Marxism and/as Black Theology: From Cone to West and Back Again

This paper argues three primary points. First, that James Cone analytically relied on and supported Marxist political economy, especially as concerns its use as an explanation of anti-Black racism. Second, that this Marxist dimension of Cone’s work should be supported, because Marxism remains the mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Brown, Derek 1992- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group 2024
In: Black theology
Year: 2024, Volume: 22, Issue: 1, Pages: 29–50
Further subjects:B James Cone
B race and class
B anti-capitalism
B Cornel West
B Marxism
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:This paper argues three primary points. First, that James Cone analytically relied on and supported Marxist political economy, especially as concerns its use as an explanation of anti-Black racism. Second, that this Marxist dimension of Cone’s work should be supported, because Marxism remains the most effective political and analytical tool for improving the material conditions of the exploited. Third, that despite his analytical adherence to Marxism as an explanatory theory for understanding and overcoming racism, Cone did not analytically clarify the structural relationship between race and class. This conflation becomes problematic for Cone’s project when class differences and wealth inequality within the Black community – and every “community” – are exacerbated. This shortcoming can be redressed by Cone’s interlocutor Cornel West, who offers a Marxist understanding of the relationship between race and class that allows him to pursue an emancipatory politics that is committed to both anti-racism and anti-capitalism.
ISSN:1743-1670
Contains:Enthalten in: Black theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/14769948.2024.2318102