After learning that over a third of Witnesses in America are Black, I find this notion an insult to the memory of those who struggled for the equality of Blacks in America.
While Whites may have been enjoying some semblence of peace and prosperity in the 50's (compared to the Great Depression and "World" wars), over one-third of the JW's ancestors were trying to find facilities for [insert "N" word here]. These "facilities" included luxuries such as toilets and water fountains. Can you imagine the fear of being hung from a tree, bullied, raped or killed by another human and having NO RECOURSE? THINGS ARE WORSE???? Which would have been YOUR preference?... slavery?
They gotta be kidding me...
As a non-jw, I was caught off guard the last time this was said to me and spent the next few moments processing (translating) WTH* they were saying. A few hours later I was PI$$ED.
All the fighting your ancestors did for YOU and THIS is where you are?????
Nothing gets me revved up more than this phrase now. I'm on the bad language line so I need to stop. Please pray for the next African-American JW who makes this remark in my presence. Please.
*cleansed for public viewing... that's as clean as I can make the ugliness of this