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.

Comments

[itsnotmyfault]

I respect your insights regarding Reverend Wright. The theoretical idea of a post racial America is certainly an ideal to strive toward, and progress has been made, but the facts on the ground clearly indicate that race continues to be an overwhelming issue. Obama does not share your beliefs. Obama, who has premised his campaign on not being too black, has thrown the Reverend under the bus and backed it over him in a final resolute gesture. "Obama: Wright's Statements "Offend Me, They Rightfully Offend All Americans.­..His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but they also give comfort to those that prey on hate..." So much for crossing "over the bridge to a new 21st century based on a color/race­-irrelevan­t and multiracial society."

Obama had already dissociated himself from the prominent voices of Black America by, for example, refusing to even participate in the State of the Black Union conferences in 2007 and 2008, fearful I suppose of the prospects of guilt by association or alienating white voters, Instead of dissecting the statements of Wright to reveal the just underlying substance, he simply wholesale rejects them and his Reverend of 20 years, for political expediency. It is clear to me that the only passion that drives him is his passion supporting his lofty ambitions.

[NoeR]

Obama had previously dissociated himself from Wright's statements but only to such an extent that would allow him to keep the vast majority of the Black voter base currently his. Exit polls from the next primaries will bear out the truth or folly of my statement.

[AlligatorShuz]

In North Carolina the black vote is very large? You know He is going to stomp Hillary & Bill Clinton?

[tedbear]

Maybe the biggest division in this country is economic. Not to discredit the racial injustices we see every day, racial injustices are not the issue of this Presidential election. I mention economics because we of all colors in this country SHARE the problems of buying food, gas, insurance, educations, etc. etc. The divide comes in with the wealth restricted to the few and scraps lessening daily for everyone else. This is an important problem which will not be solved by candidates like the Clintons or McCain. This is the reason I believe in Obama. His race has zero to do with it for me. We NEED help, we "the people" need help, and we had better put whatever issues interferring with our focus on survival on the back burner.

Rev. Wright is a non-issue, being made into an issue by the media and those opposing Obama for the nomination. Whatever Wright is, and personally I have nothing good to say about him, he needs to stop being the distraction. I don't know how this can be achieved, however, he is in the way of the majority of Americans who are painfully struggling and who will be more painfully struggling if we do not replace the politicians who have placed us in this position. Hillary and McCain are self-absorbed , self-serving people just like Wright. We Need Real Change and these three are not part of it.

Focus on the good and things will get better.

[lizr]

YES. the issue is class, and the hoarding of all the wealth, or redistribution if you like, in favor of the superrich, to the detriment of everyone else. Race is one factor operating, but capitalism run amok is the real problem here.

Blacks need to unite with everyone else who is getting screwed, and stop thinking about all the ways it is worse for them. And it needs to get better for all of us.

Which is what Obama is trying to do, why he is so dangerous to the status quo, and why they are throwing every distraction in the book at him to stop him, much as they stopped Dean a few years ago over a bogus,media -created lie.

Will we be distracted from the real change we need?

it is really our decision and in our hands. And we get the government we deserve!

[Belisarius]

I don't get it.

Obama said he was running as a uniter and I believe him. He appears to want to transcend the divisive things including race. Few things have been more divisive in our history than race and a lot of people, white and black, have taken advantage of that.

The Clintons want to take advantage of the divisiveness of race. They clearly want race to be a part of this election else why does Bill keep reminding us that Barrack is black? I can understand Bill's tactics because he's the opposition and after all, he is one of the "take no prisoners" Clinton gang. The Clinton's will take the racist vote or any other foul smelling vote as long as it's a vote and will get them back in the White House.

But what is Reverend Wright's objective? It certainly is not to help Obama. He either hates Obama, loves Clintons, or both. Or maybe he wants to be the next Jessee Jackson, a career that may not go far if the next President is a man that transcends race and divisiveness.

--cheers

[democratsaint]

obama has made race an issue and continues to make race an issue. he called bill clinton a racist for saying obama won sc because he was black. just like jessie jackson.sc is the ONLY state with a black majority.o­bama is winning 92% of the black vote,against republicans they get 88%hillary pulled 30-35% before obama called bill clinton a racist.

after wright first came out,obama changed it from being about wright to a race issue.it was not a race issue is was about what rev wright said and that obama evidently supported his views,everyother word out of obama mouth is about race. does hillary rant and rave about women?you think obama is going to win in nov on race issues?

[AlligatorShuz]

What you don't know Sean Hannity said a person from Hillary Clinton campaign gave him the tapes on Rev. Wright? So Bill & Hillary Clinton is behind all this Rev. Wright and race mess? Nobody is talking about Bill Clinton going to Rev. Wright church when he was running for president. Plus he invited Rev. Wright to the white house when he was having his impeachment ordeal.... So you can see Hillary & Bill Clinton used the black community when they needed them.....

[lizr]

Wright= motivated purely by ego and jealousy of O's success.

[Justtellthetruth]

Obama is the best candidate running. The smartest, the most articulate, the most in touch with the people of this nation as a whole. He had the good sense and judgment to condemn this war before it started and has spoken out against it ever since. He has the good sense to say that he would actively pursue Osama Bin Laden and Al qeada in Pakistan, which his two opponents seem somewhat confused about.

He seems to have actually READ the 9/11 commission report and the Iraq study group report, and would enact much of their best advice.

I don't really care WHO his pastor is!!!!!!! (although I actually like and respect the man myself)
Would you accept John "Bomb Bomb Bomb" McCain or Hillary "totally Oblitereate them" Clinton, over a person who is actually QUALIFIED to be president just because you may be confused about his pastor???????

P.S. if you have any doubts about Obama because of Wright, I encourage you to LISTEN to wrights entire sermons or his interviews at length. I think you will be pleasantly surprised, and angry at the media hack job.

[democratsaint]

he was against the war on what grounds?he had no briefings he was a nobody.eve­n his supporters who read the intel reports voted for the war..was he against the war because he was against wars?is that who we want as a leader?sorry wars are not good but they do have a place.we dont need a person who want even consider war as an option.
where is his judgment in san fran?in rev wright?that some pretty bad judgement.­sorry he lost that argument when he failed to condem wright.

[mlambert890]

Maybe he was against the war on the grounds that he understands history and Middle Eastern culture?

There are lots and lots of apolitical scholars who could have easily told you that Iraq is an artificial construct glued together post Ottoman empire and consisting of three groups that want to massacre each other kept in check ONLY by the presence of an iron fisted dictator (a dictator who, oddly enough, we traditionally supported against Iran).

Middle Eastern politics is not for rank amateurs. Anyone saavy could see that going into Iraq was the equivalent of smashing a hornets nest with a baseball bat, and yet smash away we did. History has now demonstrated what anyone with insight already knew - that this was an incredibly stupid and hugely damaging move.

[Justtellthetruth]

There was also a LOT of Good reporting on the war, which correctly questioned the veracity of all the key excuses to start it, much of it done by Knight Ridder news, and other organizations as well.

Please also realize that most of the rest of the world, including many of our allies, thought this was an ill considered idea and they also counseled us to go a different way.

Obama simply did not believe the hype, while Clinton, who had access to materials that would have dissuaded ANY credible person, chose not to view them, and supported the war, as she also supported the war in Lebanon (also an unmitaged disaster and mistake) and the runnup to the war with Iran (you know, the country she jsut threatened with total obliteration).

[mpflinn]

One month before we attacked Iraq I was in Afghanistan and NW Pakistan leading a humanitarian mission. We visited with many people from gov't, agencies, refugees, project organizers, security personnel. Often the conversation turned to Iraq and we were told that the consequences for Afghanistan would be loss of resources for securing the peace and increasing odds against success and serious infrastucture rebuilding and de-mining. And the U.S. would be viewed as an aggressor making the Afghanistan situation much more difficuIt. for our U.S.milita­ry and NATO forces. So now we see the truth of this as then Illinois Sen. Obama predicted. There are many ways to assess situations and I believe that in Obama we will have a President (former community organizer) who knows that the conversations with "people on the ground" are an important and critical complement to formal intelligence reports.

[mpflinn]

One month before we attacked Iraq I was in Afghanistan and NW Pakistan leading a humanitarian mission. We visited with many people from gov't, agencies, refugees, project organizers, security personnel. Often the conversation turned to Iraq and we were told that the consequences for Afghanistan would be loss of resources for securing the peace and increasing odds against success and serious infrastucture rebuilding and de-mining. And the U.S. would be viewed as an aggressor making the Afghanistan situation much more difficuIt. for our U.S.milita­ry and NATO forces. So now we see the truth of this as then Illinois Sen. Obama predicted. There are many ways to assess situations and I believe that in Obama we will have a President (former community organizer) who knows that the conversations with "people on the ground" are an important and critical complement to formal intelligence reports.

[lizr]

for those of us who were actually paying attention, many countries (such as FRANCE) told us to stay out of Iraq. That it would be a disaster, that Chalabi was lying to us. The UN commission for months and months said there were no WMD. Tens of millions of people worldwide including here in the US demonstrated in the streets against this war. And the doc that the senators got said there is not sufficient evidence.

Joe Wilson went to Niger and found out the lies the Admin was using to try and drag us into war, and wrote about it in the NYT. His wife was outed as a CIA undercover spy by Cheney to pay him back. She was working in the field of nuclear non proliferation, as in trying to keep WMD including nukes out of dangerous hands. The organization that CIA had painstakingly expensively built for her and the people who risked their lives to help her were all compromised and put into danger.

Is it starting to all come back now?

Where were you, under a rock?

[irvingbr]

AMEN!!!

[LangstonA]

I agree. Good Post.
But just one thing. People do not need to even listen to the ENTIRE Rev. Wright sermons from which the supposedly controversial comments were taken in order to be outraged by the media hack job. They can just download the video podcast of the Bill Moyers interview with Wright this week ( the video podcast dowload is free. You can get it on Itunes) and watch just the sermon EXCERPTS. The excerpts are three to five minutes long and provide a context that will show what a complete corporate-­owned-medi­a-made-up "controversy" this entire thing is.
I am SOOO going to leave the top row blank on my absentee ballot if Hillary wins the nomination. I've voted Democrats about which I was not particularly enthused but I will not vote for one whose actions during the campaign I find contemptable.

[MickeyG]

Contemptable indeed!!! If HILL-ROD (she wants to be called) is the Democratic candidate, I was thinking of taking a clothespin into the voting booth to vote for her, but not anymore. I won't be able to do it even that way.
I do hope that there are some intelligent North Carolians reading these posts who see through this media frenzy and vote for Obama, as well as people from Indiana who are still allowed to vote.

[lizr]

I'm writing in Obama.

[Oldgypsy]

Obama, like anyone, doesn't HAVE TO agree with every detail of Wright's belief-system. However I can see many points of Wright's that Obama may agree with to varying degrees. Wright is "showy", glib ascertive. Ok, so that rubs some folks the wrong way. But he is also very intellegent, deeply reflective, and devoutly believes in the empowerment of unity! The Only thing wrong with that is that it scares the hell out of Washington and big business. As long as we allow them to spoon-feed us 'news" and channel our collective "mindset", we can be predicted.­..anticipa­ted...mana­ged. There is nothing scarier to the "establishment" than a population of thinkers..­..of "self-determiners". Obama wants to challenge the "system" by uniting "us"for change. When we become a population of FOCUSED, alert and active THINKERS, we catch them legislating the crap that undermines our security, economy and soveriegnty. "Re-active" thought is what happens AFTER the punch connects! Activism is when we catch them BEFORE the sign treaties that rob us!

[DazedandConfused]

I just don't quite understand what we expect from presidential candidates? Do we really expect candidates to have NO associations with people who have views different from themselves? I personally think that's scary. (I guess that's why I have problems with Republicans. I think they all belong to the same square hair-do, white shirt Republican fraternity. ) I think Reverend Wright has views that are very influenced by his upbringing / experience in America. They're valid views.
When Obama gave his race speech, I knew exactly what he was talking about. I grew up in the South. I remember when my elderly piano teacher asked me whether we had "colored" people in my high school. She asked this in the late 1970's. I'm sure the question was a bit racist, but it's the way she was raised. She passed away, but I still think of her as a incredibly kind and loving person.
We really need to get beyond this Wright thing. Wright is entitled to his views. He's not a surrogate for Obama.
Maybe Obama will be forced to "disown" Wright because it will be the politically expedient thing to do. But I personally hope that he doesn't do this. To me, Obama is showing us the strength of his own personal character by allowing Wright to express his own views.

[democratsaint]

he called most samerican racists..t­he TYPICAL white. he called his grandmother who raised him a racists,but prises wright.you cant choose your relatives,but you can choose your pastor.no you dont have to agree with what he says.but he is a politician,staying in a church with hate for america spewing out and running for president of that country dont go together. he should have left ,but he choose not to.

[whatsmyname]

democratsa­int....I don't believe you actually quoted Hillary, (I'm dubya w.a bra) Clinton...­. If you can't make an argument using your own brain or without interjecting the words of the very person that put Rev Wright, on the trail of Obama (that was her and Billy boy, doing their backdoor, Go After That Boy, Reverend, you owe us..... My god, you really are gullible..­..........­..

[hopeless277]

Yes, hopefully he can put another nutcase warmonger in the WH so we can all grow to appreicate war again. Good goin' Jerry, and Billary sends their best. Oh, and they say the check is in the mail.

[gevan]

Personally, I think that the Rev. Wright controversy has less to do with race than the fact that the religion biz is populated by all kinds of zanies.

[lewes17266]

I agree with this comment. I just wish the Obamas had separated themselves from this "zany" much sooner.

Religion is not a business. Any "reverend" who turns it into business is counterfeit. The pulpit should never be used for acrimony and gossip. There are many "zanies" in the religion business, and I cannot understand why any congregation would allow it to continue.

The 700 Club comes to mind, or The Pat Robertson Pay-for-Pray Show where gossip and lies have a home. This zany "reverend" has been getting away with turning religion into business for years and now his adulterer son is in place to continue the family "business.­"

[KELLI2L]

I'm thinking that only Obama and his poor choice of friends and pastors and business associations can make him loose the nomination. He chose long ago to accept the pastors behavior - in exchange for popularity. You could say he sold his soul and now he may be paying for those poor choices. We have to strongly consider nominating a person like Obama who doesn't have the common sense to make better choices.

[democratsaint]

on one hand people praise his judgement about being against the war. then when it comes to his associates his judgement is not important. obama has no record to run on.all we have are his personal decsions to base our opinions on him about.whic­h is why wright is such a big issue,it defines obama.

[MaureenSharkey]

I don't agree with '...Americ­a is afflicted with amnesia...­' about the hardships of black people in our history.

Rev Wright said at the press conf. yesterday, that if God wants Obama to win the election--he will win the election---that it has nothing to do with him (Wright).

Well, if that's true---was it God's will that we had Black slaves in this country?

I feel deeply for Blacks and I want them all to have a good life, and always have wanted that. That is what the strong voter turn out for Obama has been saying---that white people want racial equality.

[dplfdr]

Thank you for this thoughtful reflection on how deep and present the issue of racism and white privilege is . Could we ignore it we would just like we have been asked to ignore homophobia, sexism and all the other forms of bigotry that divide us. Yes, I would like to believe that we can elect a candidate on the proven evidence of leadership abilities and a record of bringing people together, whether he is a person of color or a woman or a white man. However, we are misguided by a media and a set of politicians that obscure issues and abilities and continually harp on our fears.

[alireiner]

Obama is showing democrats like me that he is another John Carey, He takes hits from both clinton and the crazy minister. PBS interview was well thought out, then the NAACP speech and HE'S just a politician statement followed by the performance at the press club where he talking about playing the nines. At least HILLARY Is playing hard to try and steal a nomination WRIGHT IS PLAYING HARD TO sell BOOKS

[Retrofuturistic]

Obama made a mistake when he cozied up to religion. I don't think he buys all that stuff; however, I think he thought he needed it for political reasons. Now it's biting him in the behind.

[prattvictory]

I was having drinks with some friends a neighbor joined us and the first thing he asked my Black friend was what he thought of the OJ trial. This was only two weeks ago. The OJ trial was almost 15 years ago. Does every African-American have to answer for OJ even today?

[KELLI2L]

If you follow the news - you might wonder if he was talking about the NEW O.J. trial.

[bruce9432]

Wright is a bigot, hater and racist. He will make it impossible for O to win

[prattvictory]

Bigot, hater, racist because he went to church? The greater indictment of these charges was that he attended the AIPAC Convention and didn't condemn Israel's actions.

[Nezua]

Next to you and your open mind and loving heart, Wright is clearly a demon.