May 08 2008
Yet another experience of missing the real point!
written by Winton Boyd, May 2, 2008
I have no doubt that Barak Obama is angry and upset by by recent public appearances by Dr. Jeremiah Wright, the recently retired pastor of his home church, Trinity UCC in Chicago. But after reading and listening to reports about Wright’s recent public appearance before the NAACP, the National Press Club and on Bill Moyers’ PBS show - I keep wondering if we are ever going to address the substance the issues at hand?
Various news sources have written that Wright’s timing was harmful to Obama, that he is like everyone’s “wacky uncle,” that he is more interested in himself than in the issues, and that he speaks in ways that are, in fact, not common in the black church. Even if all of these descriptions of Wright are true - we cannot let it hide the fact that he is naming many truths that our country would rather not face. We cannot let the media circus hide the fact that our government has sponsored violence around the world. We cannot let it hide the reality that different races experience and understand the world in vastly different ways. We cannot let it hide the fact that the original attacks on Wright and the replaying of small snippets of his sermons was done to induce fear and worry in the minds of white America. Maybe Wright is only partly correct - maybe he is both divisive and descriptive - but he is voicing attitudes and experiences that resonate with millions of Americans in this county? Is it not true that race is complicated and troublesome in our lives?
Whatever Wright’s own motives are for speaking out, there is also cynical public relations strategy being employed towards Wright across all political spectrums and media outlets. Portray him as a bit kooky, as a bit egotistical, a bit paranoid, and way out of the mainstream - because then you don’t have to face his real questions, his real perspective. While presidential politics make this an even more nuanced situation, Wright comes to these airwaves with a great deal of credibility. He has pastored one of the most creative, innovative, service oriented, justice centered and spiritually alive congregations in the country, of any ethnicity. His preaching, while challenging, has been appealing because it names the truth that many in this country know to be real. As a fellow UCC pastor, I have been grateful for his ministry for many years and remain so. I appreciate his attempts to raise important and honest issues that litter our cultural and religious landscape. I also remain grateful that Trinity will continue its rich and dynamic ministry with a new and equally articulate pastor. I am delighted that so many from ORUCC have indicated a desire to travel to Trinity for worship sometime this summer. On this trip, we will not hear Wright, but will have a chance to experience a vibrant , engaged congregation of African American Christians.
I hope as we read Wright’s words, and as we visit Trinity (we will be announcing a visit to the church soon for sometime in June or July), we will do this as more than some sort of exotic field trip. I hope we begin to pay attention to the truth he names. Of course we will not agree with everything he says, but might we listen for a word of God from this man of God? It took a rather outspoken UCC pastor to inject race into the national consciousness again. It may take some bold UCC members to keep it there.
