Customer Reviews

Black Theology & Black Power

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THis is certainly a difficult book to read. It makes one think and it stirs one to action. The author calls the reader to action. It is not enough to contemplate theology. One must live theology.

I am of the understanding that this author has issues. He argues about white racism and uses it as a jumping off point to a Worldview that Blacks should have and whites should have if a particular White person wants to be allied with the Black power movement. Dr. Cone priority is not the spread of Christianity but to change the mindset of white and black individuals. This is the purpose of democratic debate. His argument is since society is racist and whites control most churches, therefore all philosophy and theology that is taught through the years most also be racist. He does not believe the Bible is inerrant or the ultimate arbitrator of Truth. He uses the Bible to constuct an argument at cetain points in the book but this hardly his main source for his thought. He freely admits that the Nation of Islam and its teachings are totally in line with his Black Power philosphy. The book's purpose is to argue for the Black Church in the United States to have a philosophy of Black inpowerment.

The author calls Blacks who do not subscribe to his philosophy as white inside. Whites who agree with him as black inside. The author has some valid points about racism in society and the history in the Church. How the church reflects the world instead of an agent or a beakon to a better way of thought and action. I just disagree with his philosophy, his "theology" and conclusions how people should respond to these facts.

James Cone put forth Black Theology and Black Power as an explanation of the change required for black men to survive in this society. Cone defines black power as, "complete emancipation of black people by whatever means black people deem necessary." This emancipation call means, "black people no longer see themselves as without human dignity but as men." Cone explains that black people see themselves without human dignity because white society has objectified them. As an object they are not relational beings, but objects of exploit for the privilege and the empowerment of whites. For Cone this went back to the beginning of the African experience in America. The suffering of the black experience was real, and "black people cannot live according to what ought to be, but according to what is."

This book is without the luxury of time to come to grips with black meaning in a society which incessantly indoctrinated him with a message that he was less then human, less then whole. Cone did not have the luxury of education in the seminary in theologies other then those made by white men talking to other white men as the church made even Augustine and Jesus white in his time. He did not write in a vacuum and neither can his book be read in a vacuum.

It is an essential book for understanding Black Liberation.

I bought this book in response to a challange by The Rev. Jermiah A. Wright (Pastor, now retired, Trinity United. Church of Christ the church of Barack Obama) to Sean Hannity (radio and TV talk show host) in May of 2008. Wright saying, "If you haven't read the book, (Black Power & Black Theology) we can't have this conversation." so I bought the book and read it slowly and carefully, highlighting it and making notes in the margins like back in the college days. The author James H. Cone wrote the book published in 1969 at the height of the radical civil rights movement. Cone added a second forward twenty years after the initial publication. He does this to modify a position. I lived through that time as a college student 1968-72 so I had a strong interest in the subject. In the context of the 2008 Presidential election I'd call it a "must read" if you're inclined towards politics and social issues of our recent past that are still relevent today. James H. Cone is not a gifted writer but certainly a impassioned one. "Black Power & Black Theology" is the handbook if you seek to understand the Black Church and Black Liberation Theology. Cone lays it out and leaves no question unanswered about where the Black Liberation Movement stands. Reverend Wright seconds Cone's stance with his endorsement of the book by calling out Sean Hannity to read it. I felt as if I were looking behind a curtain as I read this book. I bought a used copy knowing I would mark it up a lot as a textbook. It's slim, cheap and recommended.

I've never been able to get to the bottom of the implicit premise of Marxists that blacks just can't exist as equals in a free market world. Marxism is the only salvation, apparently.

Cone is a fraud. The book is useful to understand the fraudulent dogmas and doctrines of Marxist incluenced theologies. But don't be fooled into believing that this is anything more than a Christian based counterfeit passed through the mutational machine of Marxist theory.

The key concept of Cone's that you need to remember is this. "Black" isn't about skin color. It's what you are on the inside. So remember "Black" equals Marxist which equals "Good". "White" equals capitalism, which equals "Bad".

Cone isn't liberating anyone. He's selling his people into slavery all over again. And HE is the Uncle Tom to Karl Marx's plantation philosophy. In his world, blacks will own nothing and have no rights beyond those mandated by the state. And neither will anyone else. But, I'm sure Cone will be living his privileged "apparatchnik" lifestyle, and that's what it's all about. HIM. Nothing else.

I read this book trying to understand Obama's mind set. After all he attended this church for 20 years. I found a lot of hatred towards non-blacks, especially whites and a lot of misguided anger towards all whites. This book was disturbing and hopefully does not represent the opinion of all blacks. But I have to conclude that it does represent the views of a man who could possibly be the President of the United States. No one can deny that blacks have suffered and still do suffer from racism in this country. As a white woman I totally disagree with Mr. Cones' claim that whites are raised from birth to hate blacks. That statement is absolutely false.

In advance, sorry fo he typos my keyboard is messed up.
This is not for those who read for fun. Cone states in 10 pages what most could in haf a page He uses te extra space to ramble and rant. He contiuley repeats himself over and over , like a broken record player.
For learning purposes, I recomend going to a libray and photo copying the valuable sections of the book. If your a teacher lookng to make sheets from this book, hen geta diffrnt book.Speaking as a pupil, students would rather not plough through this long winded babble

i am jewish and did not hesitate to read this book. it gives you a good definition of black power. i learned that black power is not the oppisite of white power, but is by any means neccary. i suggest for everyone to read this book. james h cone is a prophet.