We are reproducing below a portion from an article from the Watch Tower, April 1, 1914, that is often misrepresented as proof that Brother Russell was a racist.
We should not that it was the standard at that time that white and blacks did not sit together in such meetings. In many places, it was even illegal for blacks and whites to congregate together.
This, however, was a public showing; it was not a meeting simply for the Bible Students. Please note that, as best as we can determine, it was not Brother Russell nor the Bible Students who were demanding not to be seated along with the blacks, it appears to be people from the public, many of whom certainly belonged to and/or attended various churches. Evidently, the situation was such that it appeared that these white people may have disrupted the showing of the Photo-Drama if the blacks were allowed to sit alongside them. Thus, Brother Russell considered that he had to decide either to cancel the showing to avoid racial confrontation, or have blacks seated separately so that the Photo Drama could be shown. We do not believe that Brother Russell's decision to put God first makes him a "racist."
Nor should one judge Brother Russell according to later concepts related to racism. For instance, some have claimed that his usage of the term "colored" was itself racist. This would appear to be based on later concepts of offensive "racist" words some have created, which ideas did not exist when Russell was alive. Brother Russell certainly would not have been aware that anyone considered the word "colored" to be offensive to anyone, and as far we can determine none at that time objected to use of the word "colored." It would not be fair nor reasonable to think that Brother Russell should abide by later concepts that did not exist when he was alive.
Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11, English Standard Version.
Comments