Thou Shall Not Talk About Race in Public

Rev. Jeremiah Wright

This morning I watched the Rev. Wright as he spoke at the National Press Club. I even put it on DVR. It is not that I have so much free time to see what's on tv. It is because I believe the current controversy involving Rev. Wright is relevant to all of us - even those not voting for Obama.

On ABC's "This Week" Donna Brazile has been very direct the last couple of times she has been on their round table. The first time I heard her comment was when she said that this is not so unusual in Black churches. (and her colleagues gasped!). This Sunday she told everyone that these problems were not about Obama, they were being seen by Rev. Wright and many other African Americans as an attack on the Black Church.

This morning in his speech the Reverend kept saying that just because people were different (including their beliefs, way of life etc) did not mean one perspective was better than another. The audience was made up of mostly African Americans. The very few whites (Anglos) were not smiling. Wright did not have to play politics, as he said after the election he will continue being a minister... He doesn't have to be coy about his answers. When asked what did he think about Obama not remembering a number of the sermons - Wright asked his moderator when was the last time she heard her minister give a sermon (she didn't answer and didn't smile either).

Perhaps the polemic is really about a Black man being President. Just as the news keeps showing Wright's anger during his sermons , maybe people are afraid that Obama might someday do the same (I doubt it, Columbia and Harvard University took it out of him if he ever had it). The fear is that Obama will be angry and encourage other African Americans to be angry also. ( see blog post "Speaking out is not victimhood" March 23, 2008)

The Rev. Wright can hold his own very well. It is good that he is speaking out. My surprise is the reaction of many non-minorities. Their silence and somber expressions at the press club says it all.

Perhaps he is being chastised because he is speaking openly about what he really thinks. Negative things about other groups should be discussed in private.

more on this later.


Wright says criticism is attack on black church
By NEDRA PICKLER
The Associated Press
Washington Post
Monday, April 28, 2008; 10:07 AM

WASHINGTON -- The Rev. Jeremiah Wright says criticism surrounding his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church...Wright says black church traditions are still "invisible" to many Americans, as they have been throughout the country's history.

Wright spoke at the National Press Club Monday morning before the Washington press corps and a supportive audience of black church leaders beginning a two-day symposium...

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