The movement began in South America, but has been embraced in many other areas of the world, including the United States, where its tenets are most prominently exhibited in the Black Liberation Theology movement, started by James Hal Cone.

The Catholic church was well established in the area, having been one of the institutions brought over from Europe when the countries were colonized. Missionaries working with the poor espoused the idea that the church needed to be an agent of change, and that the message of Christianity included a message of social justice.

Jesus's statement in the Bible that "I come not to bring peace, but to bring a sword" is used as a basis for their belief that the church has a role to play in class struggles.

Wright is a proponent of Black Liberation theology, and the issue of Wright's influence on Obama became an issue in the campaign. Wright was Barack Obama's preacher for 20 years, a fact that caused Obama increasing distress in his fight for the democratic presidential nomination.