James H. Cone, a Founder of Black Liberation Theology, Dies at 79

The New York Times‘ Jacey Fortin writes, “The Rev. Dr. James H. Cone, a central figure in the development of black liberation theology in the 1960s and ’70s who argued for racial justice and an interpretation of the Christian Gospel that elevated the voices of the oppressed, died on Saturday in Manhattan. He was 79.” Cone, a professor at Union Theological Seminary, said in 2008, “Christianity was seen as the white man’s religion. I wanted to say: ‘No! The Christian Gospel is not the white man’s religion. It is a religion of liberation, a religion that says God created all people to be free.’ But I realized that for black people to be free, they must first love their blackness.”

Read at The New York Times

© 2011 Religion & Politics