Final answer:
The Southern Civil Rights movement intertwined the duty and sacrifice of protesters with Christian religious beliefs, arguing that fighting for social justice was a moral necessity. Views within the Black church ranged from passive waiting for God's intervention to active participation and even rebellion against injustice, as seen in historical figures like Denmark Vesey and Nat Turner.
Step-by-step explanation:
The duty or sacrifice demanded of protesters in the Southern Civil Rights movement was often framed within a religious context, particularly through the lens of Christianity. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) infused political activism with Christian principles, arguing that social justice was a moral imperative not separate from the Gospel.
However, within the Black church community there was a spectrum of views. Some parishioners, like the one quoted by Gary Marx from a Detroit church, believed in a passive approach, trusting in God's ultimate plan for equality. Conversely, figures like Denmark Vesey and Nat Turner, as well as the African American preachers during slavery, saw divine liberation as warranting more immediate action and even physical rebellion against injustices.
Despite the reluctance of many to challenge the status quo for fear of upsetting their White parishioners, there were also those within the faith who preached and acted upon the message that God's will was for the emancipation and equality of all human beings, to be achieved not just in the afterlife but in the present world.