Rev. Wright and the Easter Bunny
Wright and ministers of his generation preached their fire and brimstone because they were victims of a racist past filled Jim Crow laws, Colored-Only signs and a government that often worked against them.
For decades, the only sanctuary was the church, where people came not only to do good deeds, but to seek inspiration as well.
But inspiration for African Americans may cause great pain for some whites who can't understand how Obama could be their president and still sit in the pews with Wright and the other members of Trinity.
It is also likely that many of the young whites who now cling to Obama and fill his campaign don't understand Jeremiah Wright, or the world that produced him.
To some, both black and white, Wright feels like a relic of the past, but the issues he has championed are still very relevant today. Wright has not been seen, nor has he made any effort to explain himself, in the wake of his new-found notoriety.
It was left to Obama, the politician, to speak for the old pastor.
But the lingering question out of this whole episode is whether Americans, black and white, can ever be liberated from a mindset in which it is always hard to believe that those who look differently from us can really be a brother or sister.
It was easy for Obama to deliver a speech in the City of Brotherly Love; it was even easy for him to talk about race as he has been forced to do all of his life. It is easy for Wright to stay out of sight for awhile. But the American reality on this issue, in this time of Easter, is still a sad one.
Church sermons filled with angry racial metaphors will probably not help to change that. And real change is measured in action and not words.
Who will tame the 900-pound, pink gorilla?
Hamil R. Harris covers religion on the Metro desk of the Washington Post. His book,
Career Diary of a Newspaper Reporter
, was released in the fall.
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Andre C. Willis explains Obama's covert pulpitry. Charlayne Hunter-Gault asks if the media is really ready to talk about race. Full text and video of "A More Perfect Union," Obama's Philadelphia address on race.
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Rev. Wright and the Easter Bunny
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View All Comments »reinadelaz at 03/25/2008 6:55:57 PM
Comment:
Amen!
notyetuhuru at 03/23/2008 3:27:03 PM
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Posted By:
Mosi Kwane Ambilikile at 3/23/2008
I don't know anything about no "Easter Bunny", but I do know the history of its creation like everything else in this place called North America. Now, there is a new series program on cable called, "John Adams", where the commentator makes a commet that says, "the whiteman is weak, evil, and 'vicious'." And nobody is talking about that. My question is why whenever someone is raised up to speak truth to power, the social order designs ways to kill it, discredit it, or disolve the messenger? And those who catch on to the message they are dissuaded. Hate the message and leave the messenger along.
If I had time I would show that all through Scripture those who spoke truth to power or spoke on behalf of the poor, oppress, and the leftout, there was always a plot to shut them up oneway or another. Particularily, Moses (exiled), Jeremiah (thrown into a pit), John the Revelator (head cut-off), Jesus (plotted against and crucified), and His disciples (almost dissuaded), and Paul (thrown in prison). In our time Lumumba (killed), Steve Biko (killed), Nelson Mandela (prisoned on trump up charges), Malcolm X (killed), Rev. Dr. Martin King (killed), Minister Louis Farrakhan (ostracize-calling a anti-Semtic) and many more if you take a careful study of history.
Some people need to find themselves some business and leave Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. the hell alone.
Happy Resurrection Day!
jazflutesmith at 03/23/2008 2:37:49 PM
Comment:
Black Churches really need to address really important issues. Black Churches and Clergy should stay out of politics....forever.