3. Strain, Christopher Barry. “Civil Rights and ... - Freedom Archives

slavery and oppression . Tire Negro is never going to be respected in this nation as
a man until he shows a willingness to defend himself and his women. The socalled
big men of the race arc called boys by their white masters, because the
master knows that he wouldn't dare treat a man the way he treats the old black
~y.3i
Williams would return to this typology again and again, comparing activism to black
manhood. For him, methods of protest and the way in which blacks lobbied for social
change were closely linked to the responsibilities of gender. Black manhood denoted
equality with white men, but, in order to gain access to that status and "bea man," one
must protect not only himself but also those female and juvenile charges under his care .
Self-protection, for Williams, was the key to manhood. Continuing another theme in his
writing, the third issue of The Crusader cited Jehovah in frightening capital letters :
WHEN I WHET MY GLITTERING SWORD, AND MY HAND TAKETH
HOLD ON JUDGMENT : I WILL RENDER VENGEANCE UNTO MY
ENEMIES, AND THOSE THAT HATE ME WQ.L I REQUITE .
I WILL MAKE MY ARROWS DRUNKER VN1TH BLOOD, AND MY
SWORD SHALL DEVOUR FLESH; FROM THE BLOOD OF THE SLAIN
AND OF THECAPTIVES, FROM THE CRUSHED HEAD OF THE ENEMY.32
In passages such as this one, Williams displayed his knowledge of the Bible, his ability to
quote scripture, and his preference for the fire-and-brimstone retribution of the Old
Testament . Apocalyptic in nature, his words recalled those of Nat Turner and other
nineteenth-century slaves who rebelled, claiming righteousness in the eyes of God. Early
issues of The Crusader like these reflected Williams' immaturity as an essayist ; but they
also conveyed the righteous anger that fueled his writing.
~~The Crusader 1 n 1 (June 26, 1959) : 1 .
1 n 3 (July 11, 1959) : 2.
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