“Don’t Get it Twisted!”: James Cone, His Black Theology of Liberation, and What It Means for 21st Century Adventism

Fifty years ago (1970) saw the publication of James Cone’s seminal second book, A Black Theology of Liberation. Though not the first black to question a Eurocentric spin of the biblical record, Cone is viewed by many blacks as the greatest African-American systematic theologian of the 20th century. Largely dismissed as standing to the far left of mainstream Christian thought, Cone’s writings have experienced a renaissance among the casual followers of his theology due to the twin factors of his 2018 death at age 79, and the 50th anniversary of his first book, written in 1969, Black Theology and Black Power. Might there be something that 21st century Adventism can learn from someone that many consider to be a 20th century prophet to Christianity? This paper seeks a better understanding of Cone’s views on the content of theology and the sources and norms of Black Theology, and how such a theological interpretation could impact the Adventist Church and society.