--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To sing about freedom and to pray for its…" description: "\"To sing about freedom and to pray for its coming is not enough. Freedom must be actualized in history by oppressed peoples who accept the intellectual ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/james-h-cone-27875_acceptance_to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-it_3025899.jpg" --- # To sing about freedom and to pray for its coming is not… ![“To sing about freedom and to pray for its coming is not enough. Freedom must be actualized in history by oppressed peoples who accept the intellectual challenge to analyze the world for the purpose of changing it.” quote by James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/james-h-cone-27875_acceptance_to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-it_3025899.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/james-h-cone-27875_acceptance_to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-it_3025899.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/james-h-cone-27875_acceptance_to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-it_3025899.jpg) > “To sing about freedom and to pray for its coming is not enough. Freedom must be actualized in history by oppressed peoples who accept the intellectual challenge to analyze the world for the purpose of changing it.” [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom requires active struggle and intellectual effort by the oppressed, not just hope or prayer **In simple terms:** Freedom must be fought for, not just wished for Key Takeaway Engage in critical analysis and collective action Themes justice activism intellectual challenge Mood determined urgent Type political motivational When to use this quote - protest movements - community organizing - education reform Key Concepts critical theory social change Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can oppressed groups take today? - How can hope be balanced with action? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook practical obstacles ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [White Americans must be made to understand the basic motives underlying Negro demonstrations. Many pent-up resentments and latent frustrations are boiling inside the Negro,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/white-americans-must-be-made-to-understand-the-basic-motives/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“The oppressed peoples of the earth are not objects for the exquisite turmoil of European consciences. They are subjects from which to learn how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-badiou/the-oppressed-peoples-of-the-earth-are-not-objects-for-the-exquisite/) [Alain Badiou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-badiou/) > [“The story of the many oppressed peoples of the world is rarely recorded by the few who oppress. We are taught that the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahr-jamail/the-story-of-the-many-oppressed-peoples-of-the-world-is-rarely/) Dahr Jamail > [The Constitution was never meant to prevent people from praying, it's declared purpose was to protect their freedom to pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-constitution-was-never-meant-to-prevent-people-from-praying-it-s/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The history of an oppressed people is hidden in the lies and the agreed myth of its conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meridel-le-sueur/the-history-of-an-oppressed-people-is-hidden-in-the-lies-and-the/) [Meridel Le Sueur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meridel-le-sueur/) > [We have the freedom to pray and the freedom to love the God of our heart. And we have been forgiven by the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/we-have-the-freedom-to-pray-and-the-freedom-to-love-the-god-of-our/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Caged birds sing of freedom, free birds fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorolf-rafto/caged-birds-sing-of-freedom-free-birds-fly/) Thorolf Rafto > [Since Moses was in Egypt land, Gods people have been struggling for justice while singing freedom songs. Theology can be clarifying. A good sermon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-wilson-hartgrove/since-moses-was-in-egypt-land-gods-people-have-been-struggling-for/) [Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-wilson-hartgrove/) > [To the sky, I rise / Spread my wings, and fly / I leave the past behind / And say goodbye to the scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/to-the-sky-i-rise-spread-my-wings-and-fly-i-leave-the-past-behind-and/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) > [“Oppressed peoples are always being asked to stretch a little more, to bridge the gap between blindness and humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/oppressed-peoples-are-always-being-asked-to-stretch-a-little-more-to/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [The oppressed peoples can liberate themselves only through struggle. This is a simple and clear truth confirmed by history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-il-sung/the-oppressed-peoples-can-liberate-themselves-only-through-struggle/) [Kim Il-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-il-sung/) > [For the oppressed peoples and classes, for the peoples and workers who have taken control of their destiny, Marxism is a shining path, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samora-machel/for-the-oppressed-peoples-and-classes-for-the-peoples-and-workers-who/) [Samora Machel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samora-machel/) > [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by James H. Cone > [“The conspicuous absence of the lynching tree in American theological discourse and preaching is profoundly revealing, especially since the crucifixion was clearly a first-century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/the-conspicuous-absence-of-the-lynching-tree-in-american-theological/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [If we save the planet and have a society of inequality, we wouldn't have saved much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/if-we-save-the-planet-and-have-a-society-of-inequality-we-wouldn-t/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [The truth about injustice always sounds outrageous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/the-truth-about-injustice-always-sounds-outrageous/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [Anger and humour are like the left and right arm. They complement each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/anger-and-humour-are-like-the-left-and-right-arm-they-complement-each/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [Black racism is a myth created by whites to ease their guilt feelings. As long as whites can be assured that blacks are racists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/black-racism-is-a-myth-created-by-whites-to-ease-their-guilt-feelings/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [Any theology that is indifferent to the theme of liberation is not Christian theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/any-theology-that-is-indifferent-to-the-theme-of-liberation-is-not/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [“But there is no perfect guide for discerning God's movement in the world, Contrary to what many conservatives say, the Bible is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/but-there-is-no-perfect-guide-for-discerning-god-s-movement-in-the/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [To be Christian is to be one of those whom God has chosen. God has chosen black people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/to-be-christian-is-to-be-one-of-those-whom-god-has-chosen-god-has/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [Black churches are very powerful forces in the African American community and always have been. Because religion has been that one place where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/black-churches-are-very-powerful-forces-in-the-african-american/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [In the act of worship itself, the experience of liberation becomes a constituent of the community's being . . . It is the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/in-the-act-of-worship-itself-the-experience-of-liberation-becomes-a/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [The coming of Christ means a denial of what we thought we were. It means destroying the white devil in us. Reconciliation to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/the-coming-of-christ-means-a-denial-of-what-we-thought-we-were-it/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [Patrick Cheng's Radical Love is not only an excellent introduction to LGBT theology but an important contribution to the discipline of theology and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/patrick-cheng-s-radical-love-is-not-only-an-excellent-introduction-to/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [One can lynch a person without a rope or tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/one-can-lynch-a-person-without-a-rope-or-tree/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [“The gospel of Jesus is not a rational concept to be explained in a theory of salvation, but a story about God’s presence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/the-gospel-of-jesus-is-not-a-rational-concept-to-be-explained-in-a/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [While the rich reap most of the benefits of technological development, the poor bear an unequal burden of dealing with the consequences of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/while-the-rich-reap-most-of-the-benefits-of-technological-development/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) [Explore all 20 James H. Cone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To sing about freedom and to pray for its coming is not enough. Freedom must be actualized in history by oppressed peoples who accept the intellectual challenge to analyze the world for the purpose of changing it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James H. Cone" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-its-coming-is-not-enough/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-its-coming-is-not-enough/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/james-h-cone-27875_acceptance_to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-it_3025899.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/james-h-cone-27875_acceptance_to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-it_3025899.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/james-h-cone-27875_acceptance_to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-it_3025899.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To sing about freedom and to pray for its coming is not enough. Freedom must be actualized in history by…” — James H. Cone", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James H. Cone", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To sing about freedom and to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-its-coming-is-not-enough/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/to-sing-about-freedom-and-to-pray-for-its-coming-is-not-enough/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```