A review by davehershey
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone
4.0
After reading God of the Oppressed I wanted to read more from Cone, so I got this book. In this book Cone explores the connections between the cross, where Jesus suffered and died, and the lynching tree where thousands of black men and women suffered and died. After a chapter on lynching in America, Cone spends a chapter critiquing Reinhold Niebuhr. Cone pulls no punches, asking how it was possible for Niebuhr to write so truthfully on Christian ethics but to fail so spectacularly to say anything about lynching in the US during his life. This contrasts with Martin Luther King who was influenced by Niebuhr and others but who put his theology into action by working for justice. Cone follows this with chapters on black artists who connected the cross and the lynching tree as well as a chapter on women.
Overall this book is challenging and disheartening. It is a must-read for anyone (i.e., any white people) who look back and want to make America great again. How could our ancestors who were so vocal about their Christian faith commit such atrocities?
Cone recognizes many black people have wanted to reject the Christian faith because of this. But he cannot get away from Jesus who, like so many blacks, suffered and died on a tree. He ends the book on a hopeful note, seeing hope for a better future for both white and black people centered on Jesus.
Overall this book is challenging and disheartening. It is a must-read for anyone (i.e., any white people) who look back and want to make America great again. How could our ancestors who were so vocal about their Christian faith commit such atrocities?
Cone recognizes many black people have wanted to reject the Christian faith because of this. But he cannot get away from Jesus who, like so many blacks, suffered and died on a tree. He ends the book on a hopeful note, seeing hope for a better future for both white and black people centered on Jesus.