A student at University of North Georgia discovered an assigned textbook making a blunt claim that Christianity is a “U.S.‑based white supremacist group,” prompting alarm among believers and a defensive response from the university. In Chapter 8 of International Public Relations: Negotiating Culture, Identity, and Power (2007), the text lists: “corporate, sexual, digital, public, racial, national, brand, and even Christian (a U.S.-based white supremacist group).”
The student, senior Kelbie Murphy, paid approximately $100 for the textbook for her international public relations class and said the passage upset her deeply because it seemingly targets Christians while lumping other identities with the label of white supremacy. The university responded that the passage does not describe Christians or Christianity in general, but rather refers to an extremist group that misuses Christian symbols to promote hate.
The controversy raises concerns on multiple fronts. First, the language in the textbook has gone unchallenged for nearly two decades despite being included in course curricula. That suggests wider questions about vetting and editorial oversight in academic publishing. Second, students who identify as Christian contend the passage mischaracterizes their faith and opens the door to unfair stigma or cancellation‑culture tactics when they express disagreement. Third, the university’s defense hinges on an interpretation that the textbook refers only to a fringe group (“Christian Identity”), a subtlety that may be lost on many students without that contextual knowledge.
