Stone of Hope

An interesting new book. A Stone of Hope: Prophetic Religion and the Death of Jim Crow by David Chappell.

The review in the November Atlantic was eye-opening.

This unusually sophisticated and subtle study takes and unconventional approach by examining both sides in the struggle. Chappell asks what strengthened those who fought segregation in the South and what weakened their enemies. His answer in both cases is evangelical Christianity.

In the mid-1950s the Southern Baptists and the Southern Presbyterians each overwhelmingly passed resolutions endorsing desegregation, and appealing to all southerners to accept it peacefully (in the Southern Baptist Convention the vote was staggeringly lopsided-- about 9,000 to 50.

Billy Graham-- a Southern Baptist from North Carolina-- shared a pulpit with Dr. Martin Luther King in 1957 and commended his work. He viewed racism as a modern, secular concept. Most importantly, he insisted that his revival meetings be integrated even in the South. His ushers and choirs were integrated as well, even where this violated local laws.

Because the churches deserted Jim Crow, Chappell argues that "the segregationists' foundations in southern white culture were mushy. The segregationists had popular opinion behind them but not popular conviction."

This completely upsets the conventional stereotype of white churches as Klan-hangouts. I think it has become a must read for me.