Religion & The Civil Rights Movement

Question 1

Who wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”?

Answer 1

Martin Luther King Jr.

Question 2

What does “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” set out?

Answer 2

The goals and philosophy of the non-violent civil rights movement

Question 3

What is “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” a response to?

Answer 3

A letter written by 8 white Alabama religious leaders, urging Birmingham blacks to withdraw support from MLK & the Civil Rights Activists

Question 4

To whom was “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” addressed?

Answer 4

Moderate Christians of both races who had yet to support the elimination of segregation

Question 5

In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, why must churches speak on politics?

Answer 5

All great political questions are fundamentally moral questions

Question 6

In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, why is MLK in Birmingham?

Answer 6

1. President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

2. Because injustice is there

Question 7

According to “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, why is protest the only option?

Answer 7

The city’s white power structure left no alternative

Question 8

In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, what are the 4 steps of a non-violent campaign?

Answer 8

1. Collection of the facts
2. Negotiation
3. Self-purification
4. Direct action

Question 9

In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, who does MLK say are moving speedily towards independence?

Answer 9

Nations of Africa and Asia

Question 10

In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, what is the type of law you should obey?

Answer 10

Just law

Question 11

According to “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, what is ironic about condemning protests as they might lead to violence?

Answer 11

Like condemning Jesus as his devotion to God’s will lead to the crucifixion

Question 12

In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, what are the two opposing forces in the Negro community?

Answer 12

Complacency vs. Bitterness and hatred

Question 13

In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, why is MLK ok with being called an extremist?

Answer 13

Jesus was an extremist for love

Question 14

In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, which two groups has MLK been disappointed with?

Answer 14

1. White Moderates

2. White Church & its leadership

Question 15

Who wrote “National Baptist Philosophy of Civil Rights”?

Answer 15

Joseph Jackson

Question 16

Who was Joseph Jackson?

Answer 16

• President of the National Baptist Convention, Inc. 1953-1982
• Conservative views: spiritual mission of the Church
• Need for AA to move from protest to production
• Opposition to MLK

Question 17

What did MLK form in 1961

Answer 17

The Progressive National Baptist Convention (break away from National Baptist Convention, Inc.)

Question 18

In “National Baptist Philosophy of Civil Rights”, what is acknowledged about protest?

Answer 18

It has its place in the racial struggle, but not enough

Question 19

What is the chief message of “National Baptist Philosophy of Civil Rights”?

Answer 19

AA must move from protest to production

Question 20

According to “National Baptist Philosophy of Civil Rights”, what should education focus on?

Answer 20

Practical things: “Gospel of the soil”

Question 21

Who wrote “Singing of Good Tidings and Freedom”?

Answer 21

Mahalia Jackson

Question 22

Who was Mahalia Jackson?

Answer 22

• Gospel singer

- “Going to heaven tunes”

Question 23

In “Singing of Good Tidings and Freedom”, what does Jackson lament about the church?

Answer 23

They no longer help people to keep the faith

Question 24

What racial distinction does Jackson draw in religious music, in “Singing of Good Tidings and Freedom”?

Answer 24

European hymns seen as beautiful, but not Negro music

Question 25

Where did Jackson most famously sing, as described in "Singing of Good Tidings and Freedom"?

Answer 25

Washington March, before MLK's "I Have A Dream" Speech

Question 26

Who wrote "Black Theology and the Black Church"?

Answer 26

James Cone

Question 27

Who was James Cone?

Answer 27

Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary Supporter of Black Power

Question 28

In "Black Theology and the Black Church", what did Black Power challenge the Black Church to do?

Answer 28

- Move beyond the models of Love defined in the context of white religion and theology - Define where they stand in relation to black power

Question 29

In "Black Theology and the Black Church", what is emphasised about the Black Church?

Answer 29

The central role that the black church has played in black people's historical struggle for freedom

Question 30

According to "Black Theology and the Black Church", what is the problem in black churches using intellectual ideas from European theologians?

Answer 30

White Europeans did not shape their ideas in the social context of white racism

Question 31

What is the message of "Black Theology and the Black Church"?

Answer 31

Need to create a new theological movement

Question 32

In "Black Theology and the Black Church", what has not been created in a vacuum?

Answer 32

Black theology: cannot simply return to African religion & philosophy

Question 33

What does "Black Theology and the Black Church" call for, in terms of perspective?

Answer 33

Global perspective: should follow on from historical pan-Africanism, in getting all the oppressed peoples together

Question 34

Who wrote "The Black Churches: A New Agenda"?

Answer 34

Lawrence Jones

Question 35

What is "The Black Churches: A New Agenda"?

Answer 35

A contribution to 'The Churches: Where from here?' series for "The Christian Century"

Question 36

Who was Lawrence Jones?

Answer 36

1970: First holder of the chair in African American Church History at Union Theological Seminary Dean of Howard University's School of Religion

Question 37

In "Black Churches: A New Agenda", what are the 4 agendas that the Black Church was founded on?

Answer 37

1. Proclamation of the Gospel 2. Benevolences 3. Education 4 Foreign Ministers

Question 38

According to "Black Churches: A New Agenda", what is the only founding agenda not to change?

Answer 38

Proclamation of the gospel

Question 39

In "Black Churches: A New Agenda", what have black churches not developed that white churches have?

Answer 39

Effective centralised bureaucracies

Question 40

According to "Black Churches: A New Agenda", what has a critical lack of money led to?

Answer 40

Continued fragmentation of the Afro-American religious community

Question 41

In "Black Churches: A New Agenda", who have been greatly involved in growing church membership?

Answer 41

Local communities

Question 42

According to "Black Churches: A New Agenda", what is in jeopardy?

Answer 42

Ability to attract urban dwellers in large numbers with a 19th century rural ethos

Question 43

What does "Black Churches: A New Agenda", call on the black churches to do?

Answer 43

Address the consciousness, realities, and urgencies of contemporary urban life

Question 44

Who gave "Remarks on the Assassination"?

Answer 44

Robert F. Kennedy

Question 45

What was "Remarks on the Assassination"?

Answer 45

A speech given in Indianapolis informing the crowd that MLK had been shot

Question 46

Who was Robert F. Kennedy?

Answer 46

NY Senator, campaigning for the 1968 Democratic Presidential nomination

Question 47

What was the prepared response of RFK to the death of MLK?

Answer 47

"On the Mindless Menace of Violence", Cleveland, Ohio

Question 48

What was the message of "Remarks on the Assassination"?

Answer 48

Work together to move the country forward

Question 49

In "Remarks on the Assassination", how did RFK empathise with AA?

Answer 49

Mentions his feelings after the assassination of JFK

Question 50

According to "Remarks on the Assassination", what are the 2 options open?

Answer 50

Greater polarisation between races or a coming together (what JFK would have wanted)

Question 51

Who gave "The Ballot or the Bullet"?

Answer 51

Malcolm X

Question 52

What was "The Ballot or the Bullet"?

Answer 52

A speech given by Malcolm X in April 1964 at Cory Methodist Church, Ohio

Question 53

When did Malcolm X separate from the Nation of Islam?

Answer 53

March 1964

Question 54

What was the relationship between the Nation of Islam and politics?

Answer 54

It forbade its members from participating in the political process

Question 55

In "The Ballot or the Bullet", what question is X responding to?

Answer 55

"The Negro Revolt, and Where Do We Go From Here?"

Question 56

In "The Ballot or the Bullet", who does X compare himself to?

Answer 56

MLK: Christian minister leading a civil rights organisation (X's personal religion is Islam)

Question 57

Why does Malcolm X say it is time to submerge differences in "The Ballot or the Bullet"?

Answer 57

Common problem: all getting hell from the same man

Question 58

In "The Ballot or the Bullet", what partnership does X invoke to show people can overcome differences?

Answer 58

JFK & Khrushchev

Question 59

According to "The Ballot or the Bullet", what is so important about 1964?

Answer 59

It is an election year

Question 60

In "The Ballot or the Bullet", what do blacks have the potential to do?

Answer 60

Get the Democrats out of government (esp. Dixiecrats)

Question 61

In "The Ballot or the Bullet", what 2 things are stopping AA from voting?

Answer 61

Northern Gerrymandering | Southern refusal to give the Negro the vote

Question 62

According to "The Ballot or the Bullet", what is the new interpretation of the Civil Rights Struggle?

Answer 62

Black Nationalism

Question 63

In "The Ballot or the Bullet", what does the civil rights struggle need to be expanded to?

Answer 63

The level of human rights

Question 64

According to "The Ballot or the Bullet", what does black nationalism mean economically?

Answer 64

Should control the economy of their own community: don't let money out of the community

Question 65

Who gave "Myths About Malcolm X"?

Answer 65

Albert Cleage

Question 66

What was "Myths About Malcolm X"?

Answer 66

A speech at a memorial meeting, Friday Night Socialist Forum in Detroit

Question 67

Where was "Myths About Malcolm X" published?

Answer 67

International Socialist Review

Question 68

What was the aim of "Myths About Malcolm X"?

Answer 68

Personal reflections and re-find the man under the myths

Question 69

In "Myths About Malcolm X", what does Cleage compare the myth around X to?

Answer 69

The myths that built up around Jesus

Question 70

Who was Albert Cleage?

Answer 70

Christian religious leader against integration

Question 71

In "Myths About Malcolm X", what is the myth about his time in Mecca?

Answer 71

That he rejected his former position that the white man is the enemy and that separation is inescapable

Question 72

In "Myths About Malcolm X", what is the myth about internationalisation?

Answer 72

- That Malcolm wanted to internationalise the struggle and appeal to the United Nations - Didn't think that the Africans were going to save the AA

Question 73

Was does Cleage not believe about Elijah Muhammad in "Myths About Malcolm X"?

Answer 73

That he assassinated Malcolm X

Question 74

According to "Myths About Malcolm X", what is the basic principle?

Answer 74

That the white man is your enemy

Question 75

In "Myths About Malcolm X", what is called "impossible and undesirable"?

Answer 75

Integration

Question 76

In "Myths About Malcolm X", who did he lay the foundations for?

Answer 76

Stokely Carmichael

Question 77

Who is the interviewer in "Autobiography of Malcolm X"?

Answer 77

Alex Haley

Question 78

What was the original purpose of "Autobiography of Malcolm X"?

Answer 78

Help people appreciate how Mr. Muhammad salvages black people

Question 79

What genre does the "Autobiography of Malcolm X" fall into?

Answer 79

Spiritual conversion narrative (Augustinian approach)

Question 80

In the "Autobiography of Malcolm X", what did the white man use to oppress people?

Answer 80

Religion

Question 81

According to the "Autobiography of Malcolm X", what needs to come before civil rights

Answer 81

Human rights

Question 82

According to the "Autobiography of Malcolm X", who was the Messiah?

Answer 82

Fard Muhammad

Question 83

In the "Autobiography of Malcolm X", what had black people been brainwashed into doing"?

Answer 83

Worshipping a white Jesus

Question 84

In the "Autobiography of Malcom X", what is white love?

Answer 84

Really lust

Question 85

What are "House Negroes" according to the "Autobiography of Malcolm X"?

Answer 85

AA handpicked by white men to fare slightly better than the black masses and so defend the power structure

Question 86

What has the bible been historically, in the "Autobiography of Malcolm X"?

Answer 86

The single greatest ideological weapon for enslaving millions of non-white humans

Question 87

How did Malcolm X view black leaders in his autobiography?

Answer 87

Black bodies with white heads

Question 88

In the "Autobiography of Malcolm X", what is the only solution?

Answer 88

Complete separation from the white man