Michelle Obama Rallies and Reassures Influential North Carolina Baptists

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- While her husband rallied more than 10,000 people sixty miles away in Raleigh, Michelle Obama swooped into Fayetteville on Wednesday to address the General Baptist State Convention. It was an invitation-only affair, with only about 500 people in attendance -- a seemingly modest event given that the Obama campaign is battling to maintain its minuscule lead in North Carolina.

But this was not an ordinary crowd, nor an ordinary message. Michelle Obama was speaking literally to the choir: pastors and congregation leaders in Baptist parishes across the state. If Obama is to win, the campaign is depending on this crowd--and others--to carry the message that Barack is "for real" and the Obamas are true to their Christian, black, and American heritages.

From the beginning, the event felt more like a religious service than a political rally. Mercedes, Lexuses, and white church vans backed up traffic on a two-lane road while we waited for the parking lot to open. When the crowd finally poured out of their cars, it looked like the Harlem Renaissance come to life: African-American men and women in their fifties, sixties, seventies, and eighties, most of them dressed in their Sunday best.

There were hats, of course--feathered, sequined, tiered, brimmed, bowed, bedecked, and bedazzled. There were also gloves (white on the men opening the door; black on the women raising their hand in blessing), heels, colored stockings, metallic ties, pin-striped suits, wingtip shoes, and one rabbit fur shrug. The crowd moved slowly into the auditorium, took their seats, and after one affirmation that there were people here who loved Jesus Christ, proceeded to wait more than two hours for the woman they hope will be First Lady.

To pass the time, audience members stood up and spontaneously led the crowd in chants and song. "Give me an M," said a disembodied female voice from the front. The audience gave it to her, and the dozen letters after to spell "Michelle Obama."

Another man and woman had a sing-off to a hymn I didn't know. A contralto from the bleachers began "We Shall Overcome." The tone in the auditorium turned temporarily sober--it was astonishing to think that for an audience who had lived through the Civil Rights era, overcoming seemed now within reach.

When Michelle Obama finally took the stage, she reflected the prayerful mood of the room--pulled between faith and doubt, but leaning toward faith. "God is good!" she began, and the audience clapped vigorously.

Michelle Obama's stump speech of the last few weeks has focused on her husband's biography and assuring audiences that they can trust him. For the Baptist Convention, she embroidered it with more references to God and Christianity than I'd heard before. Even her voice dropped to something closer to the whispered, humble tone of the supplicant. Whereas her husband sometimes channels the call-and-response rhythms of African-American churches, Michelle sounded less like the preacher and more like the woman in the middle pew, holding out hope.

"I come here today as a Christian," she told the crowd, to wild applause.

She spoke of teaching their daughters ("God's greatest gift to Barack and me and the sign of His grace") the same values that the audience likely taught their children and grandchildren--right from wrong, dignity and respect, the belief that a better world is possible, that "we are all God's children."

As for the decision to run for president--and for the audience's tacit promise that they would help carry the Obama torch--Michelle cited the Gospel of Luke: To whom much is given, much is expected. "We all have to use our gifts to make the world more prosperous and more just," she said. "Don't we deserve policies that reflect our values? Reflect that we're all in this together?"

Yet, if God and religion were more explicitly on display, then the subtext of race and racial struggle were still more suggested than addressed.

"Barack and I know we've only made it this far because of what's come before us," Michelle said, seemingly alluding to a history of equal rights activism. She nodded to Lucretia Mott, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., people who have worked for racial justice.

In imploring the audience to do everything they could in the next few days to get out the vote for Obama, she said, "I don't want to think about what might've been. We've done that too much in our lifetime."

Throughout rallies and political events across the country this year, I've noticed that as frank as our conversations about race, gender, and religion have become, there are still some things we can't say. On Wednesday, Michelle Obama came the closest I've heard at least to describing the shape of what surrounds these ideas--both the fear and the hope of what electing a man from the African-American community could mean.

"We've been lifted by your prayers for our safety and success," she said, stopping well short of confronting many people's concern that Obama might be killed. But the thought was there, and she reiterated it again at the end, along with a call to act in courage and confidence.

"My family believes in the power of prayer," she concluded. "Please continue to hold Barack and me and our girls in your prayers. At times like these, I remember what Jesus said at the Sermon on the Mount: 'You are the light of the world.' Don't hide it; let it shine for all to see. Open your hearts and raise your voices. This time is our time. We will let our light shine. We will bring change to the country we love."

Comments

[PrimeTyme]

I was there.. I am a pastor in NC

it was a wonderful environment & Michelle Obama spoke with passion about her family and our country

God Bless America... Go Obama

[propitiousmoment]

BARACK OBAMA '08/'12 + MICHELLE OBAMA '16/'20

[GoNitro]

Thank you for the lovely post. Beautifully written. Michelle's words brought tears to my eyes.

[SUSANINCOLUMBIA]

Not only will her husband be an incredibly wonderful president, but Michelle will be such an inspiring First Lady!

[DeloresT]

Wow! This is the "religion" that I know.....as opposed to that of the religious right (who are often so wrong). It's a spirit based religion that causes me to pray for Obama AND John McCain. It's a spititual belief that we are all God's children. I, too, pray for Obams's safety everyday. But isn't it sad that we REALLY have to pray for this man's safety, just because he is half black?

[owlsocks]

All people of faith are praying for this wonderful family.

I am a pagan, I pray to the Goddess and God every night for their health and success.

May the great Source bless us all with a win for Barack...so that we can rekindle the light and the hope in our hearts.

Caring is the ultimate virtue, and his care for his country is genuine.

That would be a wonderful change in leadership.

[athenasword]

Thanks for posting this. It isn't often that I hear the Obama family talk about matters of faith and spirit - even though every day they act in ways that clearly reflect their beliefs. And, they act with the most incredible grace and compassion.

I found her words very moving and inspiring. May all the angels keep them safe and provide assistance in the next few days. And may those same angels will go with them to the White House!

[knerd]

Interesting that Michelle mentions how "God's grace" has blessed her family.

It seems that most fundamentalists and some evangelicals measure their salvation by demanding assent and belief to a list of conditions, recuirements and talking points.

The religious right seems to be standing for something--but whatever it is, it certainly has nothing to do with grace.

[Apov]

Or for that matter the teachings of Jesus.

[glorysong]

I think you need to go join someone Church and learn about the Word of God. And while you at it find out what Grace means. Because you see it was God's Grace that woke us up this Morning. So Grace got a lot to do with us.

[onecorgilover]

With all due respect, I think that you are misunderstanding what knerd is saying. I believe (and s/he will correct me if I am wrong) that the fundamentalists think that salvation is gained by following a rigid, dogmatic set of rules.....not freely given by God's grace. I was raised in a pentecostal church and Knerd is correct. We were taught to follow rigid rules and PERHAPS we would inherit the kingdom. We never thought that salvation came from God's unyielding grace.....later I learned that the rules were man made constructs that only served to keep the rest of us 'in line'. So, Knerd is not saying grace has nothing to do with US.....it has nothing to do with fundamentalism.

[heyjoe]

I saw Michele on Jay the other night. I really like her way. She is very easy and rather funny. If Barack wins, watching her will be very interesting.

Be strong, Michele.

[chargedup]

I am so excited about my next First Lady, sometimes I get besides myself. I pray for this family everyday that God would protect and give the wisdom they need to at this time. I call on all the prayer warriors to lift them up in prayer as never before please......and fear not, go out and vote like you've never before. God Bless all of us.

[CharlesJ]

That is the side that we all need to see. It sure would help turn this election around as far as those that doubt or are unsure as most of them are also religious people. Why have they not show this side of them selves more?

[hominidx]

They were pushed off-stage by the angry and self-righteous. Those who are spiritual and religious who believe in peace, equality and understanding are having a resurgence.

[Bashley]

AMEN!!!! I wish I had my church fan to wave as I read that. Will a manilla folder suffice?

[sclucie]

Charles: Because it is taboo to mention God among the learned. Didn't you know that? Although some people on this site are far more tolerant than the academic world I have to live in - if I said the word there they would think I needed mental health assistance.

The Obamas havee walked that ine with grace and integrity. And tolerance. I hope once the election is over that tolerance will be extended to Muslims as well. I love what Colin Powell said last week (I know, I know what he did at the UN. So does he.). But the picture of the Muslim mother was heartwrenching. And who, in this election year, has had the courage to say what he did?

[athenasword]

This was a setting where that conversation could be had. I think the Obama family shows this spiritual, compassionate side often actually. They just don't always speak about it as if it's a political tool or like it buys them something.

[SharonAustinTX]

Thank you for sharing your experience. A few of the comments critize Michelle for speaking of her faith. She was speaking to her audience and shared her essence of being a genuine, authentic Christian. Sarah Palin is a fundamentalist who would make her religion a basis for governing. She doesn't believe (or maybe even know the separation of church and state in the Constitution) in any other viewpoint.

God bless the Obama and Biden families and keep them safe. We are surely blessed to have the opportunity to elect these fine people who love their country and truly want to serve the ordinary American, all Americans.

[Mavin1620]

I pray that God blesses us all, that Barack Obama is elected in a decisive victory, that he is held safe from harm, and that we are held safe from harm, too. God Bless us all.

[S1m0n]

You know, I can think of few cooler sights that the new year could bring that the sight of a crowd much like this one dressed to the nines and filing in to watch America's first non-white president take the oath of office.

[BowlingForRevenge]

They will not be going IN anywhere.

The US Presidential Inauguration swearing in is held OUTSIDE of the US Capital on JANUARY 20th...in DC = very very COLD weather possibly rain possible snow.

The swearing in is followed by a parade from the Capitol to the White House.

http://www.greatseats.com/inauguration/inauguration_tickets.htm

They have an inauguration countdown clock at the site!

[sean6886]

Can we just skip the wait and swear in Obama/Biden on 11/5?

[bonchesva]

I love Michelle too! She is so down to earth, confident and smart. She will make a wonderful first lady. I also pray for the safety of the entire family. They are precious.