Black Theology

Black liberation theology
Black theology, or black liberation theology, refers to a theological perspective

which originated among African-American seminarians and scholars, and in
some black churches in the United States and later in other parts of the world.
Black liberation theology contextualizes Christianity in an attempt to help
those of African descent overcome oppression. It especially focuses on the
injustices committed against African Americans and black South Africans
during American segregation and apartheid, respectively. Black theology seeks
to liberate non-white people from multiple forms of political, social, economic,
and religious subjugation and views Christian theology as a theology of
liberation.
“Black theology” is the movement, especially significant in the United States
during the 1960s and 1970s, which concerned itself with ensuring that the
realities of black experience were represented at the theological level. The first
major evidence of the move toward theological emancipation within the
American black community dates from 1964, with the publication of Joseph
Washington’s Black Religion, a powerful affirmation of the distinctiveness of
black religion within the North American context. Washington, in his Black
Religion, emphasized the need for integration and assimilation of black
theological insights within mainstream Protestantism.
Black Theology is a theology of blackness. It is the affirmation of black
humanity that emancipates the oppressed black people from the white racism.
In spite of the close affinities between Black liberation theology and Latin
American liberation theology, there was no formal interaction between the
two movements. Latin American Liberation theology arose primarily within the
Catholic church in South America, whereas black theology tended to arise
within black Protestant communities in North America.
Black Liberation Theology was initially a reactionary theology against White,
orthodox Christians who were sympathetic to anti-Black racism. History reveals
that for years many White Christians used the Bible to justify racist, pro-
slavery, and segregationist beliefs. Therefore, this reactionary theology is
prompted by anger and anti-White racism. Black Liberation Theology leaders
admit that their theology is built on hatred for White people, but they do not
believe that their hatred for White people is racist. James Cone writes:
“It is important to make a further distinction here among black hatred,
black racism, and black Power. Black hatred is the black man’s strong
aversion to white society. No black man living in white America can
escape it…. But the charge of black racism cannot be reconciled with the
facts. While it is true that blacks do hate whites, black hatred is not
racism.1
Black theology is a theology of black liberation. It is the affirmation of black

humanity that emancipates black people from white racism, thus providing
authentic freedom for both white and black people. It affirms the humanity of
white people in that it says no to the encroachment of white oppression. In the
1960s, black churches began to focus their attention beyond helping blacks
cope with national racial discrimination, particularly in urban areas. The most
significant writer within the movement is generally agreed to be James H.
Cone (born 1938), whose Black Theology of Liberation (1970) appealed to the
central notion of a God who is concerned for the black struggle for liberation.
The overall emphasis of black liberation theology is the black struggle for
liberation from various forms of white racism and oppression.
The notion of "blackness in Black liberation Theology:
The notion of blackness is not merely about the skin colour. Rather, it is a
symbol of oppression that referred to all persons of colour who experience
oppression. Thus, Jesus is considered as a black man because he lived in
oppression at the hands of others (rich white people). Since white Americans
do not recognize the humanity in persons of color, blacks need their own
theology to affirm their identity in terms of a reality that is anti-black. Thus,
Blackness stands for all victims of white oppression. Hence, White theology, in
isolation from the black experience, is considered as white oppressor’s
theology. Because white theology served as divine sanction from criminal acts
committed against black people. For this reason, James H Cone argues that
White theology is not Christian theology at all.
1
Cone, Black Theology and Black Power, 14-16.

Black Theology

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Black liberation theology

Black theology, or black liberation theology, refers to a theological perspective

Black theology is a theology of black liberation. It is the affirmation of black

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