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Black theology

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Black theology or Black liberation theology is a Christian theology of liberation. The field of black liberation theology received its name in the 1960s and includes in its history Pan Africanists from earlier centuries who used the teachings of Christianity and/or the vehicle of the black church as foundational to their efforts for securing a self-determining existence for Africans.

Theological basis

Black liberation theology is theology from the perspective of oppressed people. It seeks to interpret the gospel of Jesus against the backdrop of historical and contemporary racism. The message of black theology is that the African American struggle for liberation is consistent with the gospel--every theological statement must be consistent with, and perpetuate, the goals of liberation.

This theology maintains that African Americans must be liberated from multiple forms of bondage—social, political, economic and religious. This liberation involves empowerment and seeks the right of self-definition, self-affirmation and self-determination.

The modern American origins of contemporary black liberation theology can be traced to July 31, 1966, when an ad hoc group of 51 black pastors, calling themselves the National Committee of Negro Churchmen (NCNC), bought a full page ad in the New York Times to publish their "Black Power Statement," which proposed a more aggressive approach to combating racism using the Bible for inspiration.[1]

James Cone and Dwight Hopkins are considered the leading theologians of this system of belief, although now there are may scholars who have contributed a great deal to the field. It was Cone who in the spring of 1969 published the seminal work that systemized black liberation theology, Black Theology and Black Power (1969). In the book, Cone asserted that not only was black power not alien to the Gospel, it was, in fact, the Gospel message for all of 20th century America.

In his 1970 book, A Black Theology of Liberation, Cone asserts that one particular aspect of this theology involves God's identification with "blackness":

The black theologian must reject any conception of God which stifles black self-determination by picturing God as a God of all peoples. Either God is identified with the oppressed to the point that their experience becomes God's experience, or God is a God of racism...The blackness of God means that God has made the oppressed condition God's own condition. This is the essence of the Biblical revelation. By electing Israelite slaves as the people of God and by becoming the Oppressed One in Jesus Christ, the human race is made to understand that God is known where human beings experience humiliation and suffering...Liberation is not an afterthought, but the very essence of divine activity. (A Black Theology of Liberation, pp. 63-64)

South African Black theology

Black Theology was popularised in southern Africa in the early 1970s by Basil Moore, a Methodist theologian in South Africa. It helped to give rise to, and developed in parallel with, the Black Consciousness Movement. Black Theology was particularly influential in South Africa and Namibia for motivating resistance to apartheid.

Southern African black liberation theologians include Barney Pityana, Allan Boesak, Itumeleng Mosala and Zephania Kameeta.


Black religious scholars

North American black liberation theologians include:

In the United Kingdom, Dr Robert Beckford is the most well known black liberation theologian. He was the first theologian in the UK to develop and teach a course on Black Theology at an academic level. The International Journal of Black Theology is produced within the UK. It is edited by Dr Anthony Reddie, who has written over 40 journal articles and essay, and is therefore, the most prolific Black theologian in the UK.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ NPR A Closer Look at Black Liberation Theology by Barbara Bradley Hagerty

References

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  • Aldred, Joe Sisters with Power London: Continuum, 2000
  • Aldred, Joe Praying With Power London: Continuum 2000
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  • Andersson, Efraim Churches at the Grassroots London: Lutterworth Press, 1968
  • Andrews, Dale P. Practical Theology for Black Churches Luisville: John Knox Press, 2002
  • Bailey, Randall C. and Grant, Jacquelyn (Eds.) The Recovery of Black Presence: An Interdisciplinary Exploration Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1995
  • Barton, Mukti Scripture as Empowerment for Liberation and Justice Bristol: Centre for Comparative Studies in Religion and Gender, 1999
  • Beckford, Robert Jesus is Dread DLT 1998
  • Beckford, Robert Dread and Pentecostal SPCK 2000
  • Beckford, Robert God of The Rhatid DLT 2001
  • Beckford, Robert God and the Gangs Darton Longman and Todd 2004
  • Black Theology: An International Journal Equinox Publishing Ltd., published twice yearly. Dr A Reddie, Ed, email: agr@queens.ac.uk
  • Boff, Leonardo Jesus Christ Liberator London: SPCK, 1972
  • Boff, Leonardo and Boff, Clodovis Introducing Liberation Theology Tunbridge Wells: Burns & Oats, 1987
  • Boff, Leonardo and Elizondo, Virgil Any Room For Christ In Asia? London: SCM Press, 1993
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  • Cannon, Katie G. Katie’s Cannon New York: Continuum, 1995
  • Cone, James H. ‘Black Theology And The Black Church: Where Do We Go From Here?’
  • Wilmore, Gayraud and Cone, James H. (Eds.) Black Theology: A Documentary History, 1966-1979 Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1979. pp.350-359
  • Cone, James H. Black Theology and Black Power (20th Anniversary Edition) New York: Harper SanFrancisco, 1989
  • Cone, James H. For My People: Black Theology and the Black Church New York: Orbis Books, 1984
  • Cone, James H. God of the Oppressed New York: Seabury Press, 1975
  • Cone, James H. My Soul Looks Back New York: Orbis Books, 1986
  • Cone, James H. The Spirituals and the Blues New York: Seabury Press, 1972
  • Cone, James H. Black Theology and Black Power New York: Seabury Press, 1969
  • Cone, James H. and Wilmore, Gayraud S. Black Theology A Documentary History: Vol1. 1966-1979 New York: Orbis Books, 1992
  • Cone, James H. and Wilmore, Gayraud S. Black Theology A Documentary History: Vol2. 1980- 1992 New York: Orbis Books, 1993
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  • Grant, Paul and Patel, Raj (Eds.) A Time To Act: Kairos 1992 Birmingham: A joint publication of ‘Racial Justice’ and the ‘Black Theology Working Group’ 1992
  • Gutierrez, Gustavo We Drink From Our Own Wells London: SCM Press, 1984
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  • Hope, Marjorie and Young, James The South African Churches in a Revolutionary Situation Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1979
  • Hopkins, Dwight N. (Introducing) Black Theology of Liberation New York: Orbis book, 1999
  • Hopkins, Dwight N. Down, Up and Over: Slave Religion and Black Theology Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000
  • Hopkins, Dwight N. and Cummings, George Cut Loose Your Stammering Tongue: Black Theology and the Slave Narratives New York: Orbis Books, 1991
  • Hopkins, Dwight N. (Ed.) Black Faith and Public Talk: Critical Essays on Jams H. Cone’s Black Theology and Black Power New York: Orbis Books, 1999
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  • Reddie, Anthony Faith, Stories and the Experience of Black Elders Jessica Kingsley, 2001
  • Reddie, Anthony Nobodies to Somebodies: Practical Theology for Education and Liberation Peterborough: Epworth Press, 2003
  • Rabateau, Albert Slave Religion Oxford University Press, 1978
  • Society for Biblical Literature Reading The Bible in The Global Village: Cape Town No.3 Atlanta: Society for Biblical Literature, 2002
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  • Stewart III, Carlyle Fielding Black Spirituality and Black Consciousness Trenton, New Jersey: Africa World Press, 1999
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  • Sugirtharah, R.S. Voices From The Margins New York/London: Orbis/SPCK, 1991,
  • Sugirtharah, R.S. The Post Colonial Bible Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998
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  • Vincent, John and Rowland (eds), Chris British Liberation Theology 3 – Liberation Spirituality Sheffield: UTU, 1999
  • Vincent, John and Rowland (eds), Chris British Liberation Theology 4 – Bible and Practice Sheffield: UTU, 2001
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  • Wilmore, Gayraud Black Religion and Black Radicalism New York: Orbis Books, 1973

and the Black Experience" by Ron Rhodes]

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