Christian action against racism

Christians can help fight prejudice and discrimination by putting their beliefs into action:

• Avoid making judgements about people before they know them properly.
• Make sure equal opportunities policies at work are implemented.
• Make it clear to friends and colleagues that racist jokes are not funny.
• Raise children to share their beliefs that all humans are equally valuable.
• Pray about the problems caused by racism, sexism, etc..
• Join organisations which campaign for equality.
• Make members of ethnic minorities feel welcome, included and respected.
• Votes for MPs policies who are anti-racist and anti-sexist.
• Take part in peaceful demonstrations against racism, sexism, etc..

Martin Luther King

Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in 1869, but life for blacks in America was still difficult:

• Treated as inferior, second-class citizens. Not allowed to vote.
• Dreadful living conditions and exploited by white employers.
• Segregation: different schools, restaurants, seats on buses, swimming pools, etc..

MLK’s father was a Christian minister in Georgia. At home and church MLK was taught that God created everyone in his own image. He heard stories about Jesus caring for all people. When he went out, however, he saw all blacks treated as inferior. MLK became a Baptist minister in Montgomery, Alabama.

1955: Mrs. Rosa Parks, old black woman, arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. MLK decided to help blacks gain civil rights. He joined the American Civil Rights Movement, and became their leader in 1960.

What did he do?

• Bus Boycott: blacks refused to use public buses until blacks and whites could sit side by side. 1956, a law was passed making a racial segregation on America’s buses illegal.
• Boycotts of Cafés, restaurants and schools.
• “Freedom rides” across America.
• Sit-ins in coffee-shops and at lunch counters
• Marches and Demonstrations, non-violent. Black and white people marched together.
• Speeches: August 1963, famous “I have a dream” speech to 250,000 in Washington.

How did he do it?

Non-violent protest (NVP, also NVDA – Non-Violent Direct Action). He said violence must not be used to gain equal rights. He carried on even though people bombed his house, and threatened to kill him, his wife and 4 children. He was attacked, and stabbed once.

Why did he use NVP?

• Believed the teaching of the Bible and the Christian Faith that all people are born in the image of God, and loved by God equally. God sees no distinction between black and white.
• Believed Jesus died for all people, not just whites.
• Wanted to put agape love into action, but no-one has the right to fight, hurt or kill people to gain equal rights because God loves all people, including racists.
• Believed you only change people through love, not hatred or violence. Hatred must be confronted by love.

Was he successful?

Highly respected by President Kennedy, blacks allowed to vote, segregation became illegal. However, racist attitudes are still strong in USA, from both sides.

April 1968, aged 38, MLK was shot dead by a white man in a hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.