Final answer:
Black Liberation Theology, drawing influence from the Black Power movement, rejected the systemic racism upheld by traditional white Christianity and sought racial justice by reinterpreting Christian concepts to align with Black experiences of struggle and liberation.
Step-by-step explanation:
James Cone's work in Black Liberation Theology was profoundly influenced by the Black Power movement. It incorporated a rejection of white Christianity by challenging the ways in which the traditional Christian church upheld systemic racism and focusing on the oppression faced by Black people. Conversely, it also embraced Christianity by seeking to reclaim it in a way that resonated with the Black experience and promoted racial justice. Black Liberation Theology emerged as a transformative force, seeking to address social injustices and provide a theological framework that was inextricably linked to the struggles of Black Americans for liberation.
Albert Cleage Jr.'s advocacy for the political expression of his theological beliefs also exemplified this influence, as he aimed for a Black Nationalist approach which integrated religious conviction with political strategy to combat social ills. Cleage worked to keep his church autonomous and prevent it from being co-opted by corporate interests, a resistance shared by others in the Black religious community who saw faith as deeply political. Finally, the idea that 'Black is Beautiful' emerged from the Black Power era, changing historic negative connotations associated with blackness and instilling pride in African ancestry and culture.