Niebuhr recognized racial injustice but advised patience instead of action
Evidence
Living and writing in the first half of the twentieth century, both men recognized America’s heinous history of racial violence. However, as James Cone notes, Niebuhr stopped short of publicly advocating for justice. After identifying how badly Black Americans were treated, in the next breath Niebuhr would call for gradualism and patience when overturning Jim Crow or integrating public schools. Niebuhr believed it wise to allow Southern whites “time to adjust.” — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 741
Categorization
- XREF: Connects to the broader theme of how perceptive thinkers can still fail to act — parallels the ‘deep stories’ concept from ch5. — connects to: Urging patience on others for injustice one does not endure is immoral — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 743; Bonhoeffer’s anti-Nazi theology formed through his Harlem experiences — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 747; White refusal to yield privilege demands radical black action rather than patience