Posted on 03/23/2008 7:59:06 AM PDT by JRochelle
Jeremiah Wright’s theological mentor, James Cone, Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary, is perhaps the most important figure in black liberation theology. Here Cone delivers the 2006 Ingersoll lecture at Harvard Divinity School. Dating from 1893, the Ingersoll Lecture is one of the oldest endowed lectures at Harvard. Cone’s Ingersoll lecture is entitled, "Strange Fruit: The Cross and the Lynching Tree."
Cone is clearly an intelligent and charismatic speaker. There are a number of "zingers" in here which I think many listeners will object to. But this lecture is also significantly more toned down than what we find in the infamous Jeremiah Wright videos. This is the smooth and sophisticated version of black liberation theology, and my sense is that even Cone himself can be significantly more radical than what we see here. Nonetheless, the talk is pretty striking.
The lecture and question period take an hour and-a-half. Here I’ll provide a guide to some of the more theologically and politically interesting moments, but many will want to listen to the entire lecture, and to the question period that follows. I’ll reference key sections of the lecture by noting the beginning and ending minutes on the time clock.
16 minutes–23:30: Here Cone begins to distinguish his own theological approach from orthodox and evangelical Christianity (his terms). The basic theme of the lecture–the symbolic identity of the cross and the lynching tree–is laid out.
36:30–38 minutes: Here Cone criticizes the relationship with God claimed by many white evangelical ministers, President Bush, and also those black preachers who oppose abortion and same-sex marriage.
40-43 minutes: Here Cone accepts many of the criticisms leveled at traditional Christianity by feminist and womanist theologians. (As opposed to "feminist" theology, "womanist" theology specifically focuses on the concerns of African-American women.)
52:30-57 minutes: Here Cone says that the cross understood as a lynching tree can redeem not only American blacks, but also white lynchers and their descendants. But Cone emphasizes that this is only true if whites pay the heavy cost of repentance and reparations. Paying reparations is the precondition of divine mercy and forgiveness for white sins.
1:02–1:08: In a key section, Cone explains that, although the days of literal lynching are over, lynching continues to be the central truth of both race relations and foreign policy in America. Cone argues that the large number of black men in the criminal justice system are effectively victims of white lynching. Cone goes on to claim that, through private prisons, white Americans have discovered a way to turn a brutal and racist legal system into a profit-making venture for dying towns and cities all over America. He then explains that the victims of Katrina and all blacks denied jobs, health care, and housing are also being lynched, even if without a rope or a tree.
Finally, Cone explains that the victims of Abu Ghraib and the prisoners of Guantanamo are also modern lynching victims, and he compares the Roman empire and its crucifiction of Jesus with the American empire in Afghanistan and Iraq. Blacks, Cone explains, are Christ-figures, not because they want to be, but because white persecution has forced them to be. And this Christ-like racial victimization means that the power of lynching as the central metaphor for race in America endures.
I’m not marking out anything specific from the question period, but there are some "zingers" there, and it makes for interesting listening. Note also that, while I’ve tried to be accurate in this summary, I’m working from a recorded lecture rather than a text. Obviously, you’ll need to listen yourself to confirm any point, and to get specific language.
Readers can make up their own minds about Cone’s symbolic and theological links between the cross and the lynching tree. What strikes me as politically relevant is Cone’s conviction that lynching is not just a symbol for some particular modern injustice, but the central and controlling metaphor of race relations and foreign policy in America today. Like so much academic leftism, the strategy here is to elevate the most morally repugnant symbol of the past into the hidden or "subtle" truth of the present–especially the political present. This gives the accuser permanent moral superiority and the accused permanent guilt–unless the accused begs forgiveness and pays endless material and spiritual reparations. If you want theological context for Jeremiah Wright, here’s a start.
Looking for more? Here’s a YouTube video called "A Conversation with James Cone." It lasts about 20 minutes. There are explanations here of Cone’s broad view of the meaning of white supremacy and some further discussion of themes around the cross and the lynching tree. One notable moment (around 6:30 minutes into the video) is when Cone denies that Clarence Thomas is black. (The synchronization of sound and picture is a bit off in this video.)
Here is the speech. http://www.hds.harvard.edu/news/events_online/ingersoll_2006.html
Here is the youtube video. It sure was news to me that Clarence Thomas isn't black.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1X5sZ6Q4Fw
Here, trying again.
http://www.hds.harvard.edu/news/events_online/ingersoll_2006.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1X5sZ6Q4Fw
I think they booed Solzhenitsyn at Harvard.
I recently stocked up on Remington 12GA. 2 3/4” O Buck for my Winchester 1300. I really think we’re on the brink of very real civil unrest (aka: riots). I intend to protect my home and family if I have to.
whew! for a minute there I thought Cone might actually be an educated man only interested in the truth and healing.
These people have lost their way.
Was slavery in America the only example of man's injustice to man in history? It seems to me that if we start doing this, we would need a supercomputer to calculate just who owes what to whom. I suppose that there are no "black" sins committed throughout history that need to be cleaned.
The Toons had James Cone overnight at the White House.
The 250,000 white folks who died during the civil war to free blacks from slavery is reparations enough in my book. I think the model for a person who can transcend race in this country is not Barack Obama, but Tiger Woods. He has overcome a lot more than Barack in a sport that was lily white when he was growing up. Rather than dwell on the snubs he received while a kid in a white man;s sport, he just ignored it and went out and used his God given talents to beat everyone he competed with. It wasn’t and isn’t about race wtih Tiger, it is about winning. I think there is a lesson there for Cone, Wright, and their protege, Barack.
That this lunatic belief is accepted by so many is a precise explanation for why there are so many in the criminal justice system.
Gee Rev Wright, I don't recall Jesus ever saying that!
Rev Wright, if you're not following Jesus, where are you headed?
1. What other sorts of "theologians" they might have there;
2. Who isn't there because they have been displaced by these radicals;
3. Whether anyone who makes up a new theology and writes books about it could get a job there.
BTW I have heard that Union fell on such hard times in recent years that they had to transfer their extensive library to Columbia.
Reparations are being doled out on a daily basis, everywhere in America. From Government set-asides to corporate quotas. Just ask any CDO - Chief Diversity Officer --almost every Fortune 500 corporation has one. Their job is to reduce the percentage of white vendors and service professionals the company pays.
When McCain "lynches" Obama in 40 states on November 4th, either go to a rural area, or stock up on ammo and dig in.
BLOAT.
Make that "Obamanation".
“When McCain “lynches” Obama in 40 states on November 4th, either go to a rural area, or stock up on ammo and dig in.”
I would love to think otherwise, but I’ve lived long enough to understand the potential, and have witnessed these events in the past. The difference now is that the PC media will support radical urban rioting and law enforcement will be handcuffed and demonized.
I predict Hillary will try to lynch Obama first, adding fuel to the fire when McCain is successful. I thought that the leftists were against burning things because of global warming.
I think the word “intelligent” is mis-used so very much.
I think the Reverent Wright is absolutely STUPID and I also think Obama is a lousy speaker.
Easter is a time to celebrate Christ (for most churches every day is)...He has risen indeed. Shame on this church for exalting man above Christ.
It's been said that Obama is only 6.25% Black, which makes him legally White/Arab
Legally Black is 12.5%
Very important post. Nice work.
If McCain is not successful however, and we had to endure a ‘Rat president, I would personally prefer Hillary. Obama’s rhetoric makes my BS meter jump off the scale.
Agreed!
seems to me that a 30-06 can be handloaded for more accuracy and distance, 8mm-same thing. I really don’t see what is so great about .308’s. Like arguing which can kill a deer better, rifle or Chevy Astro van at 60mph. If they don’t see you they’re dead either way.
And besides, my earlier comment was NOT about hunting deer.
In fact I rarely hunt, and then only birds.
My great grandfather fought on the Union side. That’s enough reparations for me.
Sorry, “deer” was an attempt to mollify the moderator. I meant “target of opportunity”. USN Retired. Used to transport marines who couldn’t swim long distances in full pack. Semper Fi yer own self.
“The thing that surprises me about Cone is that he is a professor at Union Theological Seminary.”
Doesn’t surprise me one bit. It’s become a radiclib institution.
“when Cone denies that Clarence Thomas is black”
Another guy who thinks he can determine who’s black and who isn’t. Suppose I don’t except his definition?
Here is the truth about Mr. Obama’s name, and his father’s ancestors:
True Negro tribal members of western Kenya where his father was born have Christian names, not Arabic. His father’s decision to name him with an Arabic name is a matter of his father establishing his ethnic identity in Africa - it is done deliberately to separate him from the African tribes. He may live among them, but he is not one of them. His father’s message is that he is Arabic, not Negro.
Many will find these truths unsettling. I’m often asked, “But I thought his father was Kenyan. How could Mr. Obama not be African-American, how could his ethnic composition be so Arabic?”
The definitive clue to that answer is to look at his name, his father’s name, and the names of all his ancestors on his father’s side. They are all Arabic.
Researching his roots reveal that on his father’s side, he is descended from Arab slave traders. They operated under an extended grant from Queen Victoria, who gave them the right to continue the slave trade in exchange for helping the British defeat the Madhi Army in southern Sudan and the Upper Nile region. Funny how circular is history; now the British again face the Madhi Army, albeit this time Shiite, not Sunni, as in nineteenth century Sudan.
But telling America’s black community that while their ancestors were breaking the shackles of slavery, Mr. Obama’s ancestors were placing those shackles upon their wrists would hardly play as an Oprah Winfrey best-seller.
Being the son of a poor Kenyan goat-herder plays much better than being the son of a highly placed Arab-African who operated at the top of the Kenyan government following his education at Columbia. You see, even the way he portrays his father is a lie.
http://kennethelamb.blogspot.com/2008/02/barak-obama-questions-about-ethnic.html
You’re missing an important point. Most black people are not rioters, just like most white people are not rioters.
If McCain beats Obama, I don’t think there will be massive civil unrest.
Easy on that trigger finger, men. You don’t even know what you’re shooting at.
V-I-O-L-E-N-T
P-R-O-T-E-S-T-O-R-S / A-N-A-R-C-H-I-S-T-S.
Non-violent speech or demonstrations are guaranteed under Free Speech. Violent unrest is not acceptable.
I find no disagreement with that statement.
Great! Thanks.
“The true measure of a person’s intelligence is how much and often they agree with me.” Anonymous.
"Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love."
It is no wonder that he sympathizes with the abject enemies of this nation.
Telescopic sights were invented for a reason. Unfortunately I need sights with corrective lenses these days...or a forward spotter.
Do they make telescopic sights with corrective lenses?
If Barry’s guaranteed civil right to be President is violated by a majority of voters I expect to see unrest.
making a point...don’t believe they do.
I'm not at all interested in understanding what makes these cretins tick. They are my enemies, I just want to see them crushed. I laugh at all black references to lynchings. They're feeble attempts to make me feel guilty for past injustices. The problem is that more black men are killed by black boys in American cities, towns and country counties on any given weekend than were ever lynched and I don't see Jeremiah Wright and his ilk out fighting against it.
Slavery reparations? More than 600,000 Americans gave their lives to settle the slavery question. The debt has been paid. Get over it.
If whites did not exist crackpots like this would have to invent them.
I suppose that there are no “black” sins committed throughout history that need to be cleaned.
In 1654, John Casor, a black man, become the first legally-recognized slave in the area to become the United States. A court in Northampton County ruled against Casor, declaring him property for life, “owned” by the black colonist mentioned before: Anthony Johnson.
“I think the Reverent Wright is absolutely STUPID and I also think Obama is a lousy speaker.”
Wright is more evil and cynical than stupid.
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