The First Testament: The Roots of the Black Prophetic Voice
Author:
Dr. Jerry Taylor
Date:
September 1, 2020
Collection:
Dr. Taylor Special Articles Collection
Full Document
Abstract
Dr. Jerry Taylor explores the enduring importance of the Old Testament, specifically the Exodus narrative, as the theological foundation for the African American prophetic voice. He examines how the story of God's deliverance of Israelite slaves has provided a powerful resource for resisting oppression from the antebellum era to the Civil Rights Movement. The piece critiques the shift toward middle class comforts and political status within the modern black church, calling for a rededication to the prophetic tradition that addresses the needs of the disinherited underclass.
THE FIRST TESTAMENT: The Roots of the Black Prophetic Voice
Growing up in a small black church in Tennessee, Dr. Jerry Taylor recognized that the lot of black people in America mirrored that of the Israelites in Egypt. This realization, sparked by the documentary Eyes on the Prize, inspired him to follow the legacy of Moses, the Old Testament prophets, and Martin Luther King Jr.. The story of the Exodus remains central to the African American church because it affirms a God who sees, hears, and acts on behalf of the afflicted. This narrative was so potent that antebellum slave owners utilized a "Slave Bible" that excluded nearly 90 percent of the Old Testament to suppress thoughts of divine emancipation.
Martin Luther King Jr., often viewed as a "black Moses," drew deeply from this tradition, using his education to defend the exploited rather than being anesthetized by middle class privilege. Taylor notes that the Exodus story also provides a framework for white Christians to interpret their own position; like Moses in Pharaoh’s house, many have been conditioned to ignore the history of black oppression. True compassion requires an intentional desire to understand this suffering and a willingness to put one’s own body and status at risk.
Today, Taylor warns that the black church is at a crossroads, stretched between the largest black middle class and the largest black underclass in history. Following King's death, many leaders moved from the prophetic fringes into secure politics, compromising their connection to the divine power that resists systems of oppression. To maintain its legacy as a liberating institution, the black middle class church must reclaim its prophetic voice and address the needs of the masses. By returning to the roots of the First Testament, the church can continue to declare freedom to the captives and challenge unjust systems built on human suffering.