1. Liberation Theology Con’t

2. Religion, Race and Identity

3. MLK Jr, Black Theology and Black Church — article
What is Cone’s argument about the relationship between King, the black church, and scholarship?
King Interview (6 min)
Who is King’s audience in this video? How do his answers reflect that? (411)
How does Cone argue that King’s actions demonstrate his connections to the black church?
SCLC & Ebenezer Baptist (412)
Critique of Civil Rights Movement and Southern white ministers (415)
Cone’s argument about oppression: “Freedom is not a gift but must be taken” (416)

4. Cone, King & Black Theology
Cone differs from King in the following ways:
Believes that any mean, not just non-violence, should be used to achieve freedom
Believes that “the people who benefit from the unjust social, political, and economic order are not likely to be the ones who will change it radically (416)
“…groups seldom, if ever, can transcend their interests for the sake of another” (416)
Contends that differences between he and King are understood better within the context of the Black Church

5. freedom and hope
Significance of the “eschatological hopes freedom” found in King’s diction (417)
Cosmic peace?
Who does this appeal to?
How do you this this is King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” sermon?
Key to understanding King’s theology is understanding the relationship between style and meaning (417)
Meaning is found in the way the word is spoke, as well as the effect upon those who hear it
Style is reflected in sermon oration

6. Womanist THeology Delores Williams (1937 - )
MA Columbia University, PhD from Union Theological Seminary
Book: Sisters in the Wilderness (1983)
Reimagines the story of Hagar; “illuminates the importance of issues of reproduction and surrogacy in black women’s oppression”

7. Womanist theology
Womanist — term derived from Alice Walker’s (The Color Purple) writings
Expanded by Williams and others
Extension / response to Cone’s Black Liberation theology and feminism
Definition as given by Walker and Williams
“Allows women to claim their roots in black history, religion, and culture”
Female center
Speaks to feminism’s problem with intersectionality

8. Intersectionality
"The most disrespected person in America is the black woman.
The most unprotected person in America is the black woman.
The most neglected person in America is the black woman.”
Malcolm X - May 22, 1962
Intersectionality: study of intersections between forms or systems of oppression, domination or discrimination
race, religion, nationality, class, sexuality, physical ability, age

9. DElores WIlliams’ Article
Emphasizes black women’s culture and way of being in the world
Affirms black women’s historical connection with men through love and shared struggle of survival
Two principal concerns:
survival
community building and maintenance
Womanist determination to love themselves
“Deep shade of difference between feminism and womanism”
Gives womanist theorists freedom without being deigned by work of white feminists
Rejects homophobia, colorism, classism, promotes male-female equity

10. Womanist theology & Method
Four elements of Christian Womanist Theology
Multi-dialogical intent
Liturgical Intent
Didactic Intent
Commitment to imagery and metaphorical language
Importance of “the spirit” of Black communal worship
“If Christ Identified himself with the poor and the oppressed,
then today he identifies in particular with black women,
triply oppressed by racism, sexism and poverty”
Rabouteau, 129