My Two Cents. . .
As I listen to the media reaction to Barack Obama's speech on race I am sad, angry and proud. I'm proud because Barack Obama did not compromise himself in the face of considerable political pressure.
I'm angry because the press has minimized his speech to, "Did he reject his pastor or not?" This speech not only revealed more about his philosophy on race and politics it allowed Barack Obama to describe these past events as a distraction. We are being distracted from the issues and the more the media keeps this up the more people are looking away from problems that are real in their life.
I'm sad because in order to understand the situation fully people have to actually believe Barack Obama when he says that these sermon snippets do not represent the pastor or his church. But how will people believe that when all they see are these continuous clips of inflammatory speech? They would actually have to take Barack Obama at his word, research the church and the pastor and come to their own conclusions. But I'm sad because I don't think the American people want to do this. It's too easy to watch TV and let their opinions be formed by what they see in the media. But looking at those clips is like looking at a red spot on a white suit and calling the suit red.
If Barack Obama's relationship with his church and pastor are what people use to decide whether he should be president, then I am losing faith in the American people. I'm not sure we deserve Barack Obama's talent if it has come to this. What I do know is that I'm glad he took a stand for what he knows is true. This church is not racist and Barack Obama is not racist either. It's better that he maintains his character and lose the race than cave to political pressure, compromise himself and lose the race.
What happens next? I think that he will go back to talking about the issues but lets hope that this speech ends the discussion of his church and pastor. Judge Barack Obama for who he is--study him and his policies. But don't make assumptions about his pastor and then project your incorrect conclusions on him.
There are always going to be people who want to play Devil's advocate so it is what it is.
If America doesn't elect Obama, it's America's fault. I am at peace with that.
That sppech was brilliant. He did not throw his pastor under the bus, like any typical politican would do. Sadly, I think his speech had too much nuance for the average American who won't have time to listen to it and will hear only a clip here or a clip there.
I forced myself to watch Fox News and there reaction to it. Newt (leave my wife on her deathbed) Gingrich initially said he thought it was great then he said he was offended by it. When Obama actually had tha audacity to call out his white grandmother for her racist comments, Hannity intones why would he do that? Instead of acknowledging the racism that creates a Rev. Wright Hannity acted like Obama was wrong for speaking the truth. O'Reilly was making it seem like the Black Church may be the next generation of Madrasas. How dare you descendents of Black folks who were brought here in chains actually be angry, How dare you? It's times like this when I refuse to talk to a white person about race because you will see me on the six o'clock news: "Top Story Crazy Black man is choking out a white guy for no good reason!"
America's economy is in the toilet, America is still in Iraq, the Pentagon (not Moveon.org) found there was no operational link between Saddam and Al Qaida and the majority of the news is focusing on Eliot Spitzer's harlot. Weapons of Mass Distraction, you gotta love it.
Being in DC at a progressive convention, I have heard some very interesting comments. It is surprising to me how white people have very little understand of why blacks may feel the way they do. Even progressives I(and these are the whites that fight the hardest for civil rights issues) have very little understanding of the impacts of slavery/oppression on a people.
True points all. I too have been amazed at how much not the media have missed the point of the speech. With all of the CNN and Fox news programs I watched yesterday, the only person who said he felt Obama not only addressed the Wright issue, but also the topic of race in America eloquently was a black man, Michael Eric Dyson. Everyone else parsed out how they didn't think he went into enough detail DESPITE the fact that he repeatedly went back to Wright's rhetoric and denounced it. He also used it as a stepping off point to discuss the underlying issues of race on both sides (black & white).
If he had spent the entire speech denouncing Wright, hanging him in effigy and saying that was another "bone-headed mistake", they would have turned around and used it against him anyway and we would have thought him a political sell-out.
Despite claiming to be "fair & balanced", Hannity is self-serving and I knew he would not drop this issue because he believes he was the very first person in the country to take note of Barack and Trinity one year ago. If he let it go, he would lose his "bragging rights". Karl Rove was on his show 2 nights ago and, shockingly, put Obama through the ringer -- I mean, who would expect that from a Republican. Anyway, he and many others said we have to see what Obama says in his speech in Philly. I wonder how many of them bothered to listen to what he had to say? I wonder how many of them could actually HEAR the truth he spoke as anything more than fodder.
O'Reilly, Rove and others dismiss the fact that the Black experience in America is different from the white experience. They completely miss the fact that Blacks indignation toward racism is different than racism. They liken the Barack-Wright NONtroversy to a white senator who was found listening to David Dukes teaching. "He would have to be gone yesterday", they say. If a white politician could explain his relationship with a KKK member/mentor as well as Barack did AND his actions contradicted that hate-mongering way of thinking, then that white man would get a "pass" from me.
We'll ignore for now that a church and a KKK rally are two completely different animals. We'll also ignore the fact that, other than Keith Olbermann, the longtime Clinton-Ferraro relationship was not criticized this fiercely and it is obvious that Ferraro's racism is several decades old. HC got a pass with "it's regrettable", yet Barack has to heal a several centuries' old wound in order to justify why he should be President. Now, that is racism at work and THAT is why Black people can get as pissed off as Rev. Wright.
Some whites become uneasy of anything or anyone that challenges or criticizes their social status or belief of being the “center”. The watchers are never comfortable being the watched.
This is why Barack finds himself in a jam. It’s not so much what Rev Wright said or didn’t say, but the fact that a free thinking man of independent means and influence (not determined or restricted by the “center”) had anything critical to say at all from his church beyond swing low sweet chariot. (How dare he look at the world from a different perspective?)
The “center” is not a mind set that is exclusive to whites only. The “center” is an equal opportunity brain washer that influences many of us of us to some degree.
Did anyone else notice that Rev Wright as well as his criticisms has been deemed racist? You already can’t say that the Jewish run Hollywood . So now, you can’t say that this country is run by rich white people. What’s next? You can’t say the NBA is dominated by rich Black men or that Black Rappers dominate hip hop?
The African American Christian experience - particularly Baptist - is rooted in the liberation slogan of FORMER SLAVES.
(Back in the day, if blacks were even allowed in 'white' churches with massa, they had to sit in the balcony.)
This issue is about white fear and Obama's being a black man. White folks will never understand the black church or its rhetoric because they choose not to delve into an issue - by visiting a black church - but would rather rely on sound bites to capture its essence.
Pity.
But they will enver consider that htere has NEVER been a terorist act aimed against the USA by black folks, despite our treatment in this country.
It's called fear coupled with white guilt. And if white America doesn't wake up to that understanding shame on them.
agreed! Go Chi-chi and CJ.
Sadly Big J has a point. But I am "NOT" ok with that. Change is going to come one way or another and if America is ROME, we're in big trouble. Pennsylvania polls are already predicating a Clinton surge in the vote at 50% over Obama’s 35%. Just last week, the race was, neck and NECK!
On another note, I have heard some white people speak very positively about Barack and his pastor on WURD. Some do understand and are still on board for the change and hope that Obama proselytizes.
On WURD 900 am (a phenomenal black station in philly) at 4:30 pm Hamptonian Albert Butler debates the issues that affects our generation and beyond. His talk show is amusing, earnest and ingenious. With such topics as “Relationship Wednesday, Entertainment Spotlight, Coonin’ and Coolin” selections… he’s changing the face of talk radio! Check it out… www.900amwurd.com
I watched Faux News' never ending "coverage" of the speech and Wright's sound bites and I am completely dumbfounded by the media's refusal to acknowledge that Blacks in Wright's generation experienced blatant institutional racism first-hand and have every right to be completely pissed off at this country's treatment of people of color both here and overseas. "He's an America-hater...' wtf is that? They're very lucky that we are not a vengeful people and have basically turned the anger inside. White people need to be forced to sit in a room and watch all that black history month footage with the dogs, hoses and beatings over and over again until they get a clue.
agreed Patrice. In fact, a new animated documentary was done on the "Chicago 10." The director Brett Morgan noted exactly that! He was horrified and cried EACH time he had to view and edit the footage of the "dogs, hoses and beatings." The movie looks phenomenal, please check it out. Take all the non-emphathetic folks.
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