Unlike the black literary tradition, the black church tradition has not been careful in making a distinction between the two Christs, even though such a distinction is implied in their language and life. The White Christ gave blacks slavery, segregation, and lynching and told them to turn the other cheek and to look for their reward in heaven. Be patient, they were told, and your suffering will be rewarded, for it is the source of your spiritual redemption. Rejecting the teaching of black and white churches that Jesus’ death on the cross saved us from sin and that we too are called by him to
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