Essay on Cone’s Black Theology of Liberation
Frederick K. Ware, in his book African American Theology , states the principle sources of theology as Scripture, tradition, experience, reason, and culture. Although Cone also brings them all in his book, A Black Theology of Liberation, I believe that it is obvious that Cone appeals the black culture as the most valuable sources. However, when we take into consideration about the black culture, we recognize that the black culture is related to or reflects the black experience and black history as well. As Cone said, his norm of black theology is the liberation apparently. Hence, the black history, black experience, and black culture were more valuable than the Scripture and the revelation for him
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Therefore, Cone states that “the black experience means telling whitey what the limits are.” On the other hand, for Cone, the black history is black persons who can show the black power resisting to “every act of white brutality.” Related to those two sources, the black soul, in which implicates their joy and pain, expressed throughout all of black art activity of the black community which makes black culture as another and most valuable source. Even though Cone mentions the Scripture and revelation as other sources of the black theology, they are being interpreted only in a way of making harmony with the black condition oppressed by whitey. Inasmuch as the hermeneutical principle of the black theology, the Scripture and revelation must be valued for delivering the necessary soul for black liberation. Moreover, Cone does not agree with God as the author of the Scripture. Actually, he does not even concern who authored the Bible. What he concerns is whether it serves the black community or not. Therefore, he interprets the Bible for the sake of black