Coming soon, an exciting new documentary on Black liberation and womanist theology.
God of the Oppressed will explore stories of the radical Black Christian experience. From the rebellion story of Nat Turner to Bishop Henry McNeil Turner, who said, “God is a Negro” to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who questions America's commitment to equality and justice for Black people. We feature Rev. Traci Blackmon, who connects the Black activist religious tradition to Black youth movements, God of the Oppressed will tell stories of Black liberation and Womanist Theology. Stories, characters and gospel music will celebrate and frame a perspective of God within the context of an oppressed people.
This film is timely and necessary in the wake of movements like "Black Lives Matter" and continued injustice against Black people. Through this documentary, our goal is to explore liberation theology and its role in history and today's society.
Dr. James Cone, of Union Theological Seminary and author of the book, God of the Oppressed, is chief academic advisor for the film.
God of the Oppressed is an extension of Dante James’ work as the executive producer of THIS FAR BY FAITH, the final series from Blackside Films.
Risks & Challenges
Support from independent sources will free the film from the editorial and artistic constraints that come with resources external to our spiritual journey. This film is the story of the Black liberation Christianity told with our music, our characters from our point of view.
Other Ways You Can Help
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About The Producers
Dante James
Dante James has extensive experience producing, directing and writing award-winning films and delivering them on time and within budget. James won a National Emmy for his work as series producer of the critically acclaimed PBS documentary series, Slavery and the Making of America. He is also the recipient of two Washington, DC region Emmy awards. His documentary, Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris Jazz Story screened at film festivals in Paris and Biarritz, France and was awarded best documentary at the 2010 Pan African International Film Festival in Cannes, France. He wrote, produced and directed the dramatic short film The Doll. Based on a short story by Charles W. Chesnutt, The Doll was named best dramatic short film at the Hollywood Black Film Festival. For Blackside Films in Boston, Massachusetts he executive produced the PBS series, This Far by Faith. His earlier work at Blackside was honored with the DuPont Columbia Silver Baton. He is currently producing an independent feature documentary entitled God of the Oppressed, on Black Liberation Theology and In Our Own Words, a series of short films based on short stories by African American writers.
Dante James has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Duke University. In 2008, he was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters by Grand Valley State University. During the summer of 2010 he served as guest lecturer at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He plans to return to Cape Town next year to make a film with a black South African resident of the Khayelitshia Township.
CARL W. KENNEY II
CARL W. KENNEY II is a columnist with the News & Observer and Co-Producer (with three-time Emmy Award winner Dante James) of God of the Oppressed, an upcoming documentary that explores black liberation theology. He is a former Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri – Columbia, School of Journalism, weekly Columnist at the Columbia Missourian and Freelance Columnist at The Washington Post and the Religious News Services. He is a former Adjunct Instructor at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies. He was named North Carolina’s top serious columnist by the North Carolina Press Association for his work with the News & Observer (2011) and received recognition for his work in the Columbia Missourian by the Missouri Press Association (2015). He served as Co-Pastor at Bethel Church (Columbia, Missouri), Pastor/Founder of Compassion Ministries (Durham, North Carolina), Senior Pastor of Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church (Durham, North Carolina) and Pastor of Sugar Grove Baptist Church (Columbia, Missouri) where he began serving when he was 23 years-old. He received his Bachelor’s in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1986), a Master of Divinity from Duke University (1993), was named a Fellow in Pastoral Leadership and Development of the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Princeton Theological Seminary (2005) and Honorary Doctor of Letters from the St. Thomas Christian College (2011). He has over 30 years of journalism experience in broadcast, print and public relations. He has also written commentary for Columbia Faith & Values, The Independent Weekly, The Durham Herald-Sun, Zion Herald, Tribes Magazine, The Greensboro News & Record, The Columbia Daily Tribune and Columbia Magazine. He is featured in Don Yeager’s It’s Not About the Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Case and the Lives it Shattered, Stuart Taylor & KC Johnson’s Until Proven Innocent, John Noltner’s A Peace of Mind: American Stories, Melissa Harris-Perry’s award-winning book Barbershops, Bibles & BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought, George Curry’s The Best of Emerge Magazine, Craig S. Keener’s books Women, Wives and Paul and Black Man’s Religion. He is the author of Preacha’ Man, Backslide and the soon to be released Twisted Footsteps and My Daddy’s Promise. His short story “Home is a cup of coffee” appears in 27 Views of Durham.
