Citing William Appes, Discuss His Bible Based Arguments against Racism - Essay Example

His arguments are convincing and very strong. Some of them are taken from Apess’s experience and some of them are based on the Bible. A Son of the Forest is a famous work written by William Apess. Here the author shares his experience and thoughts concerning racism. According to Apess’s point of view, there should be no racism in the world because all people are created equal by God. This cannot be changed somehow. One of the most significant quotations from A Son of the Forest is the following one: “I felt convinced that Christ died for all mankind – that age, sect, color, country, or situation make no difference.

I felt an assurance that I was included in the plan of redemption with all my brethren” (Apess, 67). By means of this argument William Apess emphasizes the equality between people. He stresses that God gave birth to His Son in order to give chance for all people, not only black or white, not only people of some special race. If God sees every person of any nationality equal, the same should be done by other people. If God loves every person with any skin color and age, the same should be done by all.

One cannot change the equality proclaimed by God. In fact, William Apess tried to defend the rights of Indian people who were not equal with whites. This point of view is fully demonstrated in the quotation below: “But as I am not looking for a wife … and if I had none, I should not want anyone to take my right from me and choose a wife for me; for I think that I or any of my brethren have a right to choose a wife for themselves as well as the whites - and as the whites have taken the liberty to choose my brethren, the Indians, hundreds and thousands of them, as partners in life, I believe the Indians have as much right to choose their partners among the whites if they wish” (Apess, 94).

Indians were not able to choose the partners they like; the same cannot be said about white people. The point of view this situation is wrong is also supported by the Bibl giving an example of love that is equal for all people. Colored people do not have other hearts, heads, souls or anything else; they should be treated the same way as white population. Once William stated that the God calls Jews a special people; however, they are colored. This means that colored people also can be special and have the same rights as white population.

It is impossible to omit the fact that William Apess frequently addresses white people in his A Son of the Forest. This is often done with the use of the Bible. For instance, the author notes the following: “I will refer you to St. Peter’s precepts (Acts 10): ‘God is no respecter of persons.’ Now, if it is the case, my white brother, what better are you than God? And if no better, why do you, who profess his Gospel and to have his spirit, act so contrary to it? Let me ask why the men of a different skin are so despised.

Why are not they educated and placed in your pulpits?” (Apess, 75) William cites John saying that all people who are born of God have the whiteness in themselves. This means that there are no black or white people in Christianity. All of them are equal according to the Bible. The latter teaches to communicate with all people of all nationalities. If it is not done so, if one of skin colors is neglected, then, it means that the Lord died in vain. It should be stressed that in his works Apess refers to both New and Old Testament to prove the wrong