A Sin by Any Other Name Reckoning with Racism and the Heritage of the South

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.

Robert W. Lee, IV is a faculty lecturer at Appalachian State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in religious studies. Rob is a religion columnist for the Statesville Record and Landmark, and his first book, Stained-Glass Millennials was released in 2017. Lee completed his Master of Theological Studies from Duke University and is currently pursuing doctoral work in public theology. Rob is a sought after preacher and speaker and has preached from such pulpits as the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and Harvard University’s Memorial Church. Lee lives in the Piedmont of North Carolina with his wife Stephanie and poodle Frank.