Get a Clue
In reference to Toledo attorney Lafe Tolliver’s April 3rd, guest editorial title, “Judge pastor in context of the black religious experience.” The pastor in question is of course the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The issue at the heart of Mr. Tolliver’s editorial was the now infamous sermon given by Rev Wright— Sen. Barack Obama pastor. Remember this is only one white guy’s opinion and I’ll warm you right up front this might sting a little.
I’m glad the Rev. Wright’s inflammatory diatribe did not derail Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign. God can take something bad and use it for good. If the speech in question improves race relations in America it will be a blessing. We’ll bounce back, we always do. But that speech sure didn’t promote healing– because it wasn’t designed to. Imagine if Rev. Wright would have taken the high road, he could have rode the Obama wave and helped free this country from its racial quagmire and moved us forward.
Senator Obama is not a stupid man. Even though he did not disown his pastor I’m sure he will be politically savvy enough to keep a healthy distance from Rev. Wright from now on. Instead of being a frequent visitor to the White House and spiritual advisor to the President of the United States, Rev. Wright will be a pitiful footnote in political history.
Personally I wouldn’t have a problem with the president’s spiritual advisor sitting next to him on Air Force One, hobnob with world leaders, of course that’s assuming that spiritual advisor isn’t Rev. Wright. The good Reverend’s best years of ministry could have been ahead of him, instead he retired in under a cloud of shame.
Maybe I missed that day in theology class, but I was always under the impression a pastor’s job is to encourage his flock to love, bless, and forgive those that have wronged them— not hate, curse, and condemn.
Preaching like Rev. Wright’s; what Mr. Tolliver referred to “hot-sauced pulpit rhetoric,” although more common in black churches it is not a spectacle peculiar to black churches. Many white, money grubbing televangelists do funny things with their voices too. What they lack in solid theology they try to make up for with flimsy theatrics.
That type of preaching does nothing to help inner city youth. Inflame impressionable youth with a feeling of entitlement. It angers them, leaving them bewildered at the injustice of it all, It sends these inner city youth into the world with a chip on their shoulder that they have no right to carry. Then when I pass some black youth on the street and they glare at me as if I were the blue-eyed devil who took a bullwhip to grandma’s back. There’s a world of difference between stereotyping and playing the odds.
The black community has created a passive-aggressive relationship with it white cousins. When our attempts to help the black community are dismissed as condescending, or accepted ungratefully as something we owe because your great grand-daddy was a slave. When the black community can use the “N-word,” at will, and with impunity, but the white community is scared to use it, and would rather say, or spell-out “N-word,” than to use the word “nigger” even when quoting someone who did.
To quote Mr. Tolliver, “…white America, including its professing Christian churches are clueless about the black church experience in America.” I take exception to that Mr. Tolliver, I know African American history, I lived through the racially turbulent sixties, and I remember all too well how ugly those days were; as do millions of other God fearing white-folk. To blow us off a “clueless,” is, well, insulting. But beyond that it’s narrow minded, if you would take the time to listen you may gain some insight.
There are many successful African American’s in all walks of life; health, law, entertainment, sports, politics. Now white’s and black’s share a candidate, a man with a white mother and a black father, who may very well may be the next president of the United States. I for one hope so, if Sen. Obama makes it to the White House, we will be privy to one of the most interesting social experiments in the history of this country.
Is the white community where it needs to be? No. But neither is the black. Am I as Christ-like as I long to be? No, not even close. Frankly, I think I have a lot of Archie Bunker in me. You remember that loveable buffoon who didn’t hate anyone, but at least to his credit seemed to disliked everybody equally. But when push comes to shove, I, like Archie, will do the right thing.
The south side of Chicago is the baddest part of town according to singer/songwriter Jim Croce. Is the area surrounding Sen. Obama’s home church an example of what we can expect the inner cities of America to emulate? That’s all we can look forward too, things won’t change in the inner cities. The only difference I foresee is some short lived hubris for some in the black community, deflated quickly when stark reality sets in and a realization that only education, hard work, and righteous living will improve their lot in life.
Let’s imagine a Obama White House for a minute. When Barack raises his right-hand and takes the oath of office many inner city black youth will be dancing in the streets, or rioting, I don’t know which. “Free at last, free at last, great God almighty we’re free at last.” Then looking toward the sky expecting the heavens to open and money to come raining down like manna from heaven.
One thing will change with an Obama White House— the race card will have been spent. No longer will race be a wild card to be used for any and all difficulties faced in life.
Get a clue.