Toward a Practical Black Theology and Liberation Ethic: An Alternative African-American Perspective

Abstract

This article outlines and discusses the challenges associated with developing a practical Black Theology of liberation based on the reflections of a number of Black theologians. This essay utilizes critical analysis, reflections, and observations to derive at a method that leads to a relevant and useful Black theology that may bridge individual life practices in the context of the Black church. The proposed method is an extension of current practices that show promise for developing a practical Black Theology. For instance, the author offers to augment current spiritual formation practices that provide a way to construct a relevant practical Black Theology for the post-Civil Rights era. Equity, social justice, and individualism are the foundations for framing practical Black Theology as discourse that informs practices for individual empowerment. Individual and collective Black life experience are viewed as complementary for defining "religious experience" as comprised of sources for doing theological reflection for self-understanding and self-empowerment. The author argues that action, beliefs, and the context are the necessary sources for theological reflection. Moreover, these sources are inclusive of all types of religious experience and can serve as a model for developing a Black Theology grounded in the African-American experience.