Homage to MLK JR./ Christians & Civil Rights

[alexd]

1/15/07:

A couple nice links in light of the day.

The first link is his famous "I have a dream" speech. No man is perfect nor does God expect it, however to speak truth against what may is a power I feel all men and women must claim.

Text of speech provided by World Wide School:

www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/hst/northamerican/IHaveaDream/chap1.html


Audio of speech provided by History and Politics Out Loud:

www.hpol.org/record.php?id=72

Video of speech provided by Googe Video:

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1732754907698549493&q=I+have+a+dream%2C+martin+luther+king&pl=true

The second is a narrative I read this year in passing that was a very strong account of a man who threw off slavery in the US, both a powerful perspective of the times and the creation of a man.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, written by himself:

sunsite3.berkeley.edu/Literature/Douglass/Autobiography/

It's a somewhat lengthy read for web format, and a physical copy might be more comfortable if you have one available. I do recommend reading it however.

My pride in these and the millions of other people who have worked so hard to create a place in our nation is only dampened by the knowledge that it was my forefathers who wished to prevent them.

[Josh]

1/17/07:

Although I am deeply saddened by the number of "Christians" who furthered racism and earlier, the slave trade (or did nothing to oppose them), I am proud of the strong Christian heritage (that does exist) of standing up against slavery.

I'm thinking especially of John Newton (ex-slave trader who penned Amazing Grace) and William Wilberforce who worked tirelessly for 30 some years to end the slave trade in England and whose efforts were successful just after his death (that's so Hebrews 11).

I'm thinking of the unnamed men and women Abolitionists, black and white, in America who fought tirelessly against slavery, most of them fueled by personal faith. My very first term paper in college was on the Abolitionists. It's been a long time since I reviewed all that stuff, I think it would be worth dusting off.

And of course, those more modern Christians such as MLK, who continued this tradition with amazing resolve.

I'm also amazed at the fact that the African American community was somehow able (on a large scale basis) to separate true Christianity from the Christianity of their oppressors, embracing the faith of their enslavers on so deep a level that no one could have believed possible. It's a testament to the radical hope found in the Scriptures that speaks to those oppressed waiting for that "sweet chariot" to swing down with the liberating power of the gospel, in which there is no longer "Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female..."

The Gospel is not for the powerbrokers. Though they try to cling to it and use it as a facade, it will always betray them and make it's way to the oppressed, becoming a powerful weapon in their hands- a weapon not against "flesh and blood but against rulers and powers and spiritual forces of wickedness".

[Josh]

I just heard an ad. for a movie that comes out in theaters tomorrow titled "Amazing Grace" on the life and work of William Wilberforce and the abolition of slavery in England. I'm highly interested because his life and those events make a great story.