It is my argument that the early Seventh-day Adventist missionaries resisted both the racist beliefs and racist practices of the South, then -- pressured by custom and escalating violence -- they began accommodating the racism of the South by racially segregating yet continuing to resist the oppression of Blacks. Over time, however, that segregation which began as accommodation was accepted and normalized; in effect, it became part of the Adventist culture in America. Though racial segregation was a temporary expediency, the church's failure began when it ceased to question the policy (and it started righting these wrongs when it began again to corporately challenge both the assumptions and practices of racial segregation).
I think I've got the thesis paragraph of my thesis project down.
If you want to know what I've been laboring on for months and will continue to work on for more months, there you have it, folks.
9 comments:
very interesting. its so convincing already, and I haven't even read the argument!
Dear Ben Schnell,
Would you like to be on my thesis approval committee? :D
Thanks for the encouraging words. I'm hoping the paper will live up to them :)
That sounds super interesting to read. I am interested in the last portion especially. I want to read more about the part of righting the wrongs.
I emailed you.
wow, I would like to know more of your thoughts on this. very, very interesting indeed.
Thanks for tackling this topic. It is definitely needed in the circles of discussion and change. I look forward to hearing more!
I hope you picked something you don't like very much because after months and months, you're going to be really sick of it. :) But really, a very good topic. I hope to read your book one day.
You inspire me, Kessia.
I like it. I want to read more. It seems that many of the Adventist "pioneers" were social activists as well. Bates with abolition, EGW encouraging straight up civil disobedience to the Fugitive Slave Act. Somewhere we lost our way. I want to read more! Good work!
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