Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass are two African American activists who lived in different centuries. The former fought for African American civil rights in 20th century while the later strived for abolition of slavery in 19th century, but they both carried one single agenda or goal in common –fighting for the equality and integration of African-Americans. In the Letter from Birmingham Jail and the Narrative of an African American Slave, Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglass have similarities and differences in their views of Christianity’s role in the larger context. For example, both Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglass expressed their indignation and criticism towards the white Christian churches for their justification and permission of slavery and segregation, although the tone or the severity of such condemnation differs. Moreover, King also holds more optimism towards the role of Christianity in overcoming the legacies of slavery and segregation and takes a more progressive stance on such matter.
In terms of similarity, Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglass both condemn …show more content…
Fredrick Douglass was born into slavery on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Talbot County, Maryland. Therefore, he had the first-hand experience about slavery and all its utmost brutality and inhumanity. Especially when he was sold to Edward Covey, a poor farmer who constantly whipped him, he almost experienced a psychological breakdown. Howbeit, Martin Luther King was born into a free man. Although he did experience several humiliations and segregation from the white, still, compared to Douglass who experienced extreme physical violence, he was much more fortunate. Thus, this variation of the first-hand experiences in discrimination somehow determined their overall mindset towards the religion, the racial issues as well as other
In terms of similarity, Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglass both condemn …show more content…
Fredrick Douglass was born into slavery on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Talbot County, Maryland. Therefore, he had the first-hand experience about slavery and all its utmost brutality and inhumanity. Especially when he was sold to Edward Covey, a poor farmer who constantly whipped him, he almost experienced a psychological breakdown. Howbeit, Martin Luther King was born into a free man. Although he did experience several humiliations and segregation from the white, still, compared to Douglass who experienced extreme physical violence, he was much more fortunate. Thus, this variation of the first-hand experiences in discrimination somehow determined their overall mindset towards the religion, the racial issues as well as other