The Media Lynching of Rev. Jeremiah Wright (Part 1 of 3): How a 36 year career of evangelism and activism is reduced to a 30 second sound bite
Categories: Dallas South Top 5, Featured, Politics and Elections, Religion and Faith
Written By: Shawn Williams
Sick…disgusted…appalled. Those were some of the feelings that washed over me as I listened to the mainstream media launch an all out assault on Dr. Jeremiah Wright Jr. It should have been no surprise, but even my wary eyes were taken aback by the ferocity of the attacks on Dr. Wright.
I have had the pleasure to observe the gospel genius and hermeneutical excellence of Dr. Wright for the last 10 years since joining Friendship-West Baptist Church. Dr. Wright serves as father in the ministry to my pastor, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III. After the frustration with the media last week drove me to turn off my television and withdraw from all things politics, it was a sermon today by Dr. Haynes that helped me gather my thoughts to the point where I can now express my feelings.
What is most shameful about this entire episode with Dr. Wright and Barack Obama is that it shows how little America knows about and how much less America cares about the black church. A black preacher uttering words from the pulpit regarding America’s racist past and present is neither novel or unique.
Now the same media structure that constantly undermined Dr. Martin Luther King, and the same government that tapped every phone that he used, wants to prop him up as an example of “color-blind” preaching. The Dr. King who in his day was considered too radical and color concerned by his own contemporaries is now painted as a kumbaya fella who white folks would like to sit down and have a latte with. Save it America.
I hear the question: What is the need for a black church in today’s society.? Is that a joke? I mean when someone fixes their mouth to ask an idiotic question like that, I’m left to wonder what planet -less known what country- that person is living on.
Ask the slave masters who did not invite their hired property to worship with them why there is a black church. Or ask the people who use the symbol of Christ’s suffering as an instrument of hate and fear.
Ask yourself, if you are a Christian, why you don’t make the first step and join a predominantly black congregation. Of course that makes no sense, right? It’s usually expected that African-Americans abandoned our heritage and integrate/assimilate with our white brethren in the name of progress. Well that street runs both ways.
Ask Richard Allen why there is a black church. Allen’s legacy is the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first independent black denomination. He believed it better for black parishioners to have their own places of worship rather than adhere to the dictates and demands of white church leaders who told black church goers when and where they could worship.
You cannot separate the African-American struggle for justice and the black church. Think Frederick Douglass, who in 1839 was licensed to preach in the AME Church. Think Denmark Vesey, a founder of the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston who was executed for his part in organizing a slave uprising in that very city.
Whether its Jeremiah Wright in Chicago, Illinois or the late Rev. A.M. Seamon in Paris, Texas, the black preacher has made it his business to stand up for his people knowing no one else in America would do so. Black preachers have always been labeled as radicals when speaking truth to power. That remains unchanged to this day.
Dr. Wright, a man who retired just last month after a 36-year ministry, now watches as his legacy is distorted and dismantled by those who would do anything to see Barack Obama fall short in his bid for the White House. In the YouTube clip that I saw, Dr. Wright talked about an America where white men controlled the resources and controlled the access to wealth in this country. What’s so radical about that? If it’s a lie please tell me.
March 16th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
More on the larger context here: http://acropolisreview.com/2008/03/barack-obama-condemns-reverend-jeremiah.html
March 16th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Great post! I’ve been trying to work out what exactly I think of this latest much ado about nothing political slime tactic, and your post sums it up perfectly. Black and White have had a different experience in this country and its reflected in our churches too. Dr. Wright didn’t say anything that most people don’t know, nor were his comments so over the top that they’re deserving top of the news status for 3 days running.
March 16th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
You totally miss the point. You know that it is all the rage for black people to define the new hate in the USA. Barack H. Obama has sat around this hater’s church for 20 years and listened to rage against white people. So we are to ignore this and just travel on our way and vote for BHO? The media trips all over themselves to get the story. Obama going to a church that preaches hate against white folk is a big story. Going to a church that gives Louis Farrakhan a Lifetime Achievement Award is a big story. No conspiracy there just reporting the hate you folk have for white folk.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Gary it is you who totally misses the point. Hate against racism and white privilege is much different than “hate you folk have for white folk.” I abhor racism with all my heart. I abhor white privilege as much or more. But I do not hate “white folk.” There is a difference.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:00 am
First, let me say that I am not black, and that I agree with everything in your post, except one thing: the apparent implication that Wright hasn’t done anything controversial “A black preacher uttering words from the pulpit regarding America’s racist past and present is neither novel or unique.”
The issue here is not Wright alone. The issue is Barack Obama (whom I support) and his relationship to Wright. Obama has called Wright his spiritual advisor, has credited him with converting him to Christianity, and titled his second book after one of Wright’s speeches. It is Obama’s relationship to Wright that is at issue, because Wright has, among other things:
-Befriended Louis Farrakhan, who leads a church known for being preaching black racial superiority.
-Preached that HIV was invented by the government to wipe out blacks.
-Preached that the U.S. brought 9/11 on itself and that his congregants should sing “God Damn America.”
These are not sentiments that the majority of Americans agree with or will ever get behind, and they make Obama look like he’s being spiritually led by an anti-American nutcase, possibly a racist anti-American nutcase (depends on how you’re looking at it).
I understand that Wright has done a great deal more preaching than that, and he has done a great deal of good in his community, but he still has to answer for those comments. If his church is supporting him, that casts more doubt on Obama’s rejection (since he appears to be the only member of the church denouncing these comments).
My question to you is - what do you make of these comments? Do you agree with them? If you don’t, do you expect people to ignore them because of the rest of Wright’s career?
Thanks,
-Jp
March 17th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Great post! Right on point! I am looking forward to the other 2 installments of this topic.
Blessings
March 17th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Thanks Shawn for this post. I had to turn my tv off as well over the weekend. This is not anything new but the media decided this was the time to to give Dr. Wright airtime. I was so upset with the MLK references. Yesterday my family and I went to the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis to refocus and to further understand what MLK must have gone thru. It was so wonderful to see the many Americans of all colors visiting the museum. One thing that really got me was when my 16 year old son said that after seeing where MLK had taken his last breath, he would never be the same. Dr. Wright is a champion of human rights and he nor those who know and acknowledge the truth have anything to be ashamed of. Did Dr. Wright visit the White House during Monicagate to pray with Bill Clinton?
March 17th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I was commenting at the Spear myself this weekend that how despite the media’s pretense today, thed exscoriated MLK in the last 3 years of his life because he spoke the truth.
Asking why we need a Black church is indeed a joke.
I find it funny that every time I ask what did Pastor Wright say that wasn’t accurate, no one can name one thing. All they can talk about is their feeling about what he said, a.k.a. there dislike of hearing a Black man strongly speak the truth.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Gary is typical of people who want to maintain the status quo of race privilage and embedded racism.
He says Wright raged against white people? Show me the clip of that. I bet you he cannot. All I saw was Wright raging against racism. If Gary is against that, than Gary is for racism.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Yobachi,
“find it funny that every time I ask what did Pastor Wright say that wasn’t accurate, no one can name one thing. All they can talk about is their feeling about what he said, a.k.a. there dislike of hearing a Black man strongly speak the truth.”.
I can name one thing that wasn’t accurate: that HIV was created by the government to destroy black people. Do you believe that? Do you have any proof of that?
As for people’s “feelings about what he said” — do you not think it fair to be upset that he called on others to sing “God Damn America”? Can you really call that a “truth” that people just don’t like to hear spoken?
March 17th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Fabulous article!
Got here by recommendation from AfroSpear.
Pastor Wright’s ministry does not have to be distorted or dismantled, if we add our voices, as you are doing.
We need to be heard and we are tired of being told how to be.
I am ex bible college and here is my link
http://justlearningman.wordpress.com
March 17th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I’ll have to say that unfortunately Gary shares the views of a large portion of our society who is still disillusioned or downright in denial about racism in our country. The truth is that Dr. Wright speaks the truth. The truth also is that politically Sen. Obama is going to have to defend himself against these truths. I regret that everyone except Obama is making an issue of race in this campaign and that he will ultimately have to endure the consequences. The simple fact that this can be done further substantiates the fact that being black is a big deal regardless of your record, education, qualifications, or goals. Gary, you are exactly the reason the black church and leaders like Dr. Wright continue to lead the fight toward racial equality and continue to boldly speak out against inequality.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Wright is raging against racism and not white people? Is that like when a white guy tells a black guy, “I don’t mean you, I mean black people in general”?
March 17th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Dr. Wright can stand his ground with anything FOX News will send his way.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I think what Fox News and other media outlets that are usually dominated by caucasian “journalists” and producers can’t relate to the black church because myself growing up going to a “white church” never really heard any one talk about race in the society because, honestly, we didn’t face discrimination. I think the media doesn’t know how to emphathize with a church that talks about race. This doesn’t excuse the onslaught and inappropriate way that they are dragging religion in to politics, but it might explain part of the way that they are not handeling it so well. On the other comments, I think that there are more whites in America that would actually agree with Rev. Wright’s comments on “chickens coming home to roost”. Or at least, I kind of agree with that and my husband, an Iraq war vet, does as well.
Okay, well I hope what I typed makes some sense.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
GREAT POST!!! I too had to step back from CNN - as a matter of fact have not viewed the station in the past five days. As a youth in the 60’s in the congregation of Pastor Seamon my observation was ministers are neither hired nor fired by the white masses and gave you the unedited version of politics and so many other things without worrying about being fired. This meant letting you really know the facts, means for mass transist to the polls, etc. CNN reminds me of an old saying “going to bat with two strikes. I am sick of the whole thing.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Unfortunately (but predictably), the political opposition (and yes, I DO include Clinton in that) in concert with certain of their 24/7 spin media fronts, have targeted Obama to be tripped up and discounted/discredited virtually from the beginning. Of one strategic approach/attack didn’t work adequately, then drag out Plan B…or Plan C. Well, you get the picture. The equally-unfortunate aspect of this is that to avoid these pitfalls, or at least any of them signaling ‘game over,’ it is necessary that Senator Obama walk a very fine line and, if possible, not get down in the trenches and mud-wrestle with them. Therefore, much of the pertinent issues/information revolving around the campaigns of the others never gets to see the light of day (add much of mainstream media’s blindly ignoring coverage of it, anyway) to that and “Houston, we have a problem.” As much as I am a believer in truth at any price, the politically-minded side of me says that the truth can get you hurt - and that includes the overt truthful statements of supporters. We are all well-advised to play an astute political game if we want to see Senator Obama reach the mountaintop, no matter how angry we may feel inside at being forced to do so.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
For twenty years, Wright was Obama’s spiritual “mentor.” In what way did Wright mentor Obama spiritually? Does Obama share Wright’s views that America created the AIDS virus for the purpose of killing off certain minority groups? Does he believe America deserved the attacks on 9/11? For twenty years, Senator and Mrs. Obama and their children sat in that church week after week as Wright preached, yet today Obama announced that he was unaware of Wright’s anti-American, conspiracy-filled sermons. No rational, intelligent American will buy that sorry excuse.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Give me a break. “AIDS was invented by the white man”. “God damn America”.
Regardless of how you or anyone else feels about race relations in America, that is 100% pure, grade A hate. The fact that you and others feel compelled to defend such hate says more about you than about him.
And stop with the, “You could never understand” crap. What he said was hate. Have a spine.
March 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Just addressing the final sentence in of this blog, yes, actually it would be a lie to say that white men control resources and wealth to the country. There’s no meeting that goes on with white men sitting around a table wondering how better to control the resources and wealth of America. Go to school, learn, get a job, make your own wealth.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Shawn,
I’m glad to see this post. What has been frustrating to me about the past week has been the laziness of the main stream media.
When these video sound bites first surfaced, I could understand the need of the media to play them and use them as a foundation for inquiry.
My problem is that after posing the question, the media then failed tragically to followup upon their inquiry and look at the full breadth of Wright’s work.
I’ll be looking for your article in tomorrow’s paper.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Stop being a victim. Don Imus was roasted by the media, too, for a 30 second snippet. Did you complain about that? Propagating this victim mentallity is getting you no where.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Looks like racism is alive and well in Obama’s church. I cannot imagine any major Presidential candidate ( other than Obama) who would associate with such a racist church ( I use the term church loosely). Even more to the point, no other Presidential candidate would be taken seriously as a candidate with a parallel affiliation. It appears from this outsider looking in that Obama’s church has mixed the politics of hate with its religious beliefs. I hope this is an isolated church and not a symptom of a greater problem!
March 18th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
C Breshear open your eyes. A greater problem than Jeremiah Wright exists. If a system that gives a 5x longer minimum sentence for crack than powder cocaine doesn’t help you see it, then nothing will.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
EXCUSE Me!!! But Christ came for ALL people..black or white, yellow or red! I went to
N. Garland Fellowship Baptist Church for “2″ years!
Anyone knows that it’s a predominantly a Black Church. My husband is Hispanic, I’m white. I found out, that Jesus DOESN’T mean equality. We were looked down upon, treated as tho 2nd class Christians, and the final straw was being told by the Pastor Tony Mathews that the church wasn’t “always” the place for it’s members to discuss different doctrines. Oh THE GREAT THEOLOGIAN told me my opinions were NOT accurate b/c “only” he knows the truth b/c he went to Theology School… Those of us that are STRONG in our FAITH knows the difference in Christ love for the Church
and Human Secularism, and Barack Obama is NO Christian. That Jeremiah Wright should be stripped of his cloth and become a Truck Driver.
If the SHOE FITS, than just admit, Their ALL POSERS! Shame on them!!!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Christianity is stupid. If Obama’s church really believes all that African hooey, why are they even Christians at all? Why don’t they practice an authentic African religion, like “Muti” ???
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=vn20071123041608493C129121
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=nw20071218091005214C251326
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1703595.stm
March 19th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Sandi, using common sense would lead you to a church with your beliefs and not to a church that is already rooted and grounded in its doctrine and you try to change their beliefs. That seems like a spirit of division. Also God is the only one who can delare whether He knew you or not on judgement day, until then all you or anyone can do is take a person at his word when he says he is a Christian and judge him by his fruit. I would have to say that in light of the way he is answering all those who are judging him with love, he is what he says he is.
March 19th, 2008 at 9:10 am
EXCUSE me, ‘know’ him by his fruit, though I realize its easier to judge him.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Jp, the AIDS clip has been played the least. I hadn’t evne seen it until after I made that comment it’s been played so little. I think I’ve seen it once as opposed to the other stuff played dozens of times. It shows what “people” are really mad at.
He condemned white racism, spoke of the experience of being Black in a culture and body politic by those who have defined you as non-persons, and spoke about how America has destroyed others without even batting an eye (I’ve seen Americans show glee over the dual bombing of Japan); and this is what y’all are mad about.
How dare the nigger not toe the line and stay in his place, right? He should just be singing kumbiyah in church and keeping the rest of those Negroes doped up on pie in the sky opium, instead of actually talking about the underbelly of America directly and forthrightly.
Nonetheless, returning to the AIDS part, I don’t think right on that ONE point; nonetheless it’s not outlandish to suggest at all as we know for a fact that the government spread syphilis amongst Blacks as guinea pigs; and while I know they didn’t simply create it, I certainly do rule out any experimentation.
There in such context, you should not expect the victims and the sympathizers with in these victims social group to just sing “God Bless America”; because to a lot of us that is to simply sanction these things we abhor – to cheer on the wrong committed even against ourselves.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I DON’T rule out experimentation, I meant to say.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Rev. Wright’s comments are irresponsible, salacious, untrue, and unhealthy for bringing Americans together. With a sense of pride and patriotism I honor our country and its citizens, this great nation who believes in prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness for all.
March 19th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Nice propaganda statement Dave; it has nothing to do with reality though.
Spewing out canned statements of blind wonder does nothing to deal with peoples disenchantment nor brings us together. It’s a disgusting, insulting dismissal of peoples views, feelings and experience.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Excellent post.
You are totally Wright.
The racist American media has no shame and no morals.
Just another hightech lynching…..
March 20th, 2008 at 10:29 am
As for the HIV question, while I do not believe it was intentional, the most plausible explanation for its origin is a polio vaccine made from simian tissue administered to thousands of Africans. It is probably the worst medical catastrophe in the recent history of mankind.
http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent/documents/AIDS/
March 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
It was interesting reading BLOGS. Is America ready for BO? He has made them stand up and pay attention to something more than the MEDIA driven issue of the day! Its unfortunate that this campaign has gotten caught up with the wrong issues. Dr. Wright must answer to his maker for his comments. Just like Farwell is now and so will Pat Robinson. They are entitled to their opinions but GOD will judge not us !We all have said something harsh or felt strongly about other races because of our experiences. I personally have grown and have learned to appreciate differences in people thanks to the help of my children in class. They see each other as friends and their biggest worry is who will be firt to get in line. I have lived 46 years in a country that has allowed all races of people to live in poverty in the richest country in the world. There were others in the front pews that have not spoken out and change the conditions of the poor. Should they throw their careers under the bus? Or should they work to be the example with hopes others will follow it!
March 20th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
A prominent white doctor did extensive research in 1988 on the aids virus, detailing much of the scientific evidence. His conclusion was that the World Health Organization spread the man made virus (Aids) in Africa under the guise of Small pox shots, also spreading it in California and New York under the
guise of Hepatitis B shots to the gay
population. He extensively describes
the virus consistingof a virus from a
cow and sheep and says it was made in the laboratory. He further explains
that its mutation qualities would kill
millions of Africans within the next ten years. He spoke this publicly in 1988. He further stated that no green monkey produced this virus.
Secondly, white people don’t seem to
get it. Not one of them were dragged over here, raped, stripped of their families, language, culture, religion, self esteem, and on and on. Their ancestors weren’t lynched, castrated, or forced to be exposed to the most
degrading, humiliating circumstances in the good old United States. African Americans cant’ locate their relatives to visit in Africa, like the Irish, Italian, Germans or any
other race. The jewish people can condemn the Germans for their holocost but we are not allowed to condemn those responsible for the African holocost.
Many African Americans can relate to what Reverend Wright is saying. He might not have voiced it in the same eloquent manner as Martin Luther King when he spoke about this country’s deeds.
I am making a prediction as my final comment. This country is at a cross roads. Obama is attempting to offer a new direction. I know he is guided by a higher power to offer this planet a final chance to change direction. If not given this chance, I predict the downward spiral in this country will continue and like Babylon and Rome will hit rock bottom. The Mayan and Aztec prophecy regarding 2012 will be fulfilled.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
You’ve got to be kidding! Enough is enough. Blacks now have EVERY opportunity that the white man has. Obama is proof positive of that! In fact, it is now the white male that is the group that is discriminated against MOST in this country! Let’s talk about the TRUTH. If you are a minority (this includes a white female), you have a 50% greater chance of being hired for a job or being admitted to a college or university regardless of credentials simply because you are a minority. Where is the justice in that? Non- profit groups are awarded more money if they hire or utilize minorities, even if they are less qualified. Schools are awarded more money for minority enrollment. Research applicants are twice a s likely to be awarded grant money if they are a minority. The list goes on and on. But God forbid that the white man speak out about these things. The truth is that Dr. Wright and those like him are hate mongers and racists who only know the language of hate and blame instead of teaching personal responsibility and self-help. And I want to know why he is so angry at America anyway? He is a retired pastor from a very large and successful congregation and is well-respected and well-loved. Most white Americans would love to have that good fortune. So how has America been so awful to him? Is it ever going to be enough for people like Dr. Wright? He has the world in the palm of his hand but cannot see it because he is blinded by hate and blame. How sad! He had an amazing platform for many years for which he could have empowered his congregation to take personal responsibility and utilize the many opportunities that were before them. Yet he chose to teach the rhetoric of blame and victim status. I say it’s time to turn victim status to victory status! How’s that for a slogan, Obama?
March 21st, 2008 at 4:57 am
Please post the picture of Bill Clinton with Jeremiah Wright on you tube. I believe he went to pray for Bill Clinton after he cheated with Monica. If Rev. Wright is this racist monster why did Bill Clinton pray with him? America should see this! especially P.A.!
March 21st, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I’m sorry, but Jeremiah Wright was asking for it. If you’ve read the speech he clearly damns the US government. Not only because of Iraq, but throughout its entire history. His whole speech is built on rhetorical poppycock that starts in truth and descends further into the government vs the people simplistic ideals. Granted, he’s a pastor, and religion is far from anything that has to do with fact/truth.
The problem was, you had a pastor who was a major influence in a political campaign. A man who is/was like an uncle apparently to Obama and who has apparent influence on Obama. So yeah, if they didn’t see the wolves on the horizon they were naive. As for the American people they have a right to second-guess Obama as a result of this individual.
His speech was garbage, lacking any proven facts and based in emotional rhetoric. Not unlike Obama’s speeches, but the opposite as far as purpose goes. As this speech was obviously meant to upset and maybe even anger, while Obama’s are aimed towards hope.
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:25 am
No, the problem is that the mainstream media has partaken in reporting a national lie.
Reverend Wright does not hate America, if you believe he does then watch his full cermain that the news media failed to report
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ
This makes me wonder why the media would go to such extent to parse video clips to the point that they are completely inaccurate to viewers and incite hate.
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Interesting…. I wonder how many “typical black persons” would like to represent that they would not be offended if a white minister were YouTubed non stop using the N word.
I would like to here just how great and honest you would say this is. The very thing you are supporting is the very thing you yourself are guilty of.
One main difference is that 140 years ago there were black slave traders too JUST AS THERE ARE TODAY.
If you would like to “debate” racism so be it.
I would like to know when the UNIFICATION and forgiveness from the PULPIT enters into the SERMON if one is to believe the “black church” message or is this message only a message with one concept?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Thanks for this article. I have never blogged so much in my life. It is so unfair what the media has done to Pastor Wright and Trinity UCC. CNN has finally posted the full sermon and many bloggers are thankful for hearing the sermon in context. I think that Pastor Wright should sue the media for distroying his character and that of his church for 36 years. The media has to be more responsible and we have to be more responsible. I saw a lot of people come out against the Pastor before they even heard the full sermon. Fox new is becoming a joke, go to http://www.foxattacks.com and see for yourself.
But hear is the full sermon, he may some things that are harsh but nothing that is racist or far-fetched. We have to remember that it was our government that experiment on Black Men in the 60’s (Tuskegee Experiment), and their are more questions than answers to 911 and Hillary will never know what it is like being a Black man. So what was untrue? Here’s the link.
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/21/the-full-story-behind-wright%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%9cgod-damn-america%e2%80%9d-sermon/
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
RC,
I think the Unification and Forgiveness from the pulpit has begun, but there is still so much injustice done to Blacks. So the pulpit becomes the teaching and healing place for many. Remeber Blacks are still being sent to jail in higher numbers than Whites for the same crimes. Blacks are still paid less for the same jobs although they may have the same education and qualification as Whites. Blacks have the poorest school systems, but now that Whites have moved in large numbers back to the inner city, the schools are being fixed up. But Blacks can’t afford to stay in their homes because of the high taxes and their low wages, so they are forced to the suburbs. There is now a class action law suit against lenders, about 16, banks and brokerages for giving Blacks higher cost loans than Whites. Blacks had the same credit and income as Whites but were still given higher cost loans. Many of them have lost their homes to foreclosure. Blacks are contantly being stopped DWB (Driving While Black), this has happened to Congressmen and Senators. Innocent Blacks have been shot constantly by White police because the White police assumed that the “typical Black male” would have a gun and many times the White police have gotten off and no gun was found. Many Blacks can not go into banks and get a loan to start up a small business unless their credit is perfect, where as a White person with blimished credit can. Shall I go on…..
I worked a part-time job once at an auction house. I performed the same duties as 3 others. When I received my check it was at the rate of $50 per hour. I did not know that was the rat I was just invited to help out for a couple of week ends. Well prior to me receiving my 2nd check I was told I was being paid the wrong rate, my rate should have been $9 per hour like the others behind the counter (which were all Black). Although I was doing a job upfront with the auctions as the Whites were I was not to receive the same pay as them. I could have sued but I was young and didn’t know I had that right. But I knew I would never return to that job.
These things stop Blacks from obtaining wealth and passing it down to their children as Whites do. So until society changes the church will be the place that Blacks go to for mental healing. What the media did to Pastor Wright and Trinity was wrong on so many levels and they should definitely sue Fox for starters.
Many White people will never understand because they are not Black. Just as Blacks will never understand why Whites think as they do. I think Obama would be the best hope for bringing this country together. I think Blacks just want equality, which has never happened.
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 pm
I recently learned that Dr. Jeremiah Wright speaks five languages, was offered a teaching position at Yale AND Harvard and is a well respected figure all over the world. When are we, as a people, going to start using our own CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS and stop buying into the rhetoric we are fed by the media? Who on this blog has listened to the ENTIRE sermon? If you are really honest with yourselves, you will admit this whole beef against Dr. Wright is fueled by racism. In response to Nancy’s comment, how naive of you to believe that “blacks now have every opportunity that the white man has.” What rock did you crawl from under? I am a former radio executive with an oldies format in Atlanta and was the only African-American on the sales staff. The large accounts were assigned to my blonde haired-blue eyed counterparts and I was given the phone book. In case you missed the point, it’s like Lincoln freeing the slaves but not giving them the right to vote. So please don’t speak on the black experience if you don’t understand what our culture has to endure to aspire to be treated equal. Also, I run a not for profit organization and I can assure you, we are not rolling in the dough from the contributions our benefactors make to our organization because we “hire or utilize minorities.” In fact, it took me 10 years to secure any grant funding and our mission has always been to serve people who live in at-risk communities. In closing, we often see people of stature and think they have arrived, but until you know a person’s story, don’t hate on their glory. Do you really think that because Dr. Wright is a “retired pastor from a very large and successful congregation” that he has not had to endure the impediment of being a black man in America? TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT. The last time didn’t do our homework and were fed a crock of bull by the media, we ended up in an unjust war.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Shawn P, thank God for giving you the vision to create this blog, and thank you for starting this spirited discussion. Like a lot of the congregation, I was encouraged by my pastor, Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes III, to visit the blog because of the ground swell of blog entries, many of which have been negative. I guess that’s to be expected based on the spin on the honorable Rev. Dr. Wright’s sermon snippet and considering the undeniable dilemma of race in our past and present. Oh yeah, you know where I’m going so go ahead and get your smirk on, my white brethren.
Lest I fall for the “. . . this is about Barack HUSSEIN Obama’s affiliations . . .” banana in the tailpipe head fake, these discussions are more about the unfinished business of race in these yet to be United States of America than Rev. Dr. Wright. So with that, let me add my own perspective to this spirited discussion. The relationship that exists among blacks and whites has always and I believe will always be contentious and at times antagonistic, especially when blacks aspire to assume positions of leadership and power. The reality is blacks and whites in the US share a relationship that began some 400 years ago, and as any relationship therapist will tell you, when a relationship fails, both parties contribute to that failure. And so it is with the black/white relationship.
Let us examine the black contribution to this failure. Unfortunately, blacks to a large degree bought into the “American assimilation” strategy of pursuing the American dream. Most blacks thought if only we conducted ourselves like whites wanted us to, we would be accepted and hopefully embraced. So with that in mind, we’ve spent 400 years looking for validation from people who are largely unwilling, unable, and most certainly unqualified to grant that validation. In my estimation, the downfall of the black community began shortly after integration, and we discovered that no matter how much we yearn to be accepted, it will never be. The social ills that afflict the black community and that are so diabolically emphasized on your nightly news are the result of a people disillusioned by an American dream they never fully understood how to pursue. Consider the plight of legal and so-called “illegal” immigrants, namely Asians, Indians (from India), and Hispanics. None of them have come looking for validation or acceptance - only a chance to work this game called capitalism. Their singular focus on economic empowerment and self sufficiency while maintaining their cultural identity has positioned them to be power players in the 21st century USA. Blacks chose what was behind door number one, hoping to find the so-called melting pot. Immigrants have said keep your pot. We’ll make our own, thank you very much, but I digress.
On to my white counterparts’ contribution to the failed marriage. The white contribution to this dysfunctional relationship is that they bought into this notion that they were in fact culturally and socially superior (overtly expressed in the past, covertly suggested in the present) to this black resource (see slavery) that was no longer needed. And being the great white paternalistic fathers, only they could determine when it was time for blacks to be free (reluctantly - see the Civil War), to be educated, to vote, and to enjoy all the other fruits of being a so-called American. To that end, an untold amount of thought, legislation, legal and extralegal tactics, and productivity have been invested and wasted I might add to oppress this people. With that historic back drop, it is no wonder that Barack’s candidacy and threat of victory have brought our dysfunctional coexistence to the forefront. Unfortunately, his attempts to unite us all will fail, and we will continue to struggle to coexist while other countries namely China, India, and Japan will continue to grow their GDPs beyond ours. You can only waste your productivity for so long before the competition surpasses you. That’s another conversation.
Was the honorable Rev. Dr. Wright diplomatic in his assessment of the US and its foreign policy? Nope. Was he speaking the truth? From where I’m sitting, the answer would be a resounding “yes!” My perspective and cosmos might be in opposition to yours, but while we hail George Washington as a hero, I’m thinking the English might disagree with that sentiment as well.
Rev. Dr. Wright merely pulled the scab off a wound that is very deep and unfortunately will never heal. He shouldn’t be persecuted for exposing what most Americans deny is our legacy. Racism is as American as baseball and apple pie.
Before I close, I should speak to these threats on the Rev. Dr. Wright’s life. Characteristically, some Americans have always resorted to extralegal means to silence those who are bold enough to articulate racial, cultural, and economic injustice. The victims of this cowardly and barbaric response have been white and black so for once, some whites have been sincere when they say, “I don’t see color. I just see people . . .” who need to be beat, shot, lynched, harassed, demonized or just plain erased. It must be said that the non-violent movement died when the Rev. Dr. King was assassinated for speaking truth to power. Hopefully, it is understood that in 2008 blacks are prepared to protect their life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness like good Americans. You know those inalienable rights our founding fathers spoke of . . . wait a minute, our founding fathers also introduced that 3/5 clause too . . .
Like Journey, “Don’t stop . . . believin’!”
March 24th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
The media is not following up on Rev Wright rascist core beliefs!! Rev Wright is a disciple of professor James Cone a professor of Theology at New York’s Union Theological Seminary . James Cone is quoted in William R Jones, “Divene Rasicm: The Unacknowledged Threshold Issue for Black Theology”, in African-American Religious Thought: An Anathology, ed Cornel West and Eddie Glaube, Westminster John Knox Press, 2003, pages 850,856. Take it away James Cone ” black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and aginst white people, then he is a murderer,and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community…Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at which is at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must rejecthis love. (And now more from this lovely person Mr James Cone. Take it away James!!) From Cones’s own, Black Theology and Black Power, 1997,Orbis page 150: For white people, God’s reconciliation in Jesus Christ means that God has made black people a beautiful people; and if they are going to be in relationship with God, they must enter by means of their black brothers, who are a manifestation of God’s presence on earth. The assumption that one can know God without knowing blackness is the basic hersy of the white churches. They want God without blackness, Christ without obedience, love without death. What they fail to realize is that in America, God’s revalation on earth has always been black, red, or some other schocking shade, but never white. Whiteness, as revealed in the history of America, is the expression of what is wrong with man. It is a symbol of man’s depravity. God cannot be white even though white churches have portrayed him as white. When we look at what whiteness has done to the minds of our men in this country, we can see clearlywhat the New Testament meant when it spoke of principalities and powers. To speak of Satn and his powers becomes not just a way of speaking but a fact of reality. When we can see a people who are controlled by an ideology of whiteness, then we know what reconciliation must mean. The coming of Christ means a denial of what we thought we were. It means destroying the white devil in us. Reconciliation to God means that white people are prepared to deny themselves(whiteness), take up the cross(blackness) and follow Christ(black ghetto).
Holy Crap!!!!Can you believe this rascist Crap?!!!! Rev Wright praises Cone and said he is the inspiration for his Black theology. There simply is no way to defend this Hate!!! If you do you are simply a hate spewing cool aid drinker. Wake the hell up and hold Wright for what he is a hatemonger!!
March 25th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Hi I am a first time blogger. I am a former member of Trinity United Church of Christ and now I am a member of Friendship West Baptist Church. Our church that we fellowship with. Thank you Friendship West for your outspoken stand on issues that affect our community and people as a whole and especially black people.
I feel what the media is doing to my former Pastor, The reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. is so horrendous and right out wrong. It is a smoke screen to divert attention that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is behind in the polls.
No one though that a black man could run for president, maybe some smaller office but not president, “But God”. ‘Oops, here he is’, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. People and the media have attacked him from all sides and hehas remained on the issues that affects all citizens and has not been negative as his counterparts have been. “But God”. With God all things are possible. True, this is an historic election year because there are people of all walks of life coming out to register and vote. Why? Because of Senator Barack Obama and Senator Clinton being the first white women to run for president. Take note; Senator Clinton is not the first women, Shirley chisholm was the first black to serve in Congress and the first black women to seek the Democratic presidential nomination for president of the United States of America.
I am so proud of my former pastor (The reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. for what he has done for me (bringing me to Christ and teaching me to not be ashamed of my blackness and to not apologize for being a Christian) and what he has done for the community and this nation as a hold. The Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. dedicated his life to God and being in the line of fire for speaking the truth; in reference to our country, USA. I know the truth hurts. And because he speaks the truth about our government, the powers to be cannot “Handle the Truth”. They would rather distort the truth to their own advantage and sensationalize a story to scare people because the media figures that we as citizens are going to believe everything they tell us. And because this is an election year, the media is taking us back to that old politics instead of trying to help move us forward by telling the truth and not half truths or no truth at all.
We as black people have always praised and worship our Lord and savior Jesus the Christ in song and dance. It is what we call a ‘Holy Ghost Party’ in spirit and truth. When I became a member of Trinity United Church of Christ it was a glorious and scary experience. The church was so hugh to me with all the people. But the more I continued to attend, themore I was learning about me, Jesus Christ and my history as a black person. The more I was learning of the members and Pastor Wright. He would always encourage his members to continue their education. He would always encourage the young people to be the best that God want you to be, love yourself and don’t be afraid of the negative things that people may say about you. He would give them the tools they needed to go through each day of life and not just the here and after. Every year the church would give out thousands of dollar of scholarships to needy students. I have seen more disadvantage children finishing high school and college and contributing to this world their talents and intelligence. And most of all knowing who they are and whose they are, Thank you God, Thank you Pastor Wright for your leadership.
I am so thankful for Pastor Wright because he has taught me to not just listen to what his is saying as he makes parables in the bible to events of today but to do research on my own. He taught not only me, he taught also the congregation of people of him being a man a human being just like we are. He has taught me to know who I am and whose I am.
I say to my fellow brothers and sisters of different races, creed, religions, I don’t hate you and Pastor Wright don’t hate you or America.
I would like to think that most people like each other. Because I love my Jesus Christ I am learning to love my fellow man or women. We all have differences; let us not let these differences keep us from trying to understand and work with one another. And most of all let us not let the media decide how we are going to live our lives and how we are going to vote by trying to scare us. Think and research for yourself.
Proud to be a Member
Evelyn
March 26th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Jerimiah Wright is a gospel genius. Pastor Wright was just telling the truth, he isn’t a racist and I think before you listen to bits and pieces of one of the million sermons that Pastor has preached. Please remember that he and his congregation has given over 8000 students financial aid in the Chicago area; he has one of the largest aids ministries in the US; he has a center for drug and alcohol and many more ministries. There isn’t anything wrong with telling the truth. Some people judge people with out knowing the truth or hearing the entire sermon. Jerimiah Wright is a true man of god. If that wasn’t true, he would not get invitations to preach, teach and minister all OVER the world!!! We love Pastor Wright and as Pastor Moss states ” when you take a bite of something, you really can’t get the full affect of something, you need the full meal to nournish you. The media is taking bits and pieces of Pastor Wrights sermon and I know if they played the entire sermon on TV the world will be saved!
March 26th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
How incredibe is that some of you do not even realize what this man is saying. He calls the USA USKKK of A, he calls Israel a terrorist state that murers inocent Palestinians, he blames the white America government for putting the AIDS Virus in the black population, e meets with terorists and supports them. He puts all ite people an others, besides blacks in one box. You call that a leader. With all do respect, his man is trying to place himsef in the books of history as a geat black leader. All he is doing is showing the world the kind of racist ass he really is. And for the his place in history? well, as a racist ungreatfull moran may be. Wake up people, he is nothing but a radical fundametalist, who infuences the ignornt. Throw him to the garbage and his followers. Including Husein bama.
March 29th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
You all say Obama has sat around the “hater’s church for twenty (20) years what about the forty (40) years of his white grandmother making racist statement over his whole life. Give the guy a he has his own views
April 1st, 2008 at 11:48 am
Perhaps it is time for blacks to try to understand where others are coming from rather than it being a one way street. My ancestors were not even here during the days of slavery yet i deal with racist blacks every day. Look at the comments in the thread by those who not agree with the prodominate opinion here,” Oh, he is just an example of what we are talking about”. White people are open game but nothing can be said about blacks no matter if it is true or not.
I am not rich, i am simply a white man struggling by. However, myself and my brother have been passed over for jobs in which we were most qualified because a black man had to be hired. It took my brother 4 years to get his current job because the company had to meet their quota yet could not find blacks that would not quit within 6 months so they were continually hiring blacks. Yet blacks complain incessantly about not being able to get jobs, i do not understand. I took a test where 2 people were to be hired, one white, one black. I scored third and did not get the job they then dropped to 17th to get the 1st black candidate. Is this fair, is this good for America? These are only a couple of examples.
I know that black people will not listen to whites so perhaps you can ask the Asians if blacks are racist. More than likely you will close your eyes to the truth and those who speak it and dismiss them as racist or uncle tom (Bill Cosby). In the mean time i will continue to deal with your racism as it is payment for the actions of my ancestore. Oh wait, my ancestors were not here yet.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
From everything I have read and heard, including transcripts and recordings of many of the “sermons” preached from the pulpit of Trinity UCC, I would have to conclude that there is a gospel of hatred toward others. The Jesus I serve doesn’t condone hatred toward other people. He said to love your neighbor as yourself. The message of Christ-like love can’t be preached when intertwined with a message of hate, toward your fellow man or toward the population as a whole. Jesus died upon the cross for the sins of man, black, white, red, yellow and we as ministers of the gospel are to share that word of hope and love to all nations and all colors. The Gospel of Christ and God’s Holy Word are not to be twisted to mean anything other than what it says. It can’t be changed by a man to mean that God hates others because of something that has happened. It can’t be changed and twisted to conform to one mans idea and used to back up a gospel of hatred toward people that are a different race than he is. He can speak of these things to a people that are filled with anger and they will accept it with their itching ears and will defend the man and his gospel because it comes from center stage of their sanctuary. This is not the message that is given in the bible or the gospel we are to be sharing with the people. We were warned that these things would happen in the last days and now when it has come to pass, those that confess Christianity are blinded by these ministers that come in teaching other than Christ and Him crucified. To me it doesn’t matter about the black and white thing, true Christians have one thing in common Jesus Christ and nothing dividing them as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Are we supposed to look at each other through our physical fleshly eyes, or through the eyes of a new creature. If we dwell on looking at the world through our carnal sight we will never get to the place God wants us to be and that is looking through the eyes of Christ. If we dwell in the past and let feelings of hate and shame overtake our minds, it will overtake our hearts. We must put on the mind of Christ and ignore what we feel is right in our flesh. We don’t deal in feelings because they can mislead us by playing on our emotions. The subject of race is a very true feeling for many people but we allow those feelings to manifest into angry emotions that damage our testimony of Christ.
We need to put the past behind us no matter the color of our skin and strive to be whet God expects of us all, to act like the Blood Bought Church.
April 6th, 2008 at 8:16 am
I have noticed another side of Rev. Wright..the side of him WHO PREACHES AGAINST GAYS, ABORTION, OUT OF WEDLOCK BIRTHS AND LOOSE WOMEN AND MEN WHO PROWL! I imagine Sen. Obama has ALSO MISSED THOSE SERMONS AS WELL. I am a former Catholic who got fed up with watching fellow Catholics support Abortion and Gay marriage and take Communion. When we confess our “sins” and ask God for forgiveness..there is another side to that request…WE MUST ALSO REPENT, and do Better…GOD DIDN’T SAY JUST COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND I WILL FORGIVE YOU AGAIN! WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO BETTER TO EARN THE PENDING FORGIVENESS. So Obama sat in the Pew week after week and missed the HATE SPEECH SO TOUTED IN THE MEDIA…YET IN THE MANY OF THE TAPES ,,REV, WRIGHT SPOUTS SOME OTHER HATE AS WELL AND IS GETTING A PASS..AND APPARENTLY SEN. OBAMA MISSED THOSE SERMONS AS WELL! WHEN A CATHOLIC PRIEST SPEAKS OUT AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE OR ABORTION HE IS LABELLED AS A HATEFUL PERSON..A WORD TO THE MEDIA..FIND SOME OF THE TAPES I HAVE..ON ABORTION AND GAYS…SEE WHAT YOU ALL CAN DO WITH THOSE!
April 8th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Where did you find any excerpts where Wright preached against homosexuality. It is supported by UCC and TUCC, as well as the members of the church and denomination. The church has ordained homosexual persons. They also support the freedom of women to decide in the cases of abortion. Obama votes the way his church believes. You can’t sit under a teaching and it not influence the way you believe. Obama supports abortion and homosexuality. And when Wright was his pastor and adviser he would have taught him his convictions and views, if he felt that these things were wrong he would have advised him of that, if not accepted he should have parted ways. If things come from the pulpit that you know in your heart and from the word of God are wrong. If one thing from the pulpit is biblically inaccurate or is tainted with personal beliefs, you separate yourself from them. “A little leaven, leaveneth the whole loaf”
If you will notice what Wright preaches is what the people that sit under him want to here, what he preaches against are those things that he feels is harming his race. He condemns the actions that have been associated with black people, although other races have the same problems, he wants them to stop so he comdemns them from the pulpit. His focus is so far toward Africa and the wrong that his people are experiencing that he teaches that it is a sin in the eyes of God and that America is condemned as well as the white people. His focus is so far into teaching the teachings of civil right leaders that the gospel has been twisted to meet his agenda. Even the Easter message dealt with what was happening with Wright, where he was being crucified, or as the message called it lynched, by the media and the white people. I apologize to all that had to hear that message instead of a crucified Christ and His resurrection, which is what Christianity is founded on.
You should read the article written by Wright in the Trumpet Oct. 2003. It deals with the media coverage of UCC conference and dealt with ordaining gays and lesbians into the ministry. Wright was upset because they dealt with that rather than apartied and the topics he felt were important to him, which dealt with the African people. You should also look at their website and the UCC website. And blogs and posts that have been written by church members, they tell what the church teaches and believes.
And finally “Who Am I”, I am a Christian, called by God to preach the gospel of Christ. I am a white male, 45 years old. To me it doesn’t matter the mans skin color, but his attitude and convictions are what disturbs me. I can be friends with anyone and will accept people of any race, if they will accept me as a white Christian. What matters to me is the message preached. That it be as John 3:16 and of Christ crucified and resurrected.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:01 am
I could not resist passing this message along:
Please read this in its entirety…ironic outcome!
1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.
In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)
The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy’s premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief’s medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery.
For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.
What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.
While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/ sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father.
Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.
Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?
After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America’s biggest cities.
This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ. The controversial pastor who the Clintons hoped would ruin Obama’s chances of winning the Democratic Nomination for the Presidency.
June 29th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
If the media “lynched” Wright then he fashioned his own noose and selected his own tree with the incediary remarks he made from the pulpit.