Roots of Racism

[Rose]

Interesting article on racism and the Bible.

http://www.thegrio.com/opinion/racisms-roots-in-the-bible.php

[Rose]

Here are some quotes from the book by the former slave Fredrick Douglas, concerning his views on religious slaveholders.

"Another advantage I gained in my new master was, he made no pretensions to, or profession of religion; and this, in my opinion, was truly a great advantage. I assert most unhesitatingly, that religion of the south is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes, - a justifier of the most appalling barbarity, - a sanctifier of the most hateful frauds, - and a dark shelter under, which the darkest, foulest, grossest, and most infernal deeds of slaveholders find the strongest protection. Were I to be again reduced to the chains of slavery, next to that enslavement, I should regard being the slave of a religious master the greatest calamity that could befall me. For all slaveholders withwhom I have ever met, religious slaveholders are the worst. I have ever found them the meanest and basest, the most cruel and cowardly, of all others. It was my unhappy lot not only to belong to a religious slaveholder, but to live in a community of such religionists. Very near Mr Greeland lived the Rev. Daniel Weeden, and in the same neighborhood lived the Rev. Rigby Hopkins These were members and ministers in the Reformed Mehtodist Church. Mr Weeden owned, among others, a woman slave, whose name I have forgotten. This woman's back, for weeks, was kept literally raw, made so by the lash of this merciless, religious wretch!"

"It was necessary to keep our religious masters at St. Micheal's unacquainted with the fact, that, instead of spending the Sabbath in wrestling, boxing, and drinking whiskey, we were trying to learn how to read the will of God; for they had much rather see us engaged in those degrading sports, than to see us behaving like intellectual, moral, and accountable beings. My blood boils as I think of the bloody manner in which Messrs. Wright Fairbanks and Garrison West, both class-leaders in connection with many others, rushed in upon us with sticks and stones, and broke up our virtuous little Sabbath school, at St. Micheal's - all calling themselves Christians! Humble followers of the Lord Jesus!"