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34 pages 1 hour read

The Cross and the Lynching Tree

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2011

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Book Brief

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James H. Cone

The Cross and the Lynching Tree

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2011
Book Details
Pages

202

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 20th Century

Theme
Publication Year

2011

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In The Cross and the Lynching Tree, James H. Cone explores the profound connection between the crucifixion of Jesus and the lynching of Black Americans, arguing that both serve as symbols of innocent suffering and brutal oppression. Cone examines the influence of theologian Reinhold Niebuhr and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on his thought, and reflects on the artistic portrayals of this connection by Black artists. The book concludes by connecting the suffering of Black women to that of Mary, mother of Jesus, highlighting the familial and societal impact of such violence.

Informative

Dark

Emotional

Challenging

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.6

8,357 ratings

92%

Loved it

5%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

James H. Cone's The Cross and the Lynching Tree offers a poignant exploration of the intersection between the crucifixion of Jesus and racial lynching in America. Praised for its profound theological insight and powerful historical analysis, the book is sometimes critiqued for its intensity and heavy subject matter. Overall, it is an essential read for understanding racial justice.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Cross and the Lynching Tree?

Readers who appreciate The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone are typically interested in theology, African American studies, and social justice. Similar works include The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois and Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, which also explore intersections of faith and racial injustice.

4.6

8,357 ratings

92%

Loved it

5%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

202

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 20th Century

Theme
Publication Year

2011

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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