Race, Religion, and Power: A Legacy of Oppression

Christianity has long been used as a tool of control, particularly in the context of racial oppression. As Barbary Hillary once stated,

"Christianity is the greater shackle, the greater rape of the Black mind than slavery ever was."

This quote encapsulates the profound impact of religious indoctrination in justifying and perpetuating systems of exploitation. From the forced conversion of Indigenous peoples to the use of Christian doctrine in defending slavery and segregation, religion has been wielded as both a weapon and a justification for racial hierarchy. While faith has also served as a source of resilience and empowerment for oppressed communities, its institutional role in history reveals a deeply entangled legacy of subjugation.

The Oxford English Dictionary traces the earliest use of "race" to describe a group of people sharing common ancestry to the mid-16th century. In 1684, François Bernier categorized humans based on physical traits like skin color and hair texture. By 1749, Georges Buffon formally introduced the term "race" in classification. Initially used broadly—similar to "type" or "kind"—it evolved by the 18th century into a means of categorizing people based on perceived physical and social differences.

Today, "race" remains a widely used term, though it lacks a biological basis and is instead a social construct. Historically, racial classification was developed to justify social hierarchies, discrimination, and oppression, particularly during colonialism and slavery. These categories were closely tied to capitalism and colonial expansion, reinforcing systems of enslavement and exploitation. Despite being a social construct, race continues to shape societal outcomes, affecting healthcare, education, and the justice system.

European colonization of the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries coincided with the spread of Christianity. Spanish, French, and British colonizers introduced Catholicism and Protestantism, using religion to justify conquest and cultural suppression. Missionaries sought to convert Indigenous populations, often forcibly, erasing traditional belief systems. Christianity became deeply embedded in colonial laws, customs, and social structures, serving as both a tool of control and justification for the enslavement of Indigenous peoples and Africans kidnapped from their homelands. Colonists exploited land and people, using religious rhetoric to legitimize their actions.

The Crusades (1095–1291), a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims, were fought to reclaim Jerusalem and surrounding territories—deemed the "Holy Land"—from Muslim control.

In December 1865, the same year the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, former Confederates founded the Ku Klux Klan as a so-called "self-defense" organization. Led initially by ex-General Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Klan launched a campaign of terrorist violence against African Americans, Unionists, and federal officials, seeking to restore white supremacy through intimidation and murder.

The Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C. §§ 251–55) grants the President authority to deploy the military to suppress insurrections and enforce laws. Historically, this act has disproportionately been used against Black and Brown communities. On January 6, 2021, a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempted self-coup following his electoral defeat. Despite clear grounds for invoking the Insurrection Act, no political leaders chose to do so. Had the insurrectionists been Black, the outcome likely would have been far deadlier, with a disproportionately high number of casualties among people of color.

The legacy of race, religion, and power remains deeply embedded in modern society. Christianity, once wielded as a justification for colonization, slavery, and segregation, continues to influence social structures and policies. Though many find strength and community in religious faith, its historical use as a mechanism of control cannot be overlooked. Race, as a social construct, persists in shaping disparities in education, healthcare, and justice. To truly dismantle these systemic inequalities, it is essential to confront the intertwined histories of race, capitalism, and religion, recognizing their collective role in perpetuating oppression.