supremacist pedagogy. The book examines how Elliott Eisner’s formula for cultural construction, Gordon Allport’s definition of prejudice, and Howard Thurman’s concept of capitulation to imagined sovereignty have historically shaped social and educational structures to normalize and sustain racism. By deconstructing these mechanisms, Bonner encourages readers to question entrenched assumptions, analyze systemic structures, and identify both cultural and individual contributions to racial inequality.

“Making It Plain is about more than understanding racism—it’s about reclaiming the power to challenge and rewrite the narratives that shape our society,” says Bonner. “By understanding how these ideas are taught and maintained, individuals and communities can take meaningful action to disrupt racist thinking and promote equity.”

Bonner combines his dissertation on the deconstruction of divisive narratives with previous scholarship on ending bigotry, creating a text that is both academically rigorous and deeply practical. The book empowers learners and activists to critically engage with white racist and supremacist thought (WRST, pronounced “worst”) and to use their agency to challenge harmful narratives at both personal and cultural levels.

A longtime ordained minister in both the United Church of Christ and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Bonner has served in leadership roles in human resources, multicultural publishing, and affirmative action initiatives. In 2022, he earned his Doctor of Ministry from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and an online master’s certificate in public leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School. His extensive experience in education, ministry, and leadership informs both the depth and accessibility of Making It Plain.

Bonner is also a passionate public speaker and is available to lead workshops or deliver keynote addresses on race, culture, and social justice. The book resonates with educators, activists, faith leaders, media outlets, and anyone committed to questioning the narratives that perpetuate racial inequality.

Making It Plain: Deconstructing a Fictitious and Vicious Story About Racism is now available through major retailers. More information can be found at ronaldbonner.com.