America May Owe Reverend Wright a Debt of Gratitude
In 1962, in connection with the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the celebrated black writer, James Baldwin wrote a dedicatory letter to his nephew on how to survive and deal with living with white racism in America. It was published as an Essay in New York Magazine under the caption "The Fire Next Time". Baldwin wrote:
A vast amount of energy that goes into what we call the Negro problem is produced by the white man's profound desire not to be judged by those who are not white, not to be seen as he is, and at the same time a vast amount of the white anguish is rooted in the white man's equally profound need to be seen as he is, to be released from the tyranny of his mirror.
My esteemed brother Dr. Cornell West writes about Baldwin's "The Fire Next Time" saying that "(he) spoke the deep truth that democratic individuality demands that white Americans give up their deliberate ignorance and willful blindness about the weight of white supremacy in America. Only then can a genuine democratic community emerge in America."
Not since James Baldwin's famous quote from the Ralph Stanley Blues' Hymn, "God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water but the fire next time" has America been so consumed in a national discussion about race.
The reappearance of Reverend Jeremiah Wright in the national media with an interview by Bill Moyers, a weekend speech in Detroit at an NAACP conference of some 10,000 and his recent speech at the National Press Club opening a two day theology and Church meeting in Washington, DC, has reignited this discussion and its impact on the presidential campaign of Senator Obama.
To some, the "political" consequences of Rev. Wright's comments on Obama have been the principal, if not their exclusive, concern. Some persons, like Eric Deggans, in an article earlier today in the Huffington Post, said it would be the "the race-based bullet" coming from the "friendly fire" of Rev. Wright that could prevent Senator Obama from winning the Democratic nomination.
Aside from whether or not Democratic primary voters believe Senator Obama can effectively address their day-to-day concerns with high gas prices, rising foreclosures, absence of affordable health insurance and ending the war in Iraq, the underlying issue, uncomfortably presented by Rev. Wright, is the reality of race relations in America.
"Perhaps the most pervasive theme in our history is the domination of black America by white America. Race is the sharpest and deepest division in American life....
"Almost no genre of popular culture goes untouched by race."
"Black-white relations became the central issue in the Civil War...was the principal focus of Reconstruction after the Civil War; America's failure to allow African American equal rights led eventually to the struggle for civil rights a century later."(Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Lowen)
Race relations in American is the 800-pound gorilla in our national living room that most politicians have been unwilling or too afraid to acknowledge or discuss.
The media and political pundits reaction to the remarks of Rev. Wright is an unambiguous reminder that white America remains seriously afflicted with amnesia with respect to its treatment of African Americans throughout most of our history.
Rather than condemning Rev. Wright I commend him for refocusing the issue of race in America within a more relevant contemporary framework: A conference on the role of the Church in America, its organization, community work and its theology. The Church and its companion teaching of the gospel of Christianity was the centerpiece of leadership provided by Martin Luther King, Jr. It was Dr. King's abiding faith in the ultimate decency and fairness of most of white America that enabled him to build a successful coalition for the elimination of institutional segregation and the most egregious forms of white supremacy and racism in the United States.
It may be that America will look back at this election and conclude that we owe a great debt to Rev. Wright. However painful the rebirth and perfection of a new 21st-century America may seem now, ultimately he may be the unheralded, indeed unpopular, "hero" who enabled us to reembark on a new journey of recovery for social justice, initiated earlier by Dr. King, the greatest moral leader in our country in the 20th century.
The millions of white people who have voted for Senator Obama in the democratic primaries may be telling us something that we are unable to "hear" and understand. They just might be saying, in spite of all of the negative media and a political pundits, the time has come when they want to finally cross over the bridge to a new 21st century based on a color/race-irrelevant and multiracial society.
Clarence B. Jones is a former lawyer and draft speechwriter for Martin Luther King, Jr and author of What Would Martin Say?, published by Harper Collins. Currently he is a Scholar in Residence/Visiting Professor at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research & Education Institute at Stanford University.
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You have got to be kidding. I just listen to (admittedly) 20 mins or so of his 'outrageous' speech at the press club. This is no angry man. He is telling it as he sees it... as it is.
What the hell is wrong with your media? I thought he was threatening to bomb Iran or something.
Maybe the time for discussion about race is growing nigh, but now is not time. Why muddy the waters of an already significantly muddied democratic-campaign process? It's like pouring more salt into the wound. There's a time and a place for everything, and as far as I know, no one has asked Mr. Wright to lead any discussion for any part of the population on any particular subject.
This was the same argument James Baldwin and his contemporaries faced in the 1960s from William Faulkner and others, delysia: you must wait. If now is not a good time to discuss race in a primary race prominently featuring a person of color, then WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME, delysia? This nation has had 400 YEARS TO FIND TIME TO DISCUSS RACE, and for the vast majority of that time it has deferred (the 1860s and the 1960s being exceptions).
There is more than enough time now to TRULY discuss ALL of the challenges that this nation faces, like war, peace, the economy, education, health care, the environment, energy policy, housing, urban and rural policies, and the like. ADULTS CAN MULTITASK, delysia. But to relegate race and prejudice "to the back of the bus" is to ignore a poison that spills into many of the aforementioned areas.
No, let's put EVERYTHING on the table and discuss it thoroughly and thoughtfully. I believe that this nation is mature enough to do that.
"[White supporters of Obama] just might be saying, ... the time has come when they want to finally cross over the bridge to a new 21st century based on a color/race-irrelevant and multiracial society." Maybe.
But Rev. Wright -- evidently -- plans to blow up that bridge. Bridges frighten him.
This is a strange, contradictory article. As is Rev. Wright.
Being a white southerner, I cannot in conscience, haunted by my ancestors who had slaves, suffering purgatorially in their current haunts, wish anything but to see our country relieved of this burden of guilt, which we do have, at least sub-consciously.
Yes, alot of us older whites have amnesia for it all, and it is heartening to see the force of the white vote which has brought Obama to where he is - it's such a good sign for our country.
I can recall one of the black south's slogans: "If you're white, well alright! But, if you're black, get back!" Are we ready now to put that all behind us, or are we, as a people, going to say, "If you're a Clinton, you're a winnin' and if you're Barrack and black, well you'd just better get back." We have allowed this race to boil down to a thing of "race." Perhaps this is good, but only time will tell, when the last vote is counted.
I have stood at the graves of my ancestors, almost in the shadow of the still-standing slave quarters, wondering about it all.
Good morning America, how are ya? Have the visioin to now ask for God's hope, faith, and love for us all. Reverend Wright was correct in implying that God damns the past actions of alot of us white people in our relations with His black people. Are our pundits who are doing the spin on this saying otherwise?
What was done to innocent and helpless blacks by whites was horrific and I mourn too. It is hard to believe that this could have happened in this country, but it did and it was not so long ago.
As a pastor, he should seek peace and restoration and healing though - that is his responsibility as a representative of Christ. I do not think it is right to use the pulpit for spreading hate or for anything other than preaching the Gospel. Perhaps he should become an activist like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. He might be more effective for his race in that capacity.
I would be proud to share a sweet tea with you, Kirby.
Kirby...though I'm not an Obama supporter, as a Black southerner, I agree with MsLiz, I'd be proud to share a tea with you as well.
Wright has a $1.6 MILLION DOLLAR MANSION and two Mercedes-Benz.......Having that, would you really want things to change?
Sen. Obama clung to Rev. Wright at the start of the campaign so as to dispel doubts that he was a Christian. When Sen. Obama tried to distance himself for political reasons Rev. Wright was upset and felt that he had sold out to white America
No he did not! Find the quote! White people are not the only voters in America. Why do you think that? He only claimed that Obama was doing his job as a politician. What do politician's do? - they persuade and often pander for votes. That's a fact. If you don't do that you are not a politician. Some times you are elected. Some times you're not. You take that risk. That' is all that he said about Obama. Stop making things up.
this sounds like garbage from a black racist--racial attitudes have not been under cover--only the ultra left have not faced up to the reality of racial conflicts except to scold people for not being politically correct--those afraid to discuss black and white concerns are the most biased of the species-the white southerner who expresses their dislike of blacks and the urban black who speaks out about white dominance are at least honest to their own beliefs--right and wrong is only in the minds of those involved in racial experiences,black or white--getting them to discuss differences is the difficult task ahead of us---
Clarence Jones does not advocate that blacks are superior to whites. That's a black racist. How does his attitude toward whites effect your everyday life? Where was the right wing when we were fighting for our right to vote - or the desegregation of public facilities. They were fighting us tooth and nail. It was people from the left laying their lives on the line. PC is a term the right has appropriated from the left as a code that means "we are not interested in seeing those who are not like us acheive equality" They have taken a term originally used by the left for an overzealous activist and use it now as a club to beat anybody over the head who believes that women and minorites should be treated with respect. Your rant does so much to encourage a respectful discussion of racial differences. Not!
Are we done yet? Are we done with the much ballyhooed "dialogue on race". Because I am hoping that we are, so we can focus on getting Obama elected President of the United States of America. That seems to me like a more worthy goal.
I am profoundly grateful for this little bit of light of reason in an irrational issue. I am 62, white female and I feel Barack Obama betrayed Rev Jeremiah Wright. I think he should NOT have distanced himself from
someone so important to him, influential to him in an intelligent way, and a man worthy of respect.
I am also grateful to Bill Moyers for having the foresight and courage to allow Wright to speak for himself.
The panorama of ways in which race figures as a factor in the United States must be de-toxified.
Man makes plans, and God laughs......
Ann I have to disagree.
Moyers was fine. even the Naacp was ok. but three days of expressing himself and overshadowing Obama.. well, what is more important right now, getting Obama elected or Rev Wright's ego?
Obviously we know what Rev Wright thinks.
I agree with you. But think about how long Wright and the church had been under attack and he remained silent. Wright didn't make those aggregious sound bites? He didn't put them on You Tube. So yeah, I'd say he was clowniing at the press club. But Moyers sought him out (thankfully) and his invitation to the NAACP convention was extended well before this stuff started. A person can only take so much! Why should he be an exception. Obama was cornered by people who want to see Hillary win. I'm not implying that she is personally responsible in any way. Though she did jump in later with a lot of self-righteous blustering. Obama was cornered and had to make a choice. He chose the party - he chose his campaign - which is bigger than any one man. So he chose to take a stand.
Listen lizr, I lost all respect for the NAACP a few years back because of what occurred in Illinois.
The University of Illinois use to have a sports mascot named 'Chief Illiniwek'. The PC-folks and a Native-American group (by the way, Wright refers to as 'Indians) protested this mascot as insensitive. Anyway, the NAACP writes a letter to the university saying the same and that any Illini fan who cheers for the team while the mascot is still there is insensitive and a racist.........Well guess what lizr, while there pointing-fingers at all Illini fans it turns out Julian Bond, Chairman of the NAACP, is a long-time Washington REDSKINS fan and season-ticketholder...Talk about a bunch of hypocrites !
I agree, Annis. I can't imagine disowning the man who brought me to Christ. Or a special friend of 20 years. To me, that is the "easy way out". I hope Obama suffers for his behavior towards Reverend Wright, his spiritual advisor. I would have more respect for Obama if he had said "we disagree, but I love him, anyway". Obama stepped on many toes to get where he is and he might need his pastor in the future. After he loses the presidency, he'll need his shoulder to cry on. Obama has stated several times that Reverend Wright baptized his children, but he's never said "he baptized me." Was Obama baptized? If not, why not? If Reverend Wright brought him to Christ, why hasn't he been baptized?
In the Audacity of Hope, Obama wrote, "I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity United Church of Christ one day and be baptized."
http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/11/12/obama_has_never_been_a_muslim_1.php
Not that it matters. The Constitution forbids a religious test.
Look, can't we agree that this is a difficult situation, that some segment of the electorate will criticize Obama whatever he does, and allow him to work it out himself? People who are influential in our lives sometimes disappoint us later and fall away. That is life. The objective is to get our country back on a rational, honest, Constitutional basis, and that means winning the election.
If you'll notice, Obama tried to NOT disown reverend wright once already, in Philadelphia.
When he finally did, it was only after Wright ATTACKED him publicly.
That is not what a man of christ does.
It isn't what a friend does.
A friend doesn't get on TV and tell America that you're just "pandering". Let's say Obama is everything Wright was saying. Even still, what kind of friend gets on TV and says that kind of thing?
Rev> Wright wasn't behaving as a friend should. And Obama said, "Obviously, our relationshiop has changed" because Wright was ATTACKING HIM.
Wright left him no choice. And if you can't see that, you're biased.
If the msm and the two losers would stop bringing this race shit up you wouldnt hear about it.Do you really think he is enjoying all this race crap.Are you idiots going to let it go.Hell no!
Clarence B. Jones: "America May Owe Reverend Wright a Debt of Gratitude"
===
Oh yes...it WAS touching to hear Barack express that gratitude in today's press conference.
Listen: Rev. Wright is the best thing that happened to Hillary since New Hampshire.
Suggestion: You might want to stop drinking the black kool-aid. It's WAY past it's sell date.
Here we go again with the same tired crap. "Only racists don't vote for Obama."
Hey, Mr. Jones - Many of us have already crossed that multiracial bridge.
And furthermore, we managed to find the way to the bridge all by our poor, bitter, and unenlightened selves, without the amulet of Saint Obama to guide us across the great divide.
I'm happy to report that the view from both sides is just dandy. You should try taking the trip.
Oh yes, many of us are really impressed by the postracial society you seem to be envisioning.
In your fantasy that is.
It's the view from the back of the bus which isn't so good.
"It may be that America will look back at this election and conclude that we owe a great debt to Rev. Wright."
So sabotaging the presidential campaign of the first black candidate who has a real chance to be elected is something that we should owe a great debt to Reverend Wright for?
White people are willing to vote for a candidate WHO HAPPENS TO BE BLACK if they agree with his policies and consider him to be the most qualified. The reason for Obama's success is that he does not try to make whites feel uncomfortable about race and does not try to make them feel guilty about it.
This toxic reverend, as well as the author of this column, are following the old strategy of rubbing the race problem in white people's face and trying to make them guilty about it. The great majority of white people are not maschochists and will not stand for this. The reason that Reverend Wright has done such tremendous damage to Obama is that he is turning Obama from a candidate who happens to be black into a BLACK CANDIDATE with all the racial finger pointing and guilt provoking that goes with it. If that succeeds it will make Obama unelectable.
EXACTLY. Wright as major saboteur. Selfish, negative, the old politics of Division.
Obama is light years ahead of this garbage. Why do they keep trying to drag him down?
Yes, Obama is past this because he has seen both sides as a member. We can trust him. They can trust him. He is us.
Nonesense. This toxic reverend is deliberately working to sabotage Obama's campaign. And the way he is enjoying what he is doing shows that it is intentional, rather than the result of political ineptness. This may well be because Obama recognizes that the kind of rascist rhetoric of Reverend Wrong is out of date. That the country is ready to move beyond this toward a genuine policy of inclusion, making his message obsolete and irrelevant. If a half-black person can be elected President, then fewer blacks will be willing to listen to Reverend Wrong's fire breathing rhetoric, and he is not going to let this happen.
This is a very thoughtful, well-written, and proper piece. I have no quarrel whatsoever with this article. But I still think Obama has shown poor judgment with the associations he has had. Worse, I don't think he is at all truthful or forthcoming about the relationship he has had with Rev. Wright.
Obama's problem is that of pandering. Because of his effort to justify the reason he chose to be in Rev. Wright's church in a manner that would appease the mass, he is now faced with this tumultuous problem that is poised to topple his candidacy. I'm not an Obama supporter, and I do believe that he agrees with the fundamental issues of race that Rev. Wright speaks of. However, because of his efforts to pander, he has not effectively brought that message forward. He is not a bombastic man, nothing like Rev. Wright, but his failure to speak of race in a sensible and outright manner is a part of his problem. That idea that he was only a candidate who happens to be black was nonsensical and wrong. I've said it from the beginning, and I am saying it now--it's always about race and money.
Race and ethnic prejudice pervade throughout our society.
For instance, consider our concept of Jesus Christ and his mother Mary.
Paintings, statues and other images of the two predominately show them to be European Caucasians.
Written history tells us that Mary was probably short, plump, and of a dark complexion and that Jesus Christ probably was much the same and that they both had prominent "Arab" or "Jewish" looking noses.
I don't notice a rush by the masses to change the statues or paintings to reflect that probability.
Before the dingalings cry out, no I don't mean that all Jews and Arabs look exactly alike
Are people, any color, supporting Obama because of real change that
is promised, or because they just don't want Hillary to win? Rev . Wright
made a statement that whites could not know the black church history.
He is right. It's based in African culture, African tradition, and because of
white racism. Every culture has a right to pass on to the next generation
what it considers important. But it does point to the one thing that will
always divide blacks and whites. Culture differences.
Liberation Theology transcends color
I'm voting for Wright
You should read James Cone book Black Liberation Theology! His book is recommended readings for most black pastors in seminary today. Listen to Dr. Martin Luther King's sermons from 1965 to 1968? Dr. King was not popular from that time.
CLARENCE B. JONES....Excellent...you hit the nail on its proverbial head.
Culture differences only divide people if there are agitators and rabble rousers around that exploit them for their benefit.
Exchange of cutural features between people of different cultures that share the same area enriches both cultures and will occur if not prevented by demagogues.
This is very obvious in the area of popular music, for example. Most developments in U.S. popular music arise from the black community. Jazz is the result of the merging of white and black musical traditions. If it had not been for cross cultural effects Scott Joplin's music would never have been written.
By culture, I am not talking about the music. It has more to do
with how people were treated. Even now some neighborhoods
make blacks feel unwanted. How many inner city schools get the
same funding or the kids the same opportunities, that the white
magnet schools get?
My heritage is part European. part Cherokee. There is a cultural
difference between them.
You are wrong about Jazz? Jazz, Rock & Roll, the Blues was started in the cotton fields of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama. White musicians copied the style of music coming from ex-slaves in the south. Jazz is not the result of merging white & black music traditions Captain Video?
This post could only come from someone who just does not get what Obama is all about or what he means in terms of the promise he brings of a new kind of politics.
His pastor on the other hand suggests the old, tired poltics of racial division, and has some trouble letting go of his world view. He is selfish and egotistical and not mature enough in spite of his advanced age, to nurture the new life in front of him.
As Obama said, sad.
Well, either someone doesn't get what Obama is about, as you say, or they get it....but, they just don't believe him. I'm starting to fall into this latter category. I was a big supporter of Obama early on; to be honest, it was based on his race - as a black woman, I wanted to see a black man be president and he seemed like a good candidate. But, as I started to look beyond the color of his skin, there's really nothing special about him, and, in fact, he's just another politician. Nothing that Clinton has done has changed my mind, because I'm not a fan of hers either. It's all things that Obama himself has said or done. Sure, I'll still vote for him if he's the nominee, but I'd vote for Clinton if she's the nominee. As they say, I'd have to hold my nose when I vote for either of them.
As for his pastor and his old world view, don't be so sure about that. His view is shared by many (I repeat, MANY) African Americans, young and old, college educated and not. You go to any of the HBCU's and they are in full support of what Wright believes. Blacks Obama's age believe what Wright says. Black kids in high school believe Wright. Most of us are brought up believing these kinds of things. It's not just the older generation.
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