THREAD: Criswell is one of Southern Baptist’s most famous racists. In the mid-20th century, he led Southern Baptists in mounting a vehement attack on desegregation, calling it “a denial of all we believe in.”
He supported Jim Crow laws, bashed the NAACP, used racial slurs I will not type here, and vocally opposed the emerging civil rights movement. Black folks, he said, should stick with “their kind” and in “their social stratum.”
In 1957, Criswell argued before a joint session of the South Carolina legislature that de-segregation was un-Christian. For most of his ministry, black people were barred from joining his church (Fact: The church was @firstdallas where Trump advisor @robertjeffress now pastors.)
In the late 60s, Criswell strangely declared “I’ve changed” on segregation. But baptist historian @DrCurtisFreeman of @DukeDivinity has ably shown that this was mostly smoke and mirrors: jsr.fsu.edu/Volume10/Freem…
WA Criswell was not an old 19th century slaveowner. He died in 2002.
Some people need better heroes.
Some people need better heroes.
