The continuing legacy of the March on Washington
By / Sep 1

Monday marked the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Held on Aug. 28, 1963, the march stands as a watershed moment in the Civil Rights Movement, influencing civil rights legislation and contributing to the end of racial segregation.

Here is what you should know about the Christian significance of the march, its impact on civil rights laws, and the ongoing quest for racial reconciliation.

Historical context: A moral imperative to overturn Jim Crow

The March on Washington occurred during a tumultuous period characterized by racial discrimination and social unrest. Although slavery had been abolished, systemic racism persisted, particularly in the form of Jim Crow laws. Named after an offensive and degrading stereotype of African Americans, Jim Crow laws were a collection of state and local statutes that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

One of the primary tenets of Jim Crow laws was the doctrine of “separate but equal,” upheld by the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. This doctrine allowed for racial segregation so long as facilities were “equal,” though in reality, they were often inferior for African Americans. 

Jim Crow laws also mandated the segregation of public schools, public transportation, restrooms, restaurants, and even drinking fountains. They entrenched racial boundaries by establishing voting restrictions and prohibiting interracial marriages. These laws often enforced job discrimination, ensuring that lucrative and desirable jobs were reserved for white individuals.

Jim Crow laws were enacted primarily from the late 19th century to the early 20th century and remained in effect at the time of the march. This struggle for civil rights was therefore not merely a political or social endeavor but a moral imperative deeply rooted in the Christian doctrine that all human beings are created in the image of God.

The march: A manifestation of Christian activism

Organized by civil rights and labor leaders like A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, the March on Washington brought together an estimated 250,000 individuals of all races. Many of the promoters and speakers at the events were Christian leaders, as were a great number of those who participated in the march.

Although the organizers disagreed about the purpose of the event, the group came together on a set of goals: 

  • passage of meaningful civil rights legislation; 
  • immediate elimination of school segregation; 
  • a program of public works, including job training, for the unemployed; 
  • a federal law prohibiting discrimination in public or private hiring; 
  • a $2-an-hour minimum wage nationwide; 
  • withholding federal funds from programs that tolerate discrimination; 
  • enforcement of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution by reducing congressional representation from states that disenfranchise citizens; 
  • a broadened Fair Labor Standards Act to currently excluded employment areas; 
  • and authority for the attorney general to institute injunctive suits when constitutional rights are violated.

Event organizer Bayard Rustin recruited 4,000 off-duty police officers and firemen to serve as event marshals and coached them in the crowd control techniques he’d learned in India studying nonviolent political participation. The official law enforcement also included 5,000 police, National Guardsmen, and Army reservists. No marchers were arrested, though, and no incidents concerning marchers were reported.

At the close of the event, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister, delivered his iconic speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. King improvised the most recognizable, memorable part of the speech for which he is most famous, according to his speechwriter and attorney Clarence B. Jones. Although King had spoken about a dream two months earlier in Detroit, the “dream” was not in the text prepared by Jones. King initially followed the text Jones had written, but gospel singer Mahalia Jackson yelled, “Tell ’em about the dream, Martin!” King nodded to her, placed the text of his speech aside, and veered off-script, delivering extemporaneously what is referred to as the “I Have a Dream” speech, one of the most famous orations in American history.

A cultural shift and the end of segregation

The March on Washington was instrumental in the passage of key civil rights legislation. 

  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, echoed the biblical principles of justice and equality.
  •  Similarly, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 sought to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, aligning with the Christian conviction of fair treatment for all people made in God’s image.

Beyond legislation, the march initiated a significant cultural shift. The event brought the issue of racial inequality into the American consciousness, challenging people to confront their prejudices and to strive toward the Christian ideals of love, mercy, and unity. While laws could mandate desegregation, it was this change in collective consciousness that truly began to dismantle systemic racism.

As we reflect on the march, it’s essential to recommit to the Christian call for racial and ethnic reconciliation. The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This verse highlights the biblical mandate for unity, transcending all racial and ethnic divisions, especially in the Church.

The March on Washington serves as a profound reminder of the Christian principles of justice, equality, and love for one’s neighbor—all grounded in the reality that we are all created in God’s image. The event was not just a milestone in American history; it was a manifestation of Christian activism that led to transformative civil rights legislation and cultural changes. However, the journey toward racial reconciliation is far from over, as evidenced by the devastating and sinful acts of racial hatred and violence we see too frequently. As followers of Christ, we are called to continue this vital work, striving to build a society where all are equal, all are loved, and all have the opportunity to hear the good news of Christ Jesus.

The Bible’s centrality to the Civil Rights Movement
By / Jan 16

The Bible was central to the thought, rhetoric, and development of the Civil Rights Movement. This was influenced by the essential role of Black churches and preachers in the organization of the movement. Not only was the movement characterized by meetings in churches and the singing of Negro spirituals, it was also marked by biblical themes and biblical rhetoric.

An example of biblical rhetoric

A prime example of popular civil rights rhetoric is Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on August 28, 1963. The speech reflected King’s criticisms and hopes for America set in the language of the prophets of the Old Testament. For example, he said satisfaction would not come until “justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24). This was familiar language in the Bible-literate America of that day.

In the conclusion, as King soared into describing his dream, he described a day when “every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together” (Isa. 40:4-5).

Furthermore, it should not be taken for granted that the celebrated leader of the Civil Rights Movement was a Black Baptist preacher.

The biblical teaching behind the movement

The central intellectual strain behind the movement focused on the issue of the equality of all humans, since they were “created . . . in the image of God” (Gen. 1:27), whether Black or white. Throughout the Black freedom struggle in American history, the biblical teachings on creation and human dignity were foundational to the arguments being put forth, both by scholars and by everyday people. Even those who were illiterate knew from the rhetoric of the movement that God had created all people from one man (Acts 17:26).

In his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail written April 16, 1963, King resorted to biblical examples as a defense when he was accused of being an extremist for participating in demonstrations, sit-ins, and boycotts. He asked whether Jesus was an extremist when he said, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). He also cited the prophet Amos and the apostle Paul, asking whether their words and actions were not also “extreme.” Finally, reflecting on Jesus’ death at Calvary, he wrote that “Jesus was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness.”

And in his appeal to white ministers for support, King commonly cited biblical texts and the examples of Christ.

Conclusion

The Bible was central to the pulse of the Civil Rights Movement. In planning meetings, preachers and laypersons read from its pages. In public disputes, everyday people quoted its promises and its truth regarding the dignity of all humanity, regardless of skin color. It truly would not be a stretch to suggest that the Civil Rights Movement would have lacked moral fiber (and one might further say divine blessing) without the underlying truth claims drawn from the Bible.

The Civil Rights Movement 50 Years after MLK
By / Apr 3

Russell Moore interviews John Perkins about the civil rights movement 50 years after King at the MLK50 conference in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Reflections on My Father Who Marched with Dr. King
By / Apr 3

Bartholomew Orr shares reflections on his father at the MLK50 Conference in Memphis, Tennessee. 

How you can watch MLK50
By / Mar 28

In just a few days, over 3,500 church members and leaders will gather with us in Memphis for MLK50: Gospel Reflections from the Mountaintop in order to commemorate 50 years since Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

We know many of you cannot come in person, but I want to invite you to join us for our mainstage sessions via the live simulcast. Here are a few of the amazing talks you’ll have access to:

Tuesday

Session 1: 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Keynote 1 | Black and White and Red All Over: Why Racial Justice Is a Gospel Issue | Russell Moore

Session 2: 3:30-5:20 p.m.

Brief Talk 1 | Equipping the Next Generation to Embrace Gospel Diversity | Jackie Hill Perry

Session 3: 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Keynote 5 | The Civil Rights Movement 50 Years after MLK: An Interview with Russell Moore | John Perkins

Panel 3 | Civil Rights Storytellers with Sandy Willson (Moderator), John Perkins, Melvin Charles Smith, James Netters, and Beverly Robertson

Wednesday

Session 4: 8:30-10:00 a.m.

Keynote 6 | A House Divided Cannot Stand: Understanding and Overcoming the Inconsistencies in White Evangelicals on Racial Issues | Matt Chandler

Session 5: 10:30-11:35 a.m.

Panel 4 | The State of Racial Tension in America with Collin Hansen (Moderator), Christina Edmondson, Justin Giboney, Juan Sanchez, and Benjamin Watson

Session 6: 7:00-9:40 p.m.

Keynote 8 | The Glory of God and Racial Unity | John Piper

On April 3, head to mlk50conference.com/live/ and watch at your convenience. You will also be able to rewind the livestream once it has begun. You do not need to pre-register, but I recommend you take a look at the entire schedule here and set some calendar reminders so you don’t miss anything!

We look forward to having you be a part of the conference from wherever you are in the world, via your own computer, tablet, or phone. Use the hashtag #MLK50conference to see what others are saying about the conference.

6 special features of MLK50
By / Mar 27

Racial unity is a gospel issue and all the more urgent 50 years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. The anniversary of King’s tragic death marks an opportunity for Christians to reflect on the state of racial unity in the church and the culture. It creates the occasion to reflect on where Christians have been and look ahead to where we must go as we pursue racial unity in the midst of tremendous tension.

So, we’d love for you to join the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and The Gospel Coalition at a special event, MLK50: Gospel Reflections from the Mountaintop, taking place April 3-4, 2018, in Memphis, Tennessee. Key speakers include Matt Chandler, Jackie Hill Perry, Eric Mason, Russell Moore, John Piper, Benjamin Watson, and many others.

Here are six special features of the MLK50 conference that we pray will make it a unique and culture-transforming experience.

  1. Corporate prayer and lament: One of the most important aspects of the conference will be Tuesday night when we close with a time of corporate prayer and lament. We will pray for healing in our country, repent of our failures in the past, and ask the Lord to work through our churches to bring about racial unity. All speakers and advisors will be invited on stage for this special moment.
  2. Dream Forward Scholarship Initiative: Throughout our listening sessions with national and local leaders, investing in educational opportunities was a recurring theme. As a result, we will unveil this new scholarship initiative, which brings together over 15 Christian colleges and seminaries who have committed a significant value in scholarships to invest in the next generation of minority leaders from the Memphis region.
  3. Investing in Memphis: We want to leave a lasting impact on Memphis. Rather than trying to manufacture something on our own, we will take up an offering to support the remarkable work of the Memphis Christian Pastors Network. They are a key Christian group investing in the racial unity of the city.
  4. Memphis leadership consultation: Throughout the planning of our event, we have stayed in close consultation with the National Civil Rights Museum, representatives of the King family, local Memphis pastors, civic leaders, and law enforcement officers to ensure support for our efforts and coordinate our plans in a way that meshes well with other activities happening in the city.
  5. Memphis city-wide participation: We will pause all programming on April 4th from 4-7 pm to enable our attendees to join the city at the Lorraine Motel for the solemn moment when the bells are tolled at 6:01 pm to honor the passing of MLK.
  6. Memphis involvement: Our conference will include more than 10 local Memphis speakers, as well as performances from the Tennessee Mass Choir. There are also hundreds of local attendees from dozens of Memphis churches.

We would love to see you in Memphis for this historic event. But if you can’t be with us in person, you can join us via live simulcast. You can visit mlk50conference.com for more information.