Jesus and the Disinherited

By: Howard Thurman, Kelly Douglas - introduction Rev.

Narrated by: Leon Nixon

Famously known as the text that Martin Luther King Jr. sought inspiration from in the days leading up to the Montgomery bus boycott, Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited helped shape the civil rights movement and changed our nation’s history forever.

In this classic theological treatise, the acclaimed theologian and religious leader Howard Thurman (1900-1981) demonstrates how the gospel may be read as a manual of resistance for the poor and disenfranchised. Jesus is a partner in the pain of the oppressed and the example of His life offers a solution to ending the descent into moral nihilism. Hatred does not empower--it decays. Only through self-love and love of one another can God's justice prevail.

Critic reviews

“Thurman’s prophetic witness and piercing intellect are as relevant to our current hour of tumult as they were when he first put these incisive thoughts to paper.”—Jelani Cobb, author of The Substance of Hope

“[Jesus and the Disinherited] is the centerpiece of the Black prophet-mystic’s lifelong attempt to bring the harrowing beauty of the African-American experience into deep engagement with what he called ‘the religion of Jesus.’ Ultimately his goal was to offer this humanizing combination as the basis for an emancipatory way of being, moving toward a fundamentally unchained life that is available to all the women and men everywhere who hunger and thirst for righteousness, especially those ‘who stand with their backs against the wall.’”
—Vincent Harding, from the Foreword

Sublime Wisdom

With incredible intelligence, wisdom and grace Thurman distills the essence of Jesus Christ and his ministry. The author connects the oppressed status of the Jews under Roman rule with the oppressed status of African Americans in post-Civil War America. Just as Jesus did not throw off the Roman rulers as he exhorted his followers to love not only their neighbors but also their enemies, Thurman gives deeply considered Christian guidance to the oppressed and disinherited everywhere.

The Architecture for All Liberation Theology

In all my work in community organizing, religious education, and social justice reform, few of my comrades and colleagues have mentioned this book, to my surprise. But it was assigned in my Master's program, and now I'm wondering how I ever missed the opportunity to read it.

What Thurman does here is articulate with great force and clarity a treatise for the application of Christian ethics in the fight against inequality.

I wouldn't recommend this book for people ready to overthrow colonialism, brutal capitalism, or modern day Jim Crow nor is it a rousing read for those seeking a Kingdom of God/heaven approach to social justice. This is a theological framework for a practical Christianity rooted in the gospel of Jesus for all people.

Incredible insights & wisdom

An epic evaluation of attitudes and responses of the oppressed and oppressors. The dynamics are complicated and complex. Thurman gives such great insights into various responses and attitudes with a thorough evaluation of Jesus and His example as a man born into an oppressed nation and people of first century Palestine. Thurman does not waiver on his conviction to fully by faith embrace the actions and attitude of our Lord and messiah Jesus of Nazareth. A deep and thought provoking call to justice and mercy for all people.

Groundbreaking and still vital.

Published in 1949 it is hard to believe that this book is not more well known for it must have shaken the ground when it was written. It is no surprise that men like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr looked to Thurman for inspiration and council. There is so much we can still learn and apply to how we heal from all forms of inequity but also how we apply our activism for the causes of peace and the environment as well.

Still Relevant Today

A quick and important read/listen for all humanity / listened in a few days and will re-listen again