Essay Sample on Montgomery Bus Event

Introduction

Faith has in many instances been the fuel that has sparked a passionate flame in the quest for freedom. Simple acts of courage, inspired by the endless depths of trust in God can move mountains even in times when hope seems flair and unachievable. The mid-twentieth century will forever be remembered as a time when the world governments almost crumbled to the engulfing flames of war and religious institutions were subjected to trials of being used as instruments of war by being subjected to fascism and intimidation (Corbett & Hemeyer, 1999). However, the faith in God and the love for humanity has made Christianity overcome these challenges that threaten to demolish the very foundations in which they exist.

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Specific instances of bravery and faith in God inspired millions of believers to stand against the face of dictatorship and persecution to achieve freedom and prosperity in the world where all people have been created equal and serve the same God (Corbett & Hemeyer, 1999). An example of such incidence of faith which has been anchored in history and continue to inspire even the hardened cynics was the Montgomery bus boycott in December 1955. In this instance, Rosa Parks, a devoted Christian woman refused to surrender her seat to a white supremacist, and this triggered her immediate arrest ("Civil Rights Movement," n.d.). As a result of her defiant actions based on the belief that racial segregation was wrong and that all people are equal before the eyes of God and law, she initiated what would become the civil right movement in the United States which was anchored in Christianity and led by black religious leaders in the United States.

In the prior years before the resistance and the repulsion of the "Jim craw" rules, religion was viewed by many of the former slave owners as a hindrance and churches had become targeted as a result of their inclination against discrimination based on skin color. At the time, the American culture viewed religion as a hindrance to progressivism and southern slave owners misquoted the bible to justify why they owned other humans. The conservatism and fundamentalist in the south made slavery and segregation of the black people worse and undermined Christianity's basic teachings of the Bible ("Chapter IV. Religion and the Civil Rights Movement," n.d.). This distorted view of religion led to the growth of racial inclined churches where believers attended based on the color of their skin. The sermons in these churches were dominated by heated political and hate messages where the white people viewed themselves as more superior, and the African American felt undermined. In areas of the south where people tried to overcome the challenges of racial segregation and social injustice towards the minorities, the churches were either burnt down or had a mass withdrawal of people from a particular race as a result of threats and intimidation by a racially charged society ("Civil Rights Movement," n.d.).

In the years before the Mongomery incidence, segregation was written into law; where the seats at the front were reserved for white Americans and the back sits for the black Americans and other considered inferior races. The drivers had the authority to unseat a black person when a white citizen entered the bus, and they would be moved to the back sits of the coaches, this was demeaning, unfair, cruel and brutal to the black people both in the eyes of God and committed Christians. It is for these reasons that the protest at the Montgomery bus boycott by Rosa Parks will remain edged in the history of Christians and other religious bodies that stands for peace and equity should continue to get inspiration from. After the arrest of Rosa, a young minister in town, Martin Ruther King, Jr., organized a bus boycott in the community which he was serving and this sparked protests all across the South. The demonstrations were peaceful and embraced a philosophy of non-violence. However, the protesters were met with crude violence and brutal force ("Chapter IV. Religion and the Civil Rights Movement," n.d.). These images of people being beaten up were aired in live televisions, and it helped shed light on the atrocities being committed, and this attracted the attention of the white people in the North. In 1963, television audience witnessed a swarming crowd of African American marching on Washington DC in the determination to urge the government to stop the racial injustices, and it was during this march that Reverend Martin Luther King made his infamous speech "I have a dream."

The civil right movement which ensued after the Montgomery incidence had legislative motives; which to some extent were politically inclined. However, most of its doctrines were religiously based, and thus it qualifies as a movement based on Christianity teachings and sustained by religious powers harnessed by the southern churches. The churches urged the white brethren to emulate the example of Jesus who dined with people of different races and background despite being the savior and the son of God (Corbett & Hemeyer, 1999). Through religion, the movement reminded Christians in America that it would be against the teachings and the commandments of God to hate your neighbor, for the scripture emphasizes on loving one another and doing to them what you would like done to you. To some white Christians especially in the north, this message resonated with them and accepted the black people as their brothers and sisters in Christ. However, to the majority of the white Christians in the south, the prejudice persisted, and not even the scripture could convince them to treat the black people with love and dignity as Christ had commanded people to do.

Therefore at some point, both the white and the black churches had a choice to make, either follow the desires of the minorities by standing to the face of oppression which would jeopardize the safety of the church ministers or play along to the wishes of the majority and be silent when the black people were being mistreated. Unfortunately, it was not until the Montgomery bus boycott that church ministers and followers came together and expressed their strong condemnation towards the segregation policies towards the black people ("Chapter IV. Religion and the Civil Rights Movement," n.d.). For some white churches, the political and social way of life had already infiltrated into the church leadership for they neither condemned the injustices nor bothered to teach their followers that discriminating other people was against the commandments and the desires of God.

The anti-Christ sentiments were so intensified in the south that actions of some people who dared to call themselves Christians betrayed the very ideals that Christianity embodied. As discussed earlier, the white churches in the south formed a firm backbone of the Confederacy in an attempt to keep the African Americans in bondage (Corbett & Hemeyer, 1999). However, the reason why this was the case can be traced to the incorporation of political leaders to serve in the positions of church leadership in the south and thus eroding the basic principles of Christianity.

After the civil right movement had won most cases advocating for the rights of the oppressed, the southern politically inclined churches manipulated the Bible's teachings some more to justify their motives. They came up with a theory which indicated that their "religion was a lost cause" and that they had fought a righteous battle which was not to keep the slaves in bondage but to protect themselves from the northern aggression ("Civil Rights Movement," n.d.). The lost cause religion began to recognize the people who had died for the Confederate war and even celebrated the Confederate flag. All this exposed how politics and fascism had damaged the religion, and it would take few inspired Christians to stand for what is right as opposed to the political and social wishes of most people in the south. Such Christians would restore the role of Christianity in society and encourage other oppressed people around the world to embrace their true religion and fight peacefully for their freedoms.

Nonetheless, the churches which upheld the true doctrines of Christianity were not only meeting places for the movement which sought to restore equity and social justice they also represented changes needed in the society regarding freedom. It was the only place where the oppressive structure of the white power could not reach them, and they could express themselves without retribution, a place where they could worship, pray and shout to the lord. In other words, the few churches that never buckled to the immense political pressure of segregation and social injustice provided sanctuary to the people who sought help and strength from the lord. Even the white supremacists new the power that the church had in relation to the movement's success. Such powers included economic, social, political and spiritual fulfillment and were contained in the church's setting and embodied by Christianity (Findlay, 1993). Also, the church offered financial freedom, and thus the church leaders were financially capable and independent, this was also a reason why most of the movement's leaders were church leaders.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Montgomery bus event brought the church together in a time when religion was utterly despised and manipulated to accommodate the political and social agendas of the oppressors. Christians and church leaders became instrumental at ensuring that the problems of segregation and racial discrimination were addressed. Churches became vital places where social and economic groups met and become united under a common cause. The Haves and the have-nots met at a common place before God and formed a bond of friendship that would see them through trials and tribulations. Christians in the north and Midwest joined the southern faithful to form a united front. Both black and white came together in places of worship and then demonstrated in the streets to make a universal demand for freedom. They were prepared to die for what they believed was right in the eyes of God and some paid the ultimate price of death. Through songs of worship and praise to God, such as "we shall overcome" and "ain't gonna let nobody turn me around," they expressed their confidence in their cause (Findlay, 1993). The songs also resonated with their faith and desires that originated from the core of their hearts. On the other hand, the goals of the movement arose from the Christianity teachings and from the church hymns they expressed their hope in God and commitment to obeying his core rule which is loving one another with all their hearts. Without a doubt, their acts of courage and devotion ensured that the foundations of Christianity prevailed and was revived despite the resistance.

References

Chapter IV. Religion and the Civil Rights Movement. (n.d.). God and Race in American Politics. doi:10.1515/9781400829736-007

Civil Rights Movement. (n.d.). Religion Past and Present. doi:10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_sim_05001

Corbett, M., & Hemeyer, J. C. (1999). Politics and religion in the United States. New York: Garland Pub.

Findlay, J. F. (1993). Church people in the struggle: The National Council of Churches and the Black freedom movement, 1950-1970. New York: Oxford University Press.