Blackness as an ontological symbol: The way forward

Abstract

This article focuses on Black liberation theology from a non-western perspective and suggests a deconstructive treatment of Black liberation theology, engaging Cone’s work critically. The critical question in reading texts on Black theology is whether poststructural theories on language, subjectivity, social processes, and institutions can identify areas and strategies for change with regard to Black liberation theology. James Cone was critical regarding a poststructural foundational approach. Even so, this article uses poststructuralism as a lens to attend to the subthemes of blackness as ontological symbol, dethroning the author in a poststructural discourse of Black theology, Black theology and Black power, Black liberation theology and anthropology, and Black theology and experience.