Introducing Post-Black Theology
Post-Black Theology is rooted in the thesis that there are theologies and best-practice models that have come out of the Black Church in America and Africa that are meant from God to be a gift to the whole church. You can’t present Post-Black Theology though without first dealing with Black Theology.
Black theology is a theology for Black people. Black theology is about a biblical understanding that God, thru Jesus, identifies with the historical suffering and current social disparities facing Black people. Theologian James Cone and Religious and African-American Studies Scholar, Cornell West are the pioneers of Black Liberation Theology. Black Liberation Theology has connections to Liberation Theology coming out of Latin America. Black Liberation Theology has not been fully received within evangelicalism because one, it’s focused on God identifying with the conditions facing Black people and two, it has elements which seem more rooted in marxism and humanism than Scripture. South African theologian Allan Boesak has offered a version of Black Liberation Theology that is more palatable for evangelical tastes.
Post-Black Theology, though not labeled that, begins with African-American theologians and organic scholars such as Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King Jr., Tom Skinner, and John Perkins. Thru these leaders we find the foundation of Reconciliation Theology. Reconciliation Theology is about the redemption, liberation, and reconciliation of both the oppressed and the oppressor. Black Liberation theology is primarily about the oppressed, with little or no focus on the transformation of the oppressor.
Post-Black theology also includes a more authentic missional ecclesiology. The Black Church has been a missional church since its inception. The Civil Rights Movement is both a missional and emergent movement before European-American pastors and theologians began the discussion. Hip Hop culture today is both a Post-Black movement and the most visible sign of post-modernism. Because it is a movement of urban African-American, Asian, and Hispanic youth, it is marginalized by the dominant culture. If the church in the United States is truly going to be missional it must learn to advance the Kingdom of God in an ever-increasing multi-ethnic, multicultural, urban, global, technological, and hip hop reality.
The Black Church is missional because it has also been engaging culture for justice and transformation as well as being a development center for the empowerment of African-Americans to become Post-Black leaders. If not for the Black Church influence on some level, there would be no Post-Black leaders such as President Barak Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Colin Powell, or Tony Dungy. Whether in their generation, their parents, or grandparents, the Black Church had influence.
I will spend time in future posts breaking down further Post-Black Theology. Stay tuned and I would love your thoughts.
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I am very excited about this direction. I have some hestitation with the “post” talk because it is typically used, at least on a popular level, to mean a repudiation or disproportionately forward-gazing posture with regards to the past black experience, generally, and the black church tradition, more specifically. By the way, I have been following your blog for some time, but never chimed in. FYI, I quoted/cited you in a recent article I wrote in my divinity school’s magazine. Here is the link:
http://www.tiu.edu/files/divinity/connect/tedslife/studentservices/v6i13_online.pdf
If you get a chance to read it let me know what you think. I believe that the directions I am taking in one of my minor points is similar to what you are talking about with post-black theology. Peace!!
Brother Efrem,
You have captured the essence of my thoughts and struggle as I wrestle through my life. How to connect my love for Hip Hop, the black church and theology in a presentable package to others especially those outside of the black church culture. It stands to reason that things are not easily approachable when one enters this stage. I have for years searched for the opportunity to connect with brothers and sisters of like minds. But i thank you for sharing yours thoughts on such a neglected area black theologians that think organically such as a Howard Thurman. You have given much to chew on brother…
Black liberation theology is nothing more than Marxism clothed n christian terminology. 2 black “Churches”, skin trumps sin & race trumps. #lacks r always whining about slavery but r never thankul that God n His providence brought them out of that pagan hell hole called Africa. We dont fellowship with black churches because they’re black, but because of their junk theology & worldliness. the problem n the black community (crime, illegitimate babies,drugs, shiftless males, families headed by females..etc) is because of all these phony black “Revs” running around & the unwillingness of majority of blacks 2 take any personel responsibility.
John,
From your response it seems you have a very limited understanding of the Black Church and Community. The media does a good job of spending a lot of time showing the negative of the Black Community and not its historic and present richness. The models, practices, and theologies within the Black church are diverse, rich, and biblical. They are not all biblical to the same degree. What about Black Churches that are evangelical? You paint a very stereotypical picture of the Black Community. I am saddened by this. I hope you would agree that there is no less political influence and worldliness in the White Church. There is just as much sin in the White community. Because Whites are a larger population that Blacks, it can be assumed that there is a larger White number of divorce, out of wedlock pregnancies, abortion, and drug use. The White Church has examples of participating in worldly practices even today. The church as a whole is in crisis. We should all work for a church that is rooted in Scripture and led by the Holy Spirit.