By now most of the Planet knows Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s harsh words about the United States of America and that God will damn us.
Some people are known by the company they keep, and Rev. Wright was front-page news because he was Barack Obama’s pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois.
Rev. Wright railed against those who are rich, white or privileged, saying Barack Obama is none of those things. Actually, he is all of those things. I read reports about recent income tax returns for him and his wife, both Ivy League universities graduates. He is in a class where I, approaching 60 years old, will never be. [See Wright’s rant on YouTube.]
Will we ever get passed race? Should we? Will whites? Will blacks?
I hate writing on this. I have done so on so many occasions that I become despaired beyond description when the same empty arguments surface despite undeniable evidence of improved opportunities for all people in this country.
This article was precipitated by a friend, a Presbyterian minister in Ohio, who sent me a copy of the letter of support for Rev. Wright by the Black Presbyterian Caucus.
I invite you to first read this letter, signed by Rev. Gregory Bentley, President of the Black Presbyterian Caucus.
I spoke to Rev. Bentley and said that I would present a rebuttal to his letter. He agrees with Rev. Wright that our country is run by and for rich, white men. Implicit in that is the belief that no one else is enfranchised, no one else’s interests are respected, honored, or advanced.
At one level, how can anyone argue with that? If I did some research, I suspect that I would find African nations run by rich, black men, and Hispanic countries controlled by rich, brown men.
[To appreciate an alternate world view, visit this story furnished by Rev. Bentley. There is so much in this piece, “Sacred Cows, Black Jesus and Civil Religion” that I cannot even begin to address it in this column.]
So, what is the point of Rev. Bentley’s letter? What are we to do?
Rev. Bentley and I agree on and welcome dialogue; however, who can participate in it when the narrative runs the course of Dr. Wright’s sermon?
I asked Rev. Bentley where is the black community in Detroit? I was repulsed to hear that 75% of that city’s black youth fail to graduate high school. Interestingly, Rev. Bentley lived in Detroit for some time, so he understands the tragic situation there and in many other U.S. cities. I submit that lack of educational achievement is the primary factor affecting future earning power and, thus, the growing gulf between rich and poor.
We know well how the Black Community received Bill Cosby’s chastisement a few years ago. He was virulently attacked. It is easy for Rev. Wright to condemn another group, but we should all take heed of Jesus’s words about criticizing the speck of wood in someone else’s eyes when failing to see the log in our own.
Where are the black leaders who will “throw down” (one meaning of the name Jeremiah) the word to their communities and promise that such behavior will not stand? Does anyone believe that any significant portion of the white population prefers blacks to fail and wants to live in a society where the consequence of poor decision-making and behavior is increased incarceration rates, intransigent poverty, and continuing desperation? Who wants the cycle to persist?
The Caucus’s letter speaks of the Prophetic Black Tradition but it fails to acknowledge that Vernon Johns, a role-model for Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke will equal force against blacks and whites whose attitudes and actions failed to pave a path towards prosperity and equality. [Rev. Johns suffered his own misfortunes for speaking boldly as Dr. Ralph Luker describes, but that is a story for another time.]
Where is Vernon Johns’ message? Who will speak of the epidemic of teen pregnancy? Of the irresponsible teenage males who abandon their families? Who in the black community will speak and not be ridiculed like Bill Cosby?
Clearly, if the gap in wealth has continued to grow as asserted in Rev. Bentley’s letter, then that is prima facie evidence that our four decades of federal social support programs have been largely ineffective.
Government cannot address such problems. These issues lie within the culture and mores of the society. If black leaders will not condemn lifestyles and behaviors which clearly harm the social and economic fabric of their community, how can whites?
Yes, this issue is painful to me. It is painful because people like Jeremiah Wright, whom I would expect would do anything to improve the lot of his people, seems by his words and actions to ensure that such positive movement will never occur.
I want a dialogue which leads to real and enduring improvement, but if one side closes its ears, how can understanding and growth result?
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Fred W. Apelquist, III, M.Ed.
Approximately 835 words.
(c) April 7, 2008
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