“God helps those who help themselves!” – Benjamin Franklin
Reverend Jeremiah Wright is in the news again and is said to be a distraction to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, by far his most famous former parishioner. Reverend Wright has spent the last week or so giving his side of the story. Mr. Wright feels that he has been personally attacked and also feels that the institution of the black church has been attacked by the dominant American culture. He’s been referred to as a kook and described as trying to knee cap Mr. Obama’s presidential bid. Mr. Obama tried to minimize his relationship with his former pastor. But when that didn’t put the issue to rest, Mr. Wright conveniently comes back on the scene to give Mr. Obama a second chance to sever the relationship cleanly in the public’s eye.
The overwhelming majority of America never knew Mr. Wright prior to the networks airing of the infamous recording of Mr. Wright saying that god should be damning America instead of blessing America. People refer to Mr. Wright as a blatant racist although he never once said white people were the problem. Mr. Wright said black and white people are different with neither one being better than the other. But this is too racist a concept for most. White and black people are actually saying that Jeremiah Wright is the problem. No one of any prominence has given Mr. Wright any understanding or support, with the possible exception of Bill Moyers when he hosted Mr. Wright on his PBS show Bill Moyers Journal and allowed the former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ to defend himself without adding fuel to the fire of controversy. Mr. Moyers doesn’t have a political agenda to push so it is no surprise that he isn’t condemning Mr. Wright the way that the typical network pundit would.
But nevertheless, for the most part, when it comes to the black community, Mr. Wright is standing alone. Other than Mr. Moyers, I have yet to see any high profile support. Where are the leaders of the black community? Where are the people who claim to the welfare of the black community a top priority? It is a given that white people would want take the five or ten minutes of Mr. Wright’s sermons that have captured America’s attention as gospel. When Mr. Wright says god should damn America white people take this personally for America is white America. America is baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet. America is the corporate environment where white people rule the upper management, white people make up the vast majority of middle workers, and black people make up the bottom rung of the corporate ladder in janitorial services and the mailroom. To say America is messing up is to say that white people are messing up since they are the ones in control of 98% of America’s institutions. And these corporate institutions are using their resources to pick Mr. Wright apart and make him an example of what happens when you bad mouth America’s managment team.
And with an election coming, and with the chance that a black man could actually obtain the highest office in America’s land, America will push with all of its corrupt corporate capitalist might to find anything and emphasize anything to keep Mr. Obama from obtaining the title of President of the United States. It is truly understandable why the dominant community would work so hard to keep the status quo of white only from being broken. Black man might become president and try do something positive for the black community. White America just can’t take that chance. So I can understand why the Tucker Carlsons and Sean Hanitys and Pat Buchanans of the world to persecute Mr. Wright, and therefore Mr. Obama by association. These are the type of people who would be content to see the despair of the black community continue without end. But where are the people who say that they have a vested interest in the uplift of the black community?
Where are the people who are more likely to defend Mr. Wright? Barack Obama tried to distance himself from Mr. Wright without outright rejecting him and it nearly cost him his lead in the presidential nomination race. There is too much to lose. So regardless of what Mr. Obama says to the contrary it is relatively easy to see how his highly visible divorce from Mr. Wright can be considered politically advantageous. So it doesn’t take much of a brain to see that there will be no comfort there. Where are the other high profile blacks who sit in black churches on a weekly basis and can relate to what Mr. Wright says about being black in America? Are we in the black community are supposed to believe that Jeremiah Wright is a lone exception with a totally unique perspective of the relationship between America and what she has done for and what she has done to the black community? Are we to believe that no other black high profile black celebrity has any idea what he is referring to?
Certainly there must be a gangster rap artist who is aware of what Mr. Wright is saying. Rap artist are constantly depicting the despair of the black community. Certainly these artists must know about the disparity that Mr. Wright is talking about. How about the black actors who must appear in works of fiction without any, or a severely limited number, of black actors appearing as characters that provide positive role models for the black community? Certainly these artists know a little something about being black in America and how black people have to work harder and longer just to get their foot in the door. Where are the black people who work in the corporate environment that sees black people at the bottom and white people at the top? Where are the black police officers, lawyers, judges, bureaucrats, lawyers, doctors, and other black professionals who see the inequality between the black community and its white counterpart?
No one else has a clue as to what is happening. No one is willing to come forward and add their voice to the outrage of inequality in the social conditions of this country. We are supposed to believe that so many black people are too afraid, too complacent, too oblivious, or black people want to assimilate so badly that they support, even encourage, the unfairness under some pretense such as the black community is not being subjugated and simply needs to lift itself out of its predicament by making the choice not to be in a disparaging predicament. Granted many black people fit into one of these categories. But I refuse to believe there isn’t a single high profile black professional or celebrity who doesn’t feel the same way Mr. Wright feels enough to say something about it.
Change doesn’t happen when a single person is the only dissenting voice. It is far too easy to dismiss a single voice as little more than a crackpot or a trouble maker. Change happens when a single voice is joined by another voice and those voices are joined by more voices until there are so many voices that they cannot be dismissed as an exception to the rule. Those voices become a force that must be reckoned with.
If America’s black community allows Jeremiah Wright to be relegated to crackpot status until humanity becomes just another part of oblivion then we truly deserve to be subjugated. We think it is so much more important to keep the hope alive that Barack Obama will be the first black person to gain the white house that we are willing to let the truths that Mr. Wright spoke of be labeled as little more than a single black man’s slander against our beloved country. We are willing to let a man who has the audacity to boldly speak on our behalf, to boldly speak on Mr. Obama’s behalf, to be publicly crucified by the dominant community. We choose to become complacent in the rejection of the man who says something troubling is afoot in the black community in order not to stoke the fears of the dominant community.
If the black community does not stand firmly behind Jeremiah Wright, if we do not stand up and say he is correct and he speaks on behalf of us, then everything the dominant community says about us is true. Even if we disagree with everything he said he believes he is speaking on behalf of the black community. We should not be so quick to abandon a black person simply because the white community finds him or her offensive. The white community rarely abandons its own simply because black people find him or her offensive. If we allow ourselves to submit to the establishment without so much as a peep then we choose to be victims. We make the collective choice to be subjugated. We choose not to use whatever means necessary to get ourselves out of our plight. We choose to turn our backs at the chance for a movement. We choose not to be unified for our own self interest. And if all of that is true, then we owe the dominant community a huge apology, for obviously the only power they have over us is the power we let them have. And we can forget all that smack about god damn America. What everybody should be saying from this point on is god damn the black community!
[...] E.D. Jones wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWright saying that god should be damning America instead of blessing America. People refer to Mr. Wright as a blatant racist although he never once said white people were the problem. Mr. Wright said black and white people are different … [...]
We do not have to agree with everything someone states, I do not agree with several of Reverend Wright’s points on the state of African-Americans in America. But I do agree with many of his points on United States history and international policy.
It is apparent that any discussion that makes some in “White” America, which you call “mainstream American” uncomfortable with our country’s history is off the table. The issues Reverend Wright discussed in his sermon are serious and not marginal. Perhaps if there was a real dialogue in this country people would be proud of the results that came from the suffering faced by the descendants of African Slaves. This experience molded a significant portion of our nation’s history, culture, and economy.
The 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution provided an untold amount of rights that millions of European immigrants enjoyed, while African Americans had to wait a hundred years to be welcomed as full fledge citizens. In addition the Civil Rights Acts of the 60s provided rights to all subsequent Americans, not just African Americans. Women of European descent gained significant social gains in our economy. Also, slave trade provided the United States economy with a significant competitive advantage economically provided to the economic elite to invest in the Industrial Revolution. So I would hardly call the opinions of African Americans “marginal”, “radical”, or “divisive”.
I would like to recommend two articles for further research on the Reverend Wright “issue”:
“Uh-Obama: Racism, White Voters and the Myth of Color-Blindness”-By Tim Wise: http://www.lipmagazine.org/~timwise/Obama.html
“The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright and the Audacity of Truth” By Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032208F.shtml
I feel the same way, and I’m not sure if you have seen/heard the defense from Reverend Michael Pfleger which you can see from the article I wrote on my blog a while ago.
Politics and Truth – Wright, Obama and the Media, which pretty much says the same thing as you. There was also a Yahoo news article stating that there were a few people from the black community that stood up for Wright, but I cannot find the article anymore.
There has not been enough said of the issue, and not enough support for the truth.
Young African Americans are looking in the wrong direction.
Many of the more vocal civil rights era black leaders have succumb to old age, poor vision and bad health.
Intellectual rights have replaced civil rights and the sun has set on their activism.
They high profile black leaders you speak of abdicated freedom and independence in exchange for promises, special privileges and civil rights.
The Voting Rights Act was one of the civil rights our forefathers, grandfathers and fathers marched, fought, or were imprisoned and died for.
The last official act of the civil right era black leaders was to live and fight long enough to see The European players symbolically extended the Voting Rights Act before the N.A.A.C.P in 2006.
21ST CENTURY
The current condition and situation we are in at this very moment can’t be blamed on the remaining living black leadership from that era.
The remaining living black leadership from the civil rights era has retained your privilege to vote for over 25 years.
They did their part.Let them rest in peace.
TAKE YOUR TURN
Take your turn because cowards die many deaths.Young educated African American readers, writers and producers stop hiding from your responsibilities.
Step up to the plate. Take your turn. Stop looking for the senior citizens to save the day.
I pray that you young, strong, educated African American leaders won’t be like the coward black men of Rosewood that would hide in the forest until Obama wins and then run out of the forest looking to have your say and to ride on the presidential freedom train.
GATHER YOUR INTELLIGENCE AND COURAGE.
It is incumbent you to collectively gather your intelligence to establish an industry, technology or infrastructure to replace the symbolic voting rights gesture and the dead civil rights agenda.
In the 21st century when the Voting Rights Act is taken away with nothing to take its place, it shall be the failed legacy of 21st century black leadership. The young black leadership of the 21st century has the sole responsibility to create and establish for us a new legacy of inclusion.
The 21st century black leadership consists of young black educated African American readers, writers and producers. The young black educated African American readers, writers and producers are the ones with the responsibility to create for us a new legacy of 21st century inclusion.
Young educated African Americans should not be attempting to build on what the black civil rights leadership negotiated 25 years ago. The civil rights agenda was right for their time in history. The civil rights agenda is their victory and legacy.
DEFINED INTELLIGENCE
Defined intelligence suggests that the N.A.A.C.P. should be renamed and become “in fact” the B.R.S.C.C. (Black Race Strategic Command Center For Defined Intelligence.) for the 21st century.
UNDERCOVER SMART
Young black African American writers and producers stop accusing the European players of not aiding and abetting our survival because without intent, that is exactly what they are doing.
Undefined intelligence prevents you from seeing that the European players without intent are helping us by challenging the Arab players in Iraq.
The European players are challenging the Arab players that otherwise would be insurgents in Sudan.
Young bright educated African Americans should be grateful for the assistance from the European players.
In technological terms the European players without intent dropped us off on high tech ground.
African Americans are the most advanced Africans on the game board. Thanks to the European players’ technology, infrastructure, and industry you have a unbridled opportunity to compete in the 21st century.
Instead of complaining about white America you should thanking them for bringing us this far.
Enoch Mubarak
Mubarak Inter-prizes
Melissa Harris-Lacewell did two interesting columns on Rev. Jeremiah Wright, one before the NPC speech, titled Our Jeremiah in which she defended the reverend, and one after that she titled Wright Prophet, Wrong Direction. In the latter, she points out the failure of Rev. Wright to open the dialogue to include all Americans. In that sense, Rev. Wright may have failed one of the tenets of the Black Church:
I figure then that perhaps some are still figuring out how to sort out that impasse in the sense that Rev. Wright told the truth but he kinda slammed the door at the same time in the face of those to whom those truths were addressed.
On the other hand, there is also the possibility of a strategic move by Rev. Wright. I found this essay of particular interest: The sacrifice of Jeremiah Wright. In such a case, perhaps the next move does belong to Rev. Wright himself. And so we wait.
Still, some are taking steps to keep the conversation going, albeit in tentative fashion. This may be the best way yet, rather than a full confrontation.
I think people are afraid to speak out in support of Rev. Wright because they don’t want to ruin Sen. Obama’s chances of winning the nomination and the subsequent election. Privately, I think we are behind Rev. Wright, but we are afraid to publicly speak up.
Why does it have to be so divisive? That’s the root cause of all of this going back to the Reagan era when he deregulated the media. Accusative opinions that pit one side against the other simply increases the crevasse and strengthens the opposition. When you are attacked, you don’t turn the other cheek (nice sentiment in theory, but not reality), you dig in and defend or counter attack. Neither solves the problem. Antagonism, fiery media spectaculars (like Wright’s sound bites), and the ensuing fall out that will affect the Presidential race is not good for anyone. Permanent change is made out of necessity, not by forced design. Obama was forced to distance himself to gain the votes needed today – that’s a necessity in politics.
Once again, great post.
I do disagree with your belief that Black people are not standing behind Rev. Wright. When the debacle hit the fan most folks didn’t really care. We are used to hearing sermons along the same vein. Churchgoers and infrequent churchgoers already know the deal. I think the lack of public commentary is attributed to fear. After witnessing the public (white folks) outcry many Black people realized that this issue had the ability to jeopardize Obama’s nomination. [Ironically enough, even though many people say they don't care or are voicing their removed bitterness they still have a little shred of hope and would love to see a Black man simply run for president.] Instead of fanning the flames by talking about it most people just want the brotha (Wright) to shut up so people can forget, thereby dismissing any negativity associated with voting for Obama.
I think the hush you hear from Black folk is disappointment is disappointment. Most Black folk are thinking, “NOW IS NOT THE TIME, Rev.” Is it necessary to stir up all of this negativity and scare potential white voters now? No. Reverend Wright knows the deal. He knows that the white owned media is going to take buzz words from his speech and make a sound bite rap song. He knows it’s going to be repeated over and over again. He also knows he will forever be known as Obama’s pastor. I’m pretty sure if he stopped for a moment he would understand and agree with Obama’s position.
Racial drama is always going to be with us. Always. The opportunity for a man of color to run for president of the United States may not come for awhile. We should all focus on winning this battle of getting a man of color in teh position to be RUN for President and then focus on fighting the next one.
Black folks who refuse to unqualifiedly stand behind Reverend Jeremiah Wright are a huge disappointment to me, on a humanistic level. Why? Because they show a deluded belief that Barack Obama’s election would bring some meaningful change. They refuse to see that Barack Obama is a front for the same interests fronted by Hillary Clinton AND John McCain. They refuse to acknowledge that Barack Obama is nothing but a puppet. They refuse to acknowledge that when it comes to a disagreement between Obama and Wright, only one of the men is telling the truth and being honorable — and it’s not Obama.
Those who “disagree with” or repudiate Rev Wright are letting the lying spin artists control perspective and perception. Rev Wright has said nothing false, hollow, or factually wrong. His hypothesis on the origin of AIDS is not an accusation, but rather, a statement that given the US Govt’s history of treating people in various lethal and injurious experiments, it wouldn’t be surprising to learn that the AIDS virus was intentionally spread. That’s a whole lot different from making the accusation bluntly and without factual support.
The truth is that given the Agent Orange use in Vietnam, the Tuskegee Experiments, Project MK Ultra, and other similar situations, the US Govt has time and again demonstrated that if someone can make money on a gambit, it doesn’t matter how many innocent Americans need to be injured or killed in the process. Profit trumps all.
And in the case of Obama, it has trumped his prior integrity, and that’s why he had to turn his back on, and repudiate, the truth-telling Rev Jeremiah Wright. Because really, Rev Wright’s truths threaten the powerful Wall Street players, the big corporate fat cats, the wealthy Americans who all feel fat, well-fed and comfortable these days. If Rev Wright’s teachings should reach more ears and minds, more people would see that Obama is a fraud, that the American Dream is unattainable, and that the “news” media have been lying to us for decades.
But it’s easier to simply believe that Barack Obama is an agent of “change.” Even if no such agency is shown.
We should never forget that the extreme right or the ultra religious fundamentalist Christians have always played a lead role in the Republican Party. The leadership of Pat Robertson, Billy Graham,Oral Roberts and many more have influenced and played an important role in Republicans politics. Have we forgotten Falwell’s Moral Majority already? Why is everyone coming down hard on Obama because of Rev Wright?
Saludos.
I don’t understand why people wouldn’t support/stand up for him. I understand Obama is trying to achieve what’s never been done before, but at what costs? Rev Wright wasn’t just some dude. Obama carried his sermons with him to law school, he baptized his children, he presided over his nuptials. Clearly this man meant a lot to him but he’ll publicly singe any ties with him that easily just because Whites in America don’t approve? We’ve had to compromise for too long in this country so when do we stop trying to make them feel comfortable about our existence/presence in the land that we built?
There is only one truth here. This nation has always have double standards, especially when dealing with black people.
Saludos.
It’s not hard to figure out why no prominent Black person has come forward to support Rev. Wright. There’s nothing to support. We’ve been hearing the same so-called empowerment speeches and complaints since the 1960’s, and it’s passe.
Rev.Wright wants an audience; the bigger the better. If Jesse can get $10,000 for a speech, Wright figures he should too. Our mistake as black people is to keep looking to find our political leaders in pulpits. Anyone who claims God personally told him or her to become a minister has got to feel that whatever they do or say is divinely inspired, even if its nonsense. Which, by the way is mostly what Wright puts out there.
“There is only one truth here. This nation has always have double standards, especially when dealing with black people.”
and thats why Barrack Obama will not be President.
blacks are living in the past and too full of “you owe me” to have a President in 2008.
When blacks are willing to dump the “attitude” and participate as equals in country, than a black President will be truly welcomed and loved.
Right now, if Obama were elected he would be one of 2 things.
Either an “Uncle Tom” for not handing out enough or a man with a “black agenda” for handing out too much.
If blacks feel that what Rev. Wright said about this country is the truth than Black Americans with that blatant hatred and mistrust need not apply. (for anything)
Did you ever consider that one may not agree with Rev. Wright? I vehemently disagree with his assertion that the Black Church is being attacked as he does not represent “the black church”.
He is a liberation theologists and not all black churches espouse liberation theology. Just because he is angry and perhaps even righteous indignant on some levels does not make him worthy of my support.
Of course it’s a consideration that people do not agree with Reverend Wright. However, disagreeing with someone does not mean that they should be sacrificed and eliminated. I have people in my personal circle that I disagree with all the time. That doesn’t mean that I will sit back and allow them to be routed by others. They are still part of the community. People in the black community appear to be content to sit back and allow the dominant culture to attack high profile blacks that bring attention to black disparity. Such behavior keeps others in line and easier to control.
I’ve even considered the fact that people will disagree with the black community being strong. A lot of people are much more satisfied with the idea of the black community staying a disorganized group until we all can come together and agree on a single issue. By then it will be much too late. I may disagree with you. Does that mean I shouldn’t support your input to be a part of this discussion? Reverend Wright is not my problem. The racial disparity he speaks of is a much larger issue for the black community.
Peace
Rev. Wright was not call nor appointed to make sure Obama become the 1st Black President of these United States. His call is too God . If the message was not so strong and powerful do we think for one minute that America would have cared? Hell No!
They have never given a hoot about The Black Church. Rev Wright has been on the South side of Chicago doing a great work. Were was the media? most likely in the suburbs doing what they do and not even thinking about a Rev. Wright. White America don’t care about what we believe and who we believe in.
Think about like this, if The Black Church help shape a man to become president you and I both no that White America want it shut down. The Church has been a empowering tool for Black America for a long time and for us to believe that it’s no longer needed is stupid. Were else will we get the truth weather we like it or not.
If you want to know what a Black Church is look at the church body if it look like the head that is a black church weather we want to admit it or not.
Very powerful. This really made me think.