James Cone: A Black Theologian's Reflection

Abstract:When I interviewed Professor James Cone nearly four years ago, he reflected on his seminal text, Black Theology and Black Power. He admitted, "I was trying to write a theology that would speak to the spirit of the times in my community and I wanted to share that one can be both black and Christian." This would be one of the last interviews Cone gave. Most interviews of Cone over the past seven years have centered on his latest book, The Cross and the Lynching Tree. This interview, however, distinguishes itself from those interviews because it places attention on Black Theology and Black Power and captures Cone's thoughts on the theologian's role in society, Black Lives Matter, and his legacy.