Every once in while I am “forced” to update my blog with a new post, this time, it is the incendiary preaching of Pastor Jeremiah Wright that brought me out of hibernation. The last time I came out of hibernation, it was the incendiary comments of radio talk show host, Don Imus that got me to venture out of my humble hood.
Even though the comments by these two influential men on either side of America’s racial divide have in common the provocation they setoff and the offense they have caused, there is a difference, however. While Pastor Jeremiah Wright’s comment may have been borne of frustration, indignation and, perhaps, misdirected animosity, Don Imus’ comments may have stemmed from self-conceit, insensitivity, disrespect, contempt, and derision.
With regard to Jeremiah Wright’s comments, I have to say that he chose the wrong sermon to mark his retirement from thirty-some years of ministry. His comments were imprudent, unproductive, unedifying, and undermines what Senator Obama has been trying to do, which is develop a new approach to racial reconciliation and a new way to move America forward.
It could be said that, by the controversial comments in some of Pastor Wright's sermons, he has distracted from Senator Obama's message and may have diminished his non-confrontational "ecumenical" approach, consequently hurting his cross-cultural appeal, by inadvertently reviving the hitherto absent, usual presumptiveness that have typically hobbled the appeal of previous African American aspirants. Those comments may have cost Senator Obama the chance to, not only become the first African American President of the United States, but the opportunity to get America unstuck from the morass of a certain history and perception, and move her forward to the great country she can become. This is still the best country in world, in fact, the only country that could produce an incredible story like Barack Obama's. Yet, America's full potential still only lay ahead. Imagine all the possibilities that lie in America's potentials - immutable potentials that are inextricably bound in the immutable providential ideals upon which America was founded.
Even though, Pastor Wright appear to qualify his statement and the object of his anger with the phrase “rich white people” like “Hillary”, which would appear to suggest that he did not imply or direct his anger at all white people. Nevertheless, he, as one who professes to minister the word of God, ought to learn from Proverbs 15: 1, 2 and 4: "A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." As Abraham Lincoln said, “When the conduct of men is designed to be influenced, persuasion, kind, unassuming persuasion, should ever be adopted. It is an old and a true maxim, that a ‘drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.” We all recognize the wisdom in this in Lincoln's Gaithersburg address - a sermon that healed a wounded nation, rather than divide her on that premise.
As I have written elsewhere, racism, even the appearance of it, creates division, destroys the nation’s unity, and weakens her strength. Influential people, whether pastors, politicians, policemen, academics, media personalities, or social commentators, who make comments that lend themselves to racism or the appearance of it, in an environment polluted with distrust and suspicion, which perennially engender a charged sociopolitical atmosphere and frequently ignite explosive conflicts, are like occupants of a ship, who punch holes in its bow, while the rest of the occupants bail water out of the ship to keep it afloat. The vessel will inevitably sink with everyone in it unless the damage is repaired and the people responsible prevented from punching more holes. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “A small leak will sink a ship.” America is the ship in which we all journey; we must not allow racism or the appearance of it to sink her.
America cannot afford to postpone indefinitely, what needs to be done and must be done to move her forward. America is mature enough to deal with the issues of race in America once and for all, especially knowing that much of the issue is now to a large extent, particularly relevant in historical and symbolic contexts, since America, in my opinion, has a lot to show for the last forty years and difference to the previous four hundred years. “Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today,” Abraham Lincoln said.
We cannot afford to continue to live in fear of history. History is, perhaps, like medicine, sometimes unpalatable but able heal the body and make it well again or even better. History should not be read backwards, but must be used in the proper contexts to shape a better future.
Truth must be spoken in fairness, especially when spoken by a pastor, to edify the people and move them to righteous actions. Rather than rant and rave in bitterness and animosity, Pastor Wright needs to follow the admonitions of the Bible, and speak in a language that appeals to reason, not just emotion; a language that convicts the spirit and moves people to act in ways that would inspire repentance, forgiveness, healing and reconciliation - ways that bring out the best in people, not the worst. He needs to speak the truth with wisdom and fairness.
