James Cone is a man of passion, faith, and love. His writing, God of the Oppressors [Oppressed], is overflowing with overbearing and convicting language. While reading Cone’s writing, I come to three separate conclusions. The first conclusion is that we must not ignore the oppression of blacks or brush it off as being no longer irrelevant. The second conclusion is as we acknowledge the trauma that oppression has caused, we must next look to the future with hope. The third conclusion is more of a proposition - a proposition that maybe theology should be more personal, for everyone.
Most importantly, we all - white and black - must hold the history of slavery very close to hearts. So many people consider the effects of slavery to be irrelevant today. I plead for the recognition that this statement is completely false. I realize that the majority of the United States has made substantial improvements wit racism, which makes it difficult for many to see the long standing negative effects, but there are places where racism is still a huge issue. Particularly in the south, some small towns are still very stuck in the past. Even if this was not true, even if the United States was completely free of all racism, the recognition the oppression of blacks would still be incredibly important. This maltreatment was not one thousand years ago - although it would be just as important to recognize its significance even if that were true - but the American Civil War that was based on this abuse began only one hundred and sixty years ago. As provocative as this statement is, with slavery, oppression, and racism being as complex and problematic as they are, I would consider the wounds of these to still be, understandably, quite fresh. All people must keep this in mind and be sensitive to the subject and the people that it affects.
Once we have come to terms with the knowledge of the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual pain that has come from oppression, we - both whites and blacks - must fix our eyes on the future. There have been incredible leaps and bounds made in improving race relations. I can say with confidence that the number of racist males and females in the United States has dramatically decreased over time. This is great news, and there is only more good news to come in our hopeful future. Some predominantly white churches have publicly asked for forgiveness for their racist past. A black male was elected to be the President of the United States. There are leaders upon leaders who are African American and whom people love, respect, and look up to.
My proposition to Cone is this: Should white theology not be personal just as black theology is? Should not everyones theology be quite personal to themselves? Cone accuses white theologians because their identity with the dominant power structure has caused them to be largely boxed within their own cultural history (Cone, 47). What do I have to say about this? Of course white theologians were boxed within their own cultural history! Blacks were also boxed within their own cultural history. Cone explains how blacks “created concrete and vivid pictures of their past and present existence, using historical images of God’s dealings with his people and thus breaking upon a future for the oppressed” (35). To me, this sounds perfectly understandable. We should all keep our theologies personal and focused on our own history, but we have to do this while remaining mindful and sensitive to everyone else’s experiences. Cone also states that “the only way people can enhance their vision of the universal is to break out of their cultural and political boxes and encounter another reality” (53). I also believe this to be true, but Cone must try to break out of his cultural and political box as well and realize that once the white theologians have recognized the terrible effects of the oppression of blacks, they can not all base their personal theology on that oppression alone.
All in all, I believe that everyone must listen to Cone’s writings, for they are beneficial and good. Although, I also discourage anyone to feel guilty for not basing his or her own personal theology on someone else’s past; for religious, spiritual, and theological beliefs must be unique so that you can truly believe in them for yourself.
Grace Hicks
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