Statesmanship and Reform Analysis: Application by Wilberforce, Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Introduction

The United States was intended to be and has been successful at remaining one of the countries in the world with the most liberties. Citizens have many freedoms and are afforded the opportunity to fulfill their dreams, be successful, and live happy life. Regrettably, many individuals throughout history had to fight extra hard for their freedom and their rights as Americans. These citizens were battered, troubled, ignored, and demoralized, and were they afforded the same opportunities as others. As Christians, we are called to love one another and take care of one another and we are all one in God’s eyes. Galatians 3:28 states, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. Political leaders and statesmen or stateswomen should understand this and should continue to fight for equality based on biblical principles. There are certain principles it takes to help reform a nation and to fight the injustice in this world. Throughout history, we have seen many statesmen or stateswomen that have fought against injustice. Some major examples would be William Wilberforce, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and Martin Luther King Jr. Their actions will forever have an impact on history.

Biblical Principles

The United States was founded based on the citizens should have the right to choose their own religion, be free to say what they think and have the freedom to elect their leaders. These rights are only a handful of freedoms Americans have afforded to them. When creating the government from the ground up, the founding fathers combined their ideas to form the political system that we now know (Dreisbach, 2009). In addition to their ideas, the Founding Fathers also utilized the Bible and their understanding of it when creating the governmental system. During their time and even today, it was common for individuals to turn to the Bible for help. “It is the authoritative source to which they have turned for insights on life and death, good and evil, order and disorder, peace and war, prosperity and poverty, as well as for instruction on government, law, economics, domestic relations, and many other aspects of human society” (Dreisbach, 2017, p. 2). God and Biblical principles are the foundation of our government and what it stands for. A major example of this is the last paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. In this sacred document, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor”. This can be interpreted as God will always protect us and our freedom and it is in His hands.

As time moves on, it can be seen from certain perspectives that individuals have misinterpreted the role the government plays in the United States. Ludwig Von Mises states, “Government ought to do all the things for which it is needed and for which it was established” (1979). Our leaders within the public office are obligated to protect the citizens they serve and to support and defend the Constitution as it was intended. By doing this, they protect our rights as American citizens that are explained in the Constitution, especially for the oppressed and those taken advantage of. Unfortunately, it can be argued that our current political leaders are failing to do this. In addition, it can also be argued that individuals who exemplify the attributes of statesmanship are absent within the public office sector. A leader and a statesman must possess a familiarity with history, politics, and many other things so that they are not repeating mistakes that history has taught us. An effective statesman must be able to lead and do it well, he or she must be able to think methodically and comprehensively, and he or she must leave an impression on this world even after they are has gone. A true statesman understands that his or her actions should be done for the good of the future and not just the present. In addition, a statesman should understand present proceedings, other cultures, and other worldviews. And most of all, he or she should have knowledge of the government structure. Statesmen understand that life has its hardships and that not everything always goes to plan, but he or they will always remain objective and will not stop until success is reached. Most importantly, a statesman knows that through God, we have eternal life and that God is sovereign over all (Fisher, 2012).

The overall Biblical principles of government are to recognize that God has absolute power over everything, the comprehension that practicing humility is vital, that it is important when acting under authority in a government position, and that the government must be held liable for their actions and to the facts (Fisher, 1998).

Application by Wilberforce, Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery but then later escaped so that he could be free. “Having gained his freedom as a young man, he devoted his life to the cause of human freedom and equality” (Walker, 2017). Because he experienced slavery firsthand, this aided him in becoming the great African American figurehead, author, speaker, and abolitionist. Douglass understood that all individuals should be created equal and that everyone should have their freedom as it is a God-given right. Douglass understood that everyone is born with a natural desire to be free and there are many moral reasons why slaves should be granted their freedom (Buccola, 2008). The story of Frederick Douglass is not something that is being taught to children today as it should be. Douglass is a prime example of a statesman as he showed persistence by teaching himself to read and write, which was considered proper at the time in society. As he got older and more educated, at the age of twenty-seven, he wrote his first book and became the representative of the abolitionist movement. Overall, in his writings, words, and actions, Douglass took the theme of the Constitution and wanted others to understand that this should be applied to all people regardless of race (“Frederick Douglass, 2012”) in addition, Douglass believed “That the natural-rights principles epitomized in the Declaration of Independence were universally and permanently true” (Myers, n.d., p. 4). In the end, Douglass stood up for what he believed in against all odds and fought for freedom and equality for slaves.

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William Wilberforce was an English political leader that was a part of the abolitionist movement within Parliament. Upon learning what the Bible says and giving his life to the Lord, he understood that he must address the issue of slavery within his country. Wilberforce took the time to think about what his actions would be and prayed to ask for guidance from the Lord. Vaughan confirms this by stating, “He prayed and meditated. Then the commission came: he heard with certainty the call of God” (2002). Throughout his career, he attempted to create policies that would ban slavery while facing opposition from his fellow political leaders. Finally, after a long-fought battle, Parliament agreed to abolish the Slave Trade Act within Great Britain. Wilberforce showed the attributes of a statesman by not only standing up for injustice and inequality but also utilizing wisdom to think about his course of actions and praying to God for wisdom as he took on the difficult task.

Although Wilberforce was a politician, just as Frederick Douglass showed, Susan B. Anthony also showed that one does not have to be a political leader to become a stateswoman. Throughout history, women have been oppressed and were not afforded the same amount of freedom as men. There was a time when women were not allowed to serve as a juror, they could not obtain a line of credit, and they faced discrimination in the workplace. Additionally, until the Nineteenth Amendment was changed in 1920, women were not even able to utilize the right to vote (Dolton, 2014). Susan B. Anthony decided it was time for this change and that women should be afforded the right to vote in elections. She was not married, she was a teacher and was at the age of fifty-three before she decided to shake up the status quo. Anthony was a Quaker and did not have any interest in voting or voting laws at first, but she made the decision to join a group called the Daughters of Temperance. “The Daughters of Temperance was a women's temperance organization founded in the United States in 1843 as an affiliate of the Order of the Sons of Temperance” (Bishop, 2015). As a part of this group, Anthony vowed that she would vote in the current election as she believed that she should have that right. After doing so, she was arrested, put on trial, and found guilty of voter fraud. During her trial, the judge asked if she had anything to say on her behalf. She stood up and gave a historical speech to those in the courtroom to change public opinion and advocated that women should be afforded their God-given right to vote (Newell, 2012). In the end, Anthony stood up for what she believed in, had the courage to defy the status quo, and fought for equality for women in the United States.

As history progressed and slavery was abolished, African Americans still had to deal with inequality as they were segregated due to their race. An individual who stood up for the oppressed and advocated for equality is the notorious Martin Luther King Jr. King was a true statesman through his words and actions. He utilized harmony and kindness to combat the injustice rules and regulations enforced on African American citizens. King never resorted to violence and advocated for unity as he faced discrimination and segregation, and in the end reached success in stopping segregation (Wills, 2005). King did not have a great past as a child as he was mistreated in many cases due to his race. Although he had the right to hate those that hurt him, his mother taught him that the Bible states that we should love one another and should not resort to hate. King struggled with anger issues but learned to treat others well and act out of Agape love (Newell, 2012). This is where he grew a heart to serve others. Agape love is explained as “Agape may involve emotion, but it must always involve action” (“Love-Agape”, 2016). Throughout his career, he led and participated in rallies, protests, and marched. He also gave historical speeches. One of the most historical speeches King gave is still referred to today as the “I have a dream” speech. In this speech, King talked about even though African Americans face inequality and injustice, he still believed that one day they can live in harmony and live the American dream. Especially, King stated in his speech, “…one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed—we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and that all men, yes black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Myers, 2018, p. 1). Later, King was leading an illegal march in the city of Birmingham Alabama, and was arrested for his actions. While in jail, he wrote a letter indicating that others should not resort to violence and should keep the peace, as this is the best way to combat racism (Newell, 2012). Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. was a great example of a statesman who stood up for what he believed. He never resorted to violence when fighting for equality for African Americans. He had the heart to serve and never once backed down, even when facing considerable opposition.

Application in a Contemporary Context

Although slavery as history describes it has been over for centuries, there is a modern form of slavery where individuals are oppressed or are being treated unjustly. Many people are not aware that this takes place, however, this is present all over the world, especially in the United States. Human trafficking is a growing issue and will continue to grow if there is a market for it. Logan, Walker, and Hunt (2009) state, “Human trafficking, at its most basic level, is defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as the recruitment, harboring, transporting, supplying, or obtaining a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of involuntary servitude or slavery; or sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform sex acts is under 18 years of age” (p. 4). The victims of human trafficking experience injustice and inequality as they have their freedom and humanity taken away. Regardless of political affiliation or personal bias, one major benefit to these victims is the attention President Donald Trump has brought to this major issue. In 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to deal with the threat of human trafficking and to aid the victims of this horrendous crime. The executive order states, “I, therefore, determine that serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, and I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat” (Exec. Order No. 13818, 2017). In the end, this is a modern issue that the world faces, and we must stand up for these victims and pursue justice for them. We must abolish the inequality and injustice that takes place with human rights. This can start with anyone following Biblical principles and standing up for what is right. This is the basis of statesmanship.

Conclusion

In the end, it may be easy for some to just sweep issues under the rug or make a profit on others' quandary. Nevertheless, there are some in current times and throughout history that have the ability to create change and change the minds and hearts of others. Individuals such as Douglass, Wilberforce, Anthony, and King made a significant change in the status quo of their time. They stood up for what was right, and we should all strive to mirror some of their attributes and stand up for what we know is right, especially current issues such as human trafficking.

References

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13. Wills, John S. 2005. 'some people even died': Martin Luther King, Jr, the civil rights movement and the politics of remembrance in elementary classrooms. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 18 (1): 109-31.
14. “Executive Order Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption.” 2017. The White House. The United States Government. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-blocking-property-persons-involved-serious-human-rights-abuse-corruption/.
15. “Frederick Douglass.” Liberty University.
16. “Love-Agape (Greek Word Study).” 2016. Precept Austin. https://www.preceptaustin.org/love-agape.