James Cone’s Black liberation theology teaches that God is fundamentally concerned with the oppressed and that Christian faith must stand against racism and economic injustice. Drawing from the Black freedom struggle and the legacies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, Cone argues that the gospel must be made relevant to Black suffering in a society where “blackness” has historically been devalued. His work challenges churches and theologians to confront systemic oppression, uplift Black dignity, and proclaim a God who sides with the poor.

 

For Cone, the task of Black theology is to help oppressed people see themselves as fully human and fully loved by God while resisting systems that deny their worth. This involves confronting hard truths about American racism, as seen in the controversies surrounding figures like Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Ultimately, Cone’s work calls Black Christians to love themselves unapologetically, embrace their cultural identity, and fight for liberation as an essential expression of faith.