The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 83, July 1979 - April, 1980 Page: 32
464 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
ern Baptists. "With the exception of the courageous secretaries of the
Christian Life Commissions and the men who work with them," James
asked, "how many of us have ever really risked our necks in defense
of the Negro's rights?" Inasmuch as desegregation was "right in the
sight of God," the editor wondered how much longer Southern Bap-
tists would ignore their responsibility in this matter. "If Jesus were here
in the flesh there is no doubt that He would defend the rights of the
downtrodden just as He did when He was here. As His followers we can
do no less," challenged James. Baptists should help implement integra-
tion rather than "hurl their epithets at the court." James warmly com-
mended Baylor University when it desegregated in 1963. And in 1964,
when the civil rights bill became law, James voiced approval. "No Chris-
tian has a moral right to disobey any law of his nation unless it con-
travenes his obligation to God, and there is nothing in this new law that
in any measure prevents one's full devotion to God." The editor, further-
more, chided those Baptists who suggested that desegregation would
lead to intermarriage.7
While this suggests that James's concern for racial justice was genuine,
his methodology was distinctly conservative. He preferred voluntary to
coerced integration, especially in private facilities, and consequently
considered "unreasonable and unneeded" that section of President John
Kennedy's proposed civil rights legislation that would force hotels,
motels, restaurants, and stores to accept all people. While recognizing
that coercion was perhaps all right in public institutions, the Baptist
editor strongly objected to forced integration of private facilities which
received no financial assistance from local, state, or federal agencies. Al-
though such a position could easily be dismissed as a rationalization for
delay, this does not seem to have been the case with James. "Desegrega-
tion of all private enterprises ought to be implemented now, once and
for always," he wrote, "but it should be done by volition rather than
compulsion." James was a Christian of conservative political leanings
who believed integration attained through "Christian love and respect
for all mankind" was "a far more excellent way than integration by
legislation." s
Similarly, James resented aggressive behavior by blacks and con-
demned violence by whites. In 1963, when blacks picketed First Baptist
7Ibid., June 26, p. 4 (first-sixth quotations), Dec. 4, 1963, PP. 4-5, Jan. 15, p. 5, July 15,
1964, p. 4 (seventh quotation).
SlIbid., July 24, 1963, p. 3 (quotations).
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 83, July 1979 - April, 1980, periodical, 1979/1980; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101207/m1/52/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.