The Undeniable Virtue of Jeremiah Wright's Pro-Blackness (and the Problem with Pro-Whiteness)

Bill Moyers is broadcasting a siddown with Barack Obama's "controversial" pastor Jeremiah Wright this Friday evening, April 25th. By Saturday expect every utterance Pastor Wright makes to be as picked over as an episode of Lost at the San Diego Comicon.

Now, I'm not going to even try to defend everything that Pastor Wright has to say. At least not the four of five loopy sound bytes -- out of how many thousands of sermons he's given -- that have made him quite the YouTube sensation. But there is a particular aspect of the Wright mischaracterization I take exception with: the idea that his pro-black teachings make him some kind of radical separatist. Interviewing Pastor Wright in March of last year, for example, Fox's Sean Hannity had this to say about statements appearing on the website for Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ:

"It says, "Commitment to God." By the way, I'm with you, and I hope you'll pray for me, Reverend. Commitment to the black community, commitment to the black family, adherence to the black work ethic. It goes on, pledge, you know, acquired skills available to the black community, strengthening and supporting black institutions, pledging allegiance to all black leadership who have embraced the black value system, personal commitment to the embracement of the black value system. Now, Reverend, if every time we said black, if there was a church and those words were white, wouldn't we call that church racist?"

In answer to the question: yeah, probably. But that's 'cause there's a difference between being pro-black and pro-white and the difference is a bad one.

Adherence to pro-black values isn't code for "kill whitey." It's merely how blacks have managed to stay alive and viable in America all these many years since we were first graciously given a ride across the middle passage to get dropped off in Virginia.

"A commitment to the black community" is what got us collectively through slavery, through an abandoned reconstruction and the ensuing era of Jim Crow. As I'm sure some will recall, because of a pesky little thing called segregation there was nothing for the black community to rely on but the black community.

Ironically, the community values and focus on the family Wright preaches of are exactly the kind of "don't bother us, do it yourself"-isms conservatives are always hectoring people of color to observe. How convenient for the pundits they can both wish us off the perceived teat, then get riled by those who encourage us to be self-reliant.

To the contrary of pro-blackness, it's pro-whiteness which has unfortunately produced some awful to horrible results: white sheets and nooses and burning cross and Citizens Councils and red lining and guys nicknamed Brownie doing a "heck of a job."

That's not say there's anything wrong with being comfortable in white skin. If that's what God gave you, sure, be happy with it. However, the whole concept of having to be pro-white is redundant. It's not as if, in the normal course of events, white folks as a race really need that much encouragement. Do teachers really have to explain to white kids that in a more fair America they could perhaps grow up to be president?

So, yeah; based on its suspect history, if one were to preach the doctrine of pro-whiteness there could be due cause for concern.

Pro-blackness, on the other hand -- analogous to the Protestant work ethic -- is one of the most positive American values we have.

Comments

[captnEarl]

I am a retired white businessman and I'm here to say I've heard NOTHING from Rev. Wright that I can disagree with. I firmly believe that he is an honest man whom I would be honored to have as my pastor and FRIEND,I have even greater respect for senator Obama for standing tall in regards to the so call Wright issue. I have listened to the sound bite sermons in there enterity and fully agree with him!!!

HELL YES WE CAN

[Insideout143]

You know, I'm not religious, I'm agnostic. I don't read the bible. I don't go to any church. But, I do have a kind heart, I do believe that all of humankind should be treated fairly, and I do believe in redemption and forgiveness. Jeremiah Wright was right on point. It is time for all of humankind to have compassion for others, to take care of the weak, the poor, the hungry. It is time for us to lift each other up, instead of tearing each other down. It is time for us to realize that different is not deficient.
That is why Barack Obama will be the best candidate for president. He GETS IT. His is for ALL of us, not just the rich or the poor or the black or the white or the man or the woman or the Muslim or the Christian, he is for ALL of us. And to boot, he has some terrific policy plans, and will allow all of us to participate to get the best from our government, for the best of ALL of us.

[azyuwish]

Insideout143,

I'm with you. Non religious but am compassionate and care about others. Don't mind paying taxes to help things progress for people, but I DO mind paying for a war that only benefits certain sectors of our society who NEED NO HELP. Oil companies and corporations need no helping hand up.

Your post was uplifting to read, after a very stressful day. Thank you.

[Insideout143]

I'm glad I could help you through your day! Thanks for the kudos.

[silvertongue]

Great article. I'm from Rev. Wight's generation and I get him. I'm sure we sufffered a lot of the same indignities solely because of the color of our skin. I'm certain Barack understands Rev. Wright's feelings, but like me, wishes he had not said some of the things he said . Again let me say I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND where he's coming from. But like Barack, I think for myself and dwell on the positive.

For those who don't understand Michelle Obama's 'proud' comment , read this excerpt from a letter written to a newspaper by an elderly woman .

In 1934 when my dad drove us to Texas and stopped to purchase gasoline, his daughters
and wife were not allowed to use the washroom. As a man it was easier for him to
relieve himself in the bushes, but not for the females. We were, however, reduced to having to go
in the bushes also. Do you think I am PROUD OF THAT?
My cousin's barbershop was bombed in Mississippi in the 50's
because he was encouraging Black people to register to vote.
s that something I should be PROUD OF?
Like Michelle Obama, after living in this country all of my 78
years, and loving my country , I now for the first time in my adult life feel PROUD
OF MY COUNTRY because I sense a maturing, a recognition of talent and
character and not color.

[JoInCalifornia]

That is a sad and haunting letter. But many Americans will not recognize Mrs. Obama's life experience with that of this thoughtful elderly woman. Michelle Obama attended one of the finest universities in the world and has a wonderful job that most of us can only dream of. Her husband has been in the United States Senate for two years. That makes him one of the most powerful men in America. These are the reasons that so many Americans are distressed by her comment.

[azyuwish]

You were actually were distressed by her comment? Seriously. Wow, you don't get out much.

I'm white and for a long time, I haven't been proud of my country MANY a time. Viet Nam war. Segregation. Jim Crow laws. I too, am now beginning to be proud of my country for the progress we are making on race relations, gay rights, rights for the disabled etc.

I thinking any critical thinker could come up with several periods in our recent history, where we've felt ashamed of things "Americans" do.

Torture at Guantanamo is right up here in the Hall of Shame too.

[JoInCalifornia]

I just watched the CNN coverage of Wright's address.

I will restate what I said before. I think Reverend Wright should take a long vacation and not re-surface until after the election in November.

He owes at least that to Senator Obama.

And ethnic based groups are about the last thing America needs right now.

Isn't one of the principal ideas of Senator Obama's candidacy that he is the post racial candidate?

[ScooterLiddy]

The key to your comment is that you watched the "CNN coverage". You need to watch the actual interview which is available on the PBS web site before you make your judgement. Rev Wright is an exceedingly articulate and reasonable man and this comes across clearly in the Moyer's interview.

[mlambert890]

No, JoInCA nailed it. I think you missed the point.

The fact is that the MSM will *use* his interview with Moyers. Almost no one is going to sit and watch that whole thing (sorry, thats reality)

Almost EVERYONE will see what the MSM does with it though. JoInCA's point is that right now, all Wright can do is more damage to Barack and, the way I see it, it seems to be in service of his own ego. By all accounts he has a pretty nice thing going there for himself. He can easily just lay low and allow this to blow over. What he did with Moyers is provide a bunch of more soundbite ammo to be taken out of context and use against Barack and THAT is pretty fucked up.

[TNT2008]

Though my desire to view Rev. Wright's speech to the NAACP began with threads of skeptcism in no time at all I was captivated by what he was saying, his examples, his reasoning, his truth, his ability to bring all Americans together and his sincerity. I could not turn off the TV even if I had wanted to; that's how interesting, captivating and educating I found this man.

All doubters of Rev. Wright would do themselves a favor if they were to go online and listen to the speech which CNN covered in it's entirity. Don't be afraid......don't let some make you believe that by looping one small bite of a sermon (which is the very reason CNN chose to air it in it's entirety) that this man is either evil or unpatriotic. You will be amazed.

Yes I am white, yes I am a liberal, yes I am over fifty years old AND yes, I was wrong about this gentleman!

He was wonderful!

[azyuwish]

My local radio station, KPFA Berkeley, played one of his sermons in it's entirety and I have to tell you, I too was surprised and pleasantly so to discover this fellow really had a lot of great things to say. It was a rousing, positive sermon about "confusing God with government" and how many people expect government to do things for them (bring Peace through war etc.) that (if you're a Xtian) you actually need God to do.

He was intelligent, powerful and interesting.

[Balzac]

This is a rare case of John Ridley writing something which makes sense. Yeah, it's true. Ethnic solidarity movements among non-white ethnic groups tends to be a lot less scary than those of white groups.

The problem is the tendency of ethnic solidarity movements to take on the doctrine and rhetoric of ethnic superiority movements. Ethnic solidarity does not have to be about ethnic supremecy. Sometimes, it's only about survival.

Jeremiah's most scary beliefs are his Christian religious convictions, not his ethnic solidarity tendencies. I'm not at all threatened by Jeremiah Wright and I'm white. John Ridley is right that Jeremiah Wright is not a scary guy.

[realpolitic]

Yes, I agree that here Ridley has finally made sense. So often he is in right-wing loony land.

[uheardme]

Hillary will be weeping over the NAACP meeting tomorrow. Dr. Wright tore it up tonight, that brother can preach.

[uheardme]

Brother Wendell Anthony and Jeremiah Wright are preachin' ya'll. They're amazing.

[mcnote5150]

How about "Pro Human" ! Instead of us verses them. We are all us!

[realtalk]

You are completely right, but inorder to get to "pro human", there is also an acknowledgement that blacks have had to travel the road from having NO human rights in this country, to the reality they experience today. It was a journey, and it did not happen in two years, the journey took hundreds of years, and that has to recognized, if it is ever to be understood. While Blacks were always humans to themselves, it took years and years for the laws of this country to recognize them as humans. And just like women fought for their right to vote, blacks have had to fight that type of fight just to have their very existence recognized, and respected by the laws of our land.
So it is the journey, that has to be acknowledged, because it was that journey taken by blacks in this country, over years, and years, which resulted in them going from having NO human rights, to finally being expected to be treated as equals, and recognized as such, by the laws of this country.

[azyuwish]

Great points and I agree wholeheartedly. I'm white too btw.

[mlambert890]

Very well said... The folks of the youngest generations have to recognize that you don't just leave all of history behind

[mlambert890]

Excellent article. I feel it is really just basic common sense and I've never considered myself all THAT liberal, yet its amazing how many white Americans don't "get" this.

If nothing else, maybe this situation with Wright has opened the chance for important discussion on race that, apparently, still needed to happen (as surprising as that may be to some of us). It is supremely unfair that this may actually have negatively impacted Obama though.

[Puller58]

Pro-black does not mean kill whitey. Really? Care to wager on that? Among segments of the radical black movement, there are those who would like nothing better than to help some of God's light skinned children on to heaven. I've dealt with a multitude of blacks in my life, and I find the recurring theme of "Us versus them." Check out the reaction to OJ, Michael Vick and other prominent black celebs in legal trouble. Rabid defense and rage at the "Man." Jesse Jackson, Louis Farahhkan, Al Sharpton and other "activists" make their living on the frustration of the black community. Take Michelle Obama's remarks. And she and hubby are making serious coin. Rev.Wright may have some positive points, but I'll wager that within his belief system, blame whitey has a hallowed place.

[afram1]

As long as you (and millions of others) share that view, America is doomed.

As long as you continue to loathe and resent black people...you just don't trust ANY Black American.

Sad.

[Howler1970]

No, pro-black does not mean, "kill whitey." I imagine that you're white, yeah? So how could you possibly have any insight into a black persons point of view and paradigm through which they see the world? What you're saying is, you "think" pro-black means, "kill whitey?", correct? What you think to be true and what is actually true are two totally different matters. You are aware of this, aren't you? Here's a late development for you courtesy of Fox News. Reverend Wright is apparently a crime scene, a radioactive entity, or a biological hazard. Why do I say this? Because Fox News is using graphics at the bottom of their screen that surpasses the conscious mind and goes right to our conditioned subconscious. Fox News is using yellow and black graphics that convey danger to its' viewers, and the alert, "BREAKING NEWS" streaming beneath the Reverend while he speaks as the key note speaker at the NAACP. Compare this to the normal and usual graphics used by Fox News and to CNN's usual graphics on screen while covering the same story and you see the stark difference. Fox News is engaging in despicable and deliberate manipulation of its' viewers to advance a negative attitude about Reverend Wright and advance their conservative based agenda. But I'm sure this is just a coincidence. Watch the Bill Moyers interview with Rev. Wright with an open mind.

[realtalk]

PULLER58 --- If you want to say that pro-black means kill whitey, will you then say that pro-white means kill blackey? If NOT, then you can see how ludicrous YOUR statement is!!!

Nor can you say that blacks in this country are a violent people against whites, unless you have some proof of that. WHERE IS YOUR PROOF OF THAT?! The fact is we live in a very civil society, where the majority of people both blacks and white live in peace together, work together, go to school together, travel on the same buses, trains, and planes together, and even sit at the same table and share meals together. That is the FACT of the society we live in, and blacks likes this society JUST AS IT IS, as must as whites do.

[CivilDisobedient]

Only one person has answered this question, and it was a wrong answer.

What can Obama do to stop racism?? What can the government do? What can the individual do?

[afram1]

Obama doesn't "stop" racism, but his BECOMING president will present evidence that this nation has turned a corner when it comes to race.

Government can make racist and oppressive practices illegal. It is a start. You may not change a racist's heart, but you sure as hell can bring the full weight of the State down on him/her for engaging in racist practices.

(And truth be told, the law is not always fairly enforced, because of denial and the recalcitrant hearts of bigoted whites and their slavering sycophants with darker skins)

The individual can look in the mirror and make a conscious decision to educate themselves, to repent of their mistakes to their god/spiritual force/spiritual leader and make a CHOICE to live an anti-racist life.

[CivilDisobedient]

Obama doesn't "stop" racism, but his BECOMING president will present evidence that this nation has turned a corner when it comes to race. How so? Obama is half white??
Government has already made racism illegal. It is illegal in America to discriminate against anybody due to race, religion or nationality, It's been this way for 44 years now. Do people break the law?? Sure they do. But most people don't. I've worked side by side with African Americans for 30 years.
If racism could be gotten rid of, it would have happened a long time ago. You can't make people love and respect each other. It just doesn't work.

[Lagniappe]

"Only one person has answered this question, and it was a wrong answer."...This may be part of you conundrum,CD. There IS no one answer, There is no one size fits all approach to "racism".Racism is a individual reflection of our personal belief systems and experiences-irrespective of our skin color. No one or no thing can legislate our own soul,or the lack of one. I could only offer that much of the discord would be alleviated with the simplest of all admonishons-"Do unto others as ye would have done unto you." Pretty simple,huh?

[CivilDisobedient]

BINGO!!!!!! Now you get it!!! This has been my point all along. If you Obamians would stop attacking and actually comprehend what is being posted you would have come to this conclusion a while ago.

So why should Obama bring up racial issues that don't exist? Racism is not systemic in America. Not since 1964.

[FdeBear]

Read Robert Jensen. All any individual can do is first - over come your fear of talking about it. Second, recognize black leadership. So many of America's great minds are pidgeon hold because of their skin color. Recognize that the government answers to us. Every great movement began with the courage of one individual. Get past your comfort zone. Join minority organizations. They are not closed to people of other races and ethnicities. If you are unwilling to make genuine and honest contact with another - particularly those you perceive as different - then stay home.
Also be patient with yourself and others. Humans make mistakes. Be a problem solver. Stop running.

[brend]

I'm tired of the whole black white issue, there's racism on both sides, enough already, we already know Rev. Wright is a black racist, and that I'm a white racist. so lets find a new topic.

[FdeBear]

Then why are you on this thread? If you want to change topics, get off this thread. YOu have lot's of options. The fact is - you are comfortable being a racist. You don't know Rev Wright. But you are content to be unfair toward him and live on sound bites fed to you. If you want to know the truth - its out there. And it will blow the lies in your head away. What has he ever done to you? How do black people as a whole interfere with your right to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?So what if there are some prejudiced people on "both" sides as you say? Everybody doesn't think that way and you know it. You can be tired - that's legitimate. That won't make the issues go away.

[GreatFutureForAll]

The problem with your discussion, John, is that you've made things too simplistic.

There are no black or white people. That's what all Americans fail to realize.

There are African-Americans, Africans, Italians, Irish, German, Anglo-Saxon, Scottish, Greek, Chinese, French, Japanese, etc, etc., mixtures of all......

If you were to say to me that America should be pro African-American (or any of the other of the ETHNICITIES above...there are no races...well, actually just one...the human race), than I and everyone else should not have a single problem. In fact, they should celebrate along with you.

America's problem is that we get all caught up in words when trying to solve problems. We demean ourselves every single time we identify ourselves by our skin. It's plain old fashioned stupid.

The entire world comes from Africa. You are letting the sun and climate (which gave people different complexions based on where they lived) fool you into believing that big lie about "black and white" people; you think it is really true. Most scientists will tell you that this thinking is dead wrong.

I'm pro EVERY ethnic group. If I'm not, then I've doomed my country to failure.

[UnbiasView]

"There are no black or white people."

Actually there are black people and white people. The problem is individual views.

[GreatFutureForAll]

"Actually there are black people and white people. The problem is individual views."

Find me a scientist that agrees with you and I'll consider what you have to say.

Thus far, however, all of the scientific proof says that you and I can trace our ancestry back to southern Africa (originally).....thus no "black or white" people......Maybe brown and pink?

[aidawedo]

By your words, we are all Black Africans. You should embrace your blackness. Why do you reject the appellation? It is divisive to have a white persona which is a negative to your positive Black self.

We're all Black. Get used to it.

[Phil4and8]

Obamanation31: Thank you for that incredible link. So THAT's what Obama heard on that first Sunday at Trinity. Explains a lot ...