JT: Martin Luther King Jr. once said that, when it came to issues of justice, the church was often the taillight rather than the headlight in society. By that, he meant that the church often followed along after changes in the racial status quo were already taking place in different arenas, from politics to entertainment to corporations, and that’s what we often see throughout U.S. history. Though many Christians were actively engaged in struggles for racial equality, they tended to be in the minority. The majority of white Christians, at least, did change, but only as the national sentiment was already moving toward more openness and more equality. The change was slow and a little reluctant.
The reason why racism and the Christian church have such a long history is that racism is not only found in the bible, but supported by it. The same character that says "love your neighbor" also gives instructions for beating one's slaves. The "mark of Cain" was interpreted by many Christian sects as a reason to be prejudiced against those with darker skin color. It is important not to disregard these historical realities and push the notion that the religion and its foundational text are pure and perfect, and it's only bad people who are responsible for all racism.
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