How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon by Frank A. Thomas

Author:Frank A. Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2018-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Movement Two: “Happy to see a relevant ministry.”

The second movement involves King’s explanation of the protest movement, his encouragement and inspiration to continue the struggle, as well as some practical tips to win the struggle. King explains that they are not engaged in any negative protest and arguments; that those in the movement are determined to be people and as God’s children they do not have to live as they are forced to live.

King encourages the protesters to maintain unity because Pharaoh’s only weapon is to keep slaves fighting amongst themselves. King suggests that they must march again to keep the focus of the issue on injustice and not on the violence that happened in the first Memphis march. King maintains that the press wants to focus on the violence, but the real issue is that thirteen hundred sanitation workers were on strike, and Memphis is not being fair to them, and suggests that mace or injunctions are not going to turn the movement around. Recalling the struggle against Bull Connor in Birmingham, King notes that the movement was not stopped by the various tactics, like water hoses and dogs. King celebrates the support of Memphis preachers like James Lawson, Billy Kyles, Ralph Jackson, and others. He only mentions a few and thanks them all and tells them “I’m always happy to see a relevant ministry,” and defines a relevant ministry as following God’s command to be concerned with slums and God’s children who cannot eat three square meals a day. King says preachers can talk about the “New Jerusalem,” but what about the new New York, the new Atlanta, the new Memphis, and so on?

King then connects direct action with economic boycott. Though African Americans are poor when compared individually with white Americans, when taken all together the wealth of African Americans amounts to $30 billion a year, which is more than the national budget of Canada. King reminds African Americans of the power that they have, if they knew how to pool it. Because of this power, King believes that protesters do not have to curse, argue, or “go around acting bad with our words.” For King, protesters do not need any brick, bottles, or Molotov cocktails. Protesters can simply withdraw their economic support and not buy Coca-Cola or Wonder Bread. King encourages investment in black banks and black insurance companies. He concludes this second movement by encouraging them to build an economic base and put pressure where it really hurts. This is what King believes to be a relevant ministry and announces that he is “always happy to see a relevant ministry.”

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