288
Missionalia 46-2_8Kobe
(288–303)
www.missionalia.journals.ac.za | https://doi.org/10.7832/46-2-314
Black Theology of Liberation (Is it the) Thing of the Past? A Theological Reflection on Black Students’ Experiences Sandiswa Lerato Kobe1 Abstract This article pursues a theological reflection on black students’ experiences using the liberative paradigm found in Black theology of liberation (BTL). Reflecting on black students’ experiences in the classroom, the article asks the question; is Black theology of liberation the thing of the past? Pertaining to the question, the article links James Cone and Steve Biko’s experiences in university with my own experiences in the university, particularly as a student of theology in South Africa. Therefore, the focus of the article is threefold; James Cone’s experiences as a student of theology in America, Steve Biko’s experiences as a black student under the apartheid government. Lastly, the article investigates my own experiences to present a theological reflection on black students’ experiences post-apartheid. Keywords: James Cone, Steve Biko, Black Student, Black Student Experiences, Black Theology of Liberation
1. Introduction Amongst other things, the article reflects on the status of BTL in present-day South Africa. However, with a clear focus on the need for BTL in theological education, particularly in the contexts of the student call for decolonisation of the curriculum in South Africa. Inspired by the likes of Frantz Fanon, Steve Biko, Bell Hooks student’s movements announced the need for decolonisation of South African universities. They argued that to decolonise the university is to re-imagine the university space, the curriculum, and the worker relations in post-apartheid South Africa (Rhodes Must Fall, Fees must Fall, and End of Outsourcing). Black students argued that to decolonise is to recognise the need of a complete calling into question the colonial/ apartheid situation they found themselves in post-apartheid South Africa (Booysen 2016). Against this, the article presents a cross generational experiences of black students in university. By reflecting on James Cone, Steve Biko’s experiences together with those of the new generation of black students in South Africa, the article presents a diasporic experience. 1
Lerato is a Lecturer in the Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology, UNISA