Black Liberation and Womanist Theology

March 11, 2022

|In Black History in Two Minutes (or so), Season 2

Nothing seemed more urgent than the collective quest of Black freedom after the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Although Black men and women shared the same mission and skin color, their commitment to the cause manifested in very different ways.

James Cone, a highly regarded professor, preached about Black liberation at the center of the gospel. His elevated teaching not only inspired followers but it also provided an alternate theology that shifted the power of the church. But with that change came a host of women who recognized that his change meant staying the same for them. Womanist Theology served as an equally thought out and informative message for women whose presence, power, and contribution to the Black church weren’t always acknowledged.

In this episode of Black History In Two Minutes or So hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. — with additional commentary from Imani Perry of Princeton University, Anthony Pinn of Rice University and Barbara Savage of The University of Pennsylvania, we take a look at how the church’s effort to preach freedom shifted the landscape of religion from the pulpit to the pew.

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Archival Materials Courtesy of:
• Alamy Images
• Associated Press
• Getty Images
• Video 10th C. Eric Lincoln Lecture Series, 1992, C. Eric Lincoln Lecture Series Collection, Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library

Additional Archival by:
• Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• C-SPAN
• Emory University
• National Catholic Reporter
• The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary
• The Los Angeles Times

Executive Producers:
• Robert F. Smith
• Henry Louis Gates Jr.
• Dyllan McGee
• Deon Taylor

Senior Producer:
• William Ventura

Series Producers:
• Chinisha Scott
• William Ventura

Executive in Charge of Production:
• Robert L. Yacyshyn

Post Production Supervisor:
• Veronica Leib

Post Production Coordinator:
• Katherine Swiatek

Written By:
• Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Additional Writing:
• Kevin Burke
• Kelsi Lindus
• Chinisha Scott
• William Ventura

Editors:
• Margaret Metzger
• Anne Yao

Producer:
• Kevin Burke

Archival Producer:
• Megan Graham

Research:
• Zoë Smith