[FRESH AIR
The Rev. James H. Cone is the founder of black liberation theology. In an interview with Terry Gross, Cone explains the movement, which has roots in 1960s civil-rights activism and draws inspiration
from both the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X — and he comments on controversial remarks made by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama’s former minister and a black liberation theology proponent. In a now-famous 2003 sermon, Wright charged that an ingrained, abiding racism in American society is at fault for many of the troubles African-Americans face, and he thundered, “No, no, no, not God bless America! God damn America — that’s in the Bible — for killing innocent people.” Cone explains that at the core of black liberation theology is an effort to make the gospel relevant to the life and struggles of American blacks. Cone’s books include Black Theology and Black Power, God of the Oppressed, and Risks of Faith. He serves as the Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York.
RADIO TIMES
Hour 1
BOBBY GHOSH just returned from a two-week trip to Iraq. Guest host, Dave Davies talks with Ghosh about what life is like in Baghdad and the challenges of reporting on the war. Ghosh was Baghdad Bureau chief for Time magazine from the beginning of the war in 2003 until six months ago when he became World Editor of the magazine.
Hour 2
Progress update on Philadelphia’s crime emergency. We’ll talk with the City’s new Police commissioner CHARLES RAMSEY about his plan targeting high crime neighborhoods for additional police patrols. Prior to taking the job in Philadelphia in 2007, Ramsey served on an independent commission for Congress that assessed the readiness of Iraq’s military and police forces. Ramsey served as the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia from 1998-2006.
THE WORLD CAFE
Former singer, guitarist, and songwriter of internationally acclaimed group, the Jayhawks, Gary Louris launches his solo career with Vagabonds. He recorded much of the album live, with background vocals contributed by Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles, Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis, and the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson, who also produced the album. Louris says the most interesting of his songs are not born from specific ideas, and the proof lies in this collection; based on an almost spiritual search for meaning, these songs can be at once brooding and inspirational.
THE DOORS: Waiting For The Sun