James Cone, Martin and Malcolm and America

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James Cone, Martin and Malcolm and America
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Develops question

• Davita how can religion (Judaism) teach and deny
  justice at the same time?
• What should she do in response? Can she remain
  practicing, does she have to leave, or does she
  form a middle way?
• Martin and Malcolm how does religion provide
  solutions to racism?
• How do they (esp. Malcolm) critique Christian
  racism?

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James Cone (b. 1938)

• Father of black liberation theology
• Educated in and by white theologians, but
  developed a distinctive black theology
• Looks at (black) experience as starting and
  ending point
• Believes God is fundamentally against oppression
  Jesus came to liberate people both on earth and
  for heaven
• Theology must lead to better practice and actions

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Martin and Malcolm and America

• Written 1991
• How might it be updated for 2008?
• How have Martin and Malcolm been remembered since
  the late 1960s?
• Thesis people think of MLK and Malcolm as
  opposites, but their perspectives began to
  converge by the time of their deaths
• Cone the two perspectives need each other

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Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-68)

• Upbringing
• Family
• Church
• Experiences with racism
• Education
• Integrationist

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Malcolm X (1925-65)

• Upbringing
• Family
• Religion
• Experiences with racism
• Education
• Why the Nation of Islam?
• Separatist/nationalist