Page 115 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

We come now to the counteraction of the second set of phenomena, the missionary activities in
defamatory literature and exhibitions which provoke disrespect for and laughter at the Black
people.

Just as in the first set of phenomena, so is it in the second, the Black people must adopt a
negative attitude in their attempt to live up to their philosophy of redemption. Of course, they are
perfectly well aware that the activities of missionaries are the result of their own miseducation
through the medium of a false tradition about Black people; but since their problem is also one of
emancipation from certain social evils, the Black people feel that they are entitled to a change in
Missionary policy. For these reasons I suggest that the negative attitude of the Black people
should consist first of a boycott of missionary literature and exhibitions, and secondly, of a
perpetual protest against these forms of missionary policy, until a change is brought about. For as
long as Missionary enterprise maintains its policy of militancy against African culture, the Black
people will be disrespected. This is the least that the Black people are entitled to: respectful
treatment, because they are the representatives of the oldest civilization in the world, from which
all other cultures have borrowed. I have frequently seen in the parish magazines of some
European churches, pictures of the following description: An African Chief, dressed in a new
silk hat, a long shirt, but no trousers, a frock coat and barefeet; probably to provide amusement
for the parishioners and to excite their pity. This is what the Black people must protest against
and this is how they must live up to their philosophy of redemption and work it out.

In conclusion, let us remember that the unfortunate position of the modern church in being
associated with the drama of Greek philosophy is excusable; because her missionary function has
been due to the erroneous mandates and edicts of secular Princes and Emperors, who ruled the
church, when it was only a department of state. This bit of ecclesiastical history should be well
known to the early branches of the Christian church and consequently, they are the ones whom
our enlightened age expects to initiate a change in missionary policy, which would free
themselves from the error and superstition of human relations.

This lead of the various branches of Catholicism should be followed by Protestantism, so that the
entire church of Christ on earth should be united in this racial reformation, and carry to the
mission field a practical gospel of happiness; that is happiness that must begin while we are here
on earth; a gospel that is interested in the total welfare of the people. A gospel which ignores the
social and economic rights of natives and emphasizes only happiness in an unknown world is
one-sided, misleading, and contrary to Christian tenets and practice. It was early Christianity that
established a diaconate for the express purpose of solving the economic problems of its
adherents; so that they might begin in their earthly life to experience what happiness really
meant.

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook