Frederick L. Ware provides a classification and criticism of methodological perspectives in the academic study, interpretation, and construction of black theology in the U.S. from 1969 to the present, and establishes and recognizes three different schools of academic black theology: The Black Hermeneutical School The Black Philosophical School The Human Sciences School Similarities and differences are delineated in the identification of each school's representative thinkers and their views on the tasks, content, sources, norm, method, and goals of black theology. ""Frederick Ware provides a much-needed, detailed, and insightful analysis of black theology--digging beneath popular rhetoric to expose its complexities and inner workings. Methodologies of Black Theology brings into focus what it means to do black theology and challenges depictions that falsely limit its reach and modalities. Anyone interested in learning about the various methodological frameworks, and concerns present in the enterprise known as black theology--its past, present, and future unfoldings--should read this book. I highly recommend it."" --Anthony B. Pinn, Macalester College, author of Terror and Triumph: The Nature of Black Religion Frederick L. Ware (PhD Vanderbilt University) is Assistant Professor of Theology at Howard University School of Divinity.