Who is Wright and Who is Wrong?

This entry was spurred by two events:

Jeremiah Wright gave thoughtful answers to Bill Moyers on Bill Moyers Journal. If you have not seen it, I recommend looking it up on YouTube.

Wright's appearance at the Press Club, on the other hand, was a surreal event. He was peppered with many insulting questions that betrayed either the ignorance or the visciousness of the questioner it's hard to tell which. I'm not saying tough questions shouldn't be asked, but there were many cheap shots as well. It was about as friendly an atmosphere as Ahmedinejad at Columbia University. Considering the sparring atmosphere, it's not surprising that J. Wright did a bit of sparring of his own, but mostly handled annoying questions in a dignified, if animated way.

Barack Obama may want to "distance" himself from Jeremiah Wright, but if Obama is our next president, is it possible or even desirable to exit the opened topic of race in America? Obama held out the olive branch to all Americans and understandably wants to represent and reconcile all Americans. For those who feel that race is still a burning issue, the strategy seems yet another means of sweeping problems under the rug.

Jeremiah Wright has a right to speak for himself, to defend his positions, to defend the traditions and perspectives of African American Christians. He, himself, was attacked and maligned in the press (not just Obama's "guilt" by association.) It is his prerogative to speak for himself. He has a right to be angry, both at the negative attention he has received and at the denial of many blatant wrongs that members of the white community wish to... wish away.

Politically, this will be difficult for Obama because his campaign is based on change and unity. Working class whites who have not received a college education that includes diversity exposure will have experienced race more viscerally in employment competition where discrimination against blacks, latinos, and immigrants, and women drives wages down. Competition is intensified by the tremendous job losses due to NAFTA and the dismantling, shrinking, and migration of the American manufacturing base. White, working-class voters have been supporting Hillary Clinton and will probably continue to do so and now in greater numbers. It takes more effort to reconcile those who are competing most fiercely with one another--There is a world of misunderstanding and a world of history to confront.

Obama does not wish to confront. Non-confrontation has been his hallmark. This is among his most admirable qualities. After living with the insufferable aggression, confrontation, and obstinacy of the current administration, the cool composure, the reasoning, the calm exterior of Barack Obama is very refreshing and qualities I want in a leader.

Obama's explanatory speech after the first Jeremiah Wright exerpts aired was hailed by some journalists as "one of the best since Martin Luther King, Jr." No faint praise. Apparently, it did not get sufficient airing in a sufficient amount, or the damage had already been done to alienate skittish white voters and no amount of amends would put it right.

Since the door was open and the light was shining on the statements of Jeremiah Wright, he felt, I believe, morally obligated to continue that exploration more publicly (if not more sensitively) and to have the conversation in public that African Americans have been having among themselves for decades if not longer. He wants to give exposure to the problems of America, the fallout of terrible policies, the damage done to communities. Most of what he says is perfectly mainstream. And what isn't mainstream might still be true--the trouble with ideas that are kept in the dark is that they fail to get enough attention and research for the validation or debunking--so myths, rumors, circulate along with the anecdotes and revelations that are as true as they are outrageous. Yet another good reason to go ahead and have it out in public, however uncomfortable that may be for some people. "The truth shall make you free." Or so we hope and so Jeremiah Wright hopes.

Wright's decision to have the debate in public may hurt Barack Obama's presidential bid. I don't think that if Obama took the same tack that he would succeed with voters (though I view it as unfortunate. ) Will black voters look less favorably at Obama if he refuses to take up the confrontational stance? Does reconciliation work as a strategy for black voters, or do some feel betrayed by his approach as being too conciliatory, even pandering? This was the concern at first, but his success seemed to have lifted many spirits and won over many doubters.

Would it be realistic to inaugurate the first black president and then never bring up the subject again as though that basically settles it--the final frontier, the highest glass ceiling shattered? I think not. And I think Obama (had it not come up in such contentious terms now) would have addressed it and would have done so in his own cool-headed and gentle way. Perhaps even in a way that helps reconciliation. Think Mandela.

Jeremiah Wright is right. But, he is fiery. We have a fiery President, a fiery Democratic candidate (Did Hillary say "obliterate Iran?" Crikeys!) And a fiery Republican candidate--McCain's temper is legendary. Yes, America needs to "come to Jesus" on the issue of race. America needs to wake up. America needs to solve problems not hide, not look for ways to get off the hook. But I'm concerned that the temperature in America is already way way up and turning it up further may lead to something still more fearful.

I hope that as a result America really HAS the conversation on race that Wright wants us to have because the truth has come at a high price. The truth may have cost us our first black president. For those who love the truth above all else, the truth must prevail whatever the cost. Yet, I must admit I will feel the loss if Obama loses.