ABSTRACT
Focusing on the eras of William Wilberforce and Martin Luther King, this chapter explores the theme of evangelicals and race. It argues that while some evangelicals have championed enlightened and compassionate views, other have been guilty of oppression and perpetuating discrimination. The age of Wilberforce was characterised by attempts to abolish the slave trade, while in the age of King the battle was against racial segregation, particularly in the southern states of America. Reflecting on the latest historiography, the chapter attempts to integrate black voices fully into the evangelical narrative, arguing that the history of evangelicalism was thoroughly intertwined with the history of race. A focus on the history of racism only tells part of the story of evangelicalism and race. It concludes with a challenge to future generations of historians to continue the task of retrieving the story of black evangelicalism.
