Blyden sees the history of Africans as a history of serving humanity, both materially and spiritually. Indeed, he is of the opinion that the glory of Africa lies in serving humanity. This view is central to Blyden's philosophy of history. As a Christian minister, he draws parallels between the trials and tribulations of Jesus and that of the Africans. He writes, “If service rendered to humanity is service rendered to God, then the Negro and his country have been, during the ages, in spite of unwanted influences, tending upward to the Divine.” As such, “Shem and Japheth have largely participated in the guilt of the enslavement of Ham. Shem, having lagged behind Japheth in the march of enlightenment, persists in the perpetration of the hideous wrong. But, under pressure, the dilatory brother is being urged on to his duty” (323). He further states that although all races have passed through the fire of slavery as part of their journey toward civilization, no one had suffered as much from it as Africans. “Africa has been spoiled by all the races alien to her, and, under their stimulating example, by her own sons. Other races have passed through the baptism of slavery, as a stepping-stone to civilization and independence, but none has toiled under the crushing weight of a servitude so protracted and inflicted from so many sources.” He adds,