Cone, james a
Cone, james a. black theology of liberationIn A Black Theology of Liberation, James H. Cone wrote of Jesus Christ as a symbol of opposition to oppression. He argues that black theology is the only legitimate theology because it emerges out of oppressed people and it applies to everyone, the oppressed and the oppressors. Jean Genet wrote the following: "One evening an actor asked me to write a play for an all Black cast. But what is a Black? First of all what's his color?" Cone would answer this question by stating that someone who is Black does not have a specific color. Cone uses the term "black" as a symbol for all whom are oppressed. In other words, regardless of the color of one's skin, an individual who is defined by someone else is oppressed and therefore black. “Christian theology is never just a rational study of the being of God. Rather it is a study of God’s liberating activity in the world, God’s activity on behalf of the oppressed.” A Black Theology of Liberation and the Gospel of Luke both contain the theme of liberating the oppressed.
Cone stated that "Black Theology is not the hope that promises a reward in heaven in order to ease the pain of injustice on earth. Rather it is hope which focuses in order to make men refuse to tolerate present inequalities. To see the future of God, as revealed in his resurrection in Christ, is to see also the contradiction of any earthly injustice with existence in Christ." The purpose of Black theology is not only to find eternal salvation, but also to create heaven on earth. In order to create heaven on earth, the oppressed must be liberated. “The blackness of God means that the essence of the nature of God is to be found in the concept of liberation.” Cone's main focus is on the concept of liberating the oppressed through the love of God. This is one similarity between Cone's definition of Black theology and Luke's meaning of salvation. Cone defined heaven on earth as a world with social justice and equality among people. Luke wrote that social justice is also equality among all, in addition we should love our enemies and treat others as we wish to be treated. In other words, both Luke and Cone sought a world where people helped each other, not a place where oppression and evil overruled...
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