Islam and the Problem of Black Suffering

Islam and the Problem of Black Suffering by Jackson, Sherman A.. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780199368013.

In his controversial 1973 book, Is God a White Racist?, William R. Jones sharply criticized black theologians for their agnostic approach to black suffering, noting that the doctrine of an ominibenevolent God poses very significant problems for a perennially oppressed community. He proposed a "humanocentric theism" which denies Gods sovereignty over human history and imputes autonomous agency to humans. By rendering humans alone responsible for moral evil, Joness theology freed blacks to revolt against the evil of oppression without revolting against God. Sherman Jackson now places Joness argument in conversation with the classical schools of Islamic theology. The problem confronting the black community is not simply proving that God exists, says Jackson. The problem, rather, is establishing that God cares. No religious expression that fails to tackle the problem of black suffering can hope to enjoy a durable tenure in the black community. For the Muslim, therefore, it is essential to find a Quranic/Islamic grounding for the protest-oriented agenda of black religion. That is the task Jackson undertakes in this pathbreaking work. Jacksons previous book, Islam and the Blackamerican (OUP 2006) laid the groundwork for this ambitious project. Its sequel, Islam and the Problem of Black Suffering, solidifies Jacksons reputation as the foremost theologian of the black American Islamic movement.