Prophetic Rage: A Postcolonial Theology of Liberation

The title of this ambitious text from Hill (The First Black President), an associate professor of philosophy and religion at Claflin University, suggests that the book might contextualize current trends in social justice and theology. Instead, it capitalizes on the 50th anniversary of the watershed March on Washington and the re-election of President Barack Obama as opportunity for reflection on how theologians and Christians consider—or fail to consider—notions of empire and nihilism. Hill grew up in the South on the edge of a plantation, which suggests that his working-class roots might be fueling his rage, but the anger to which the title alludes is not made clear. Prophetic rage as Hill defines it has to do with “right remembering” of a brutal past and how its legacy continues in the present. Hill repeats parts of his personal story in almost preacherlike fashion throughout the book. He also offers brief calls to action to help the black community and others who are marginalized. (Nov.)