When I had shared my book and my earlier essay on “Christianity and Black Power” with my former doctoral advisor, Philip S. Watson, he had written me an angry letter: “All you have done is try to justify black people killing me and other whites,” he said—an absurd statement to which I could not respond. I wasn't advocating violence against white people. I was exposing and declaring my fierce opposition to white violence against black people. I was trying to speak the same truth that sent Jesus to the cross. I couldn't back away from the truth I saw in Jesus's life and death. I was prepared to
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