James Hal Cone - Political Commentary and Controversy

Political Commentary and Controversy

Aspects of Cone's theology and words for some people have been the subject of controversy in the political context of the 2008 Presidential campaign as Reverend Jeremiah Wright, at that time pastor of then-candidate Barack Obama, noted that he had been inspired by Cone's theology.

Some scholars of black theology noted that controversial quotes by Rev. Wright may not necessarily represent black theology. James Cone responded to these alleged controversial comments by noting that he was generally writing about historic white churches and denominations that did nothing to oppose slavery and segregation rather than any white individual.

Hoover Institute fellow Stanley Kurtz, in a political commentary in National Review, wrote that

Cone defines it as "complete emancipation of black people from white oppression by whatever means black people deem necessary." For Cone, the deeply racist structure of American society leaves blacks with no alternative but radical transformation or social withdrawal. So-called Christianity, as commonly practiced in the United States, is actually the racist Antichrist. "Theologically," Cone affirms, "Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man 'the devil.'" The false Christianity of the white-devil oppressor must be replaced by an authentic Christianity fully identified with the poor and oppressed.