Like most of us with lives, I was out Friday night, so thank God for Tivo. Otherwise, I might have missed the full, uninterrupted interview of Barack Obama's much criticized pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright on PBS.
If you didn't see it, and chances are you didn't, I'd encourage you to go to PBS and view the entire one hour Bill Moyers interview when time permits. Do yourself a favor, and don't let this extensive clarification of the man's full body of work be fed to you in intentional soundbytes, which if you think about it is how the whole problem originated in the first place.
Here's a 2 minute snippet from the interview.
After watching it, many of the things I'd heard about Wright were clarified. He is an extremely intelligent man whose dedication to his country (he served dutifully in both the Marines and Navy), his community, and his God are beyond reproach.
Completely beyond reproach.
Moyers did a good job of asking the questions of Wright that needed to be posed, but in a tone that spoke of a need for clarity, not one-sided accusation. There's a big difference in the two, just peep that time Wright was on Hannity and Colmes and the bushwhack job they pulled on him.
He addressed his military service, the origins of TCC, his community outreach efforts at home and abroad, Black Liberation Theology[1], need for comprehensive black history in public school curriculums[2], and of course the soundbitten "G.D. America" and "chickens come home to roost" quotes that have been taken so widely out of context. By simply playing the 3-4 minutes that proceeded each of those misquotes, and allowing Wright to clarify what was meant, he more or less dispelled any concerns that any rational person could have about his association with Obama. As far as I'm concerned, this was never an issue, so it definitely should no longer be one after this interview.
Of course, there are lots of people who will believe what they want to believe for their own self-advancing purposes. The North Carolina GOP is already running commercials smearing two Democratic gubernatorial candidates who endorsed Obama and accusing them of guilt by association. John McCain continually acts as if this shouldn't be a concern, yet he tries to draw the same "radical Obama" connections himself. But considering the fact that none other than Mike Huckabee has come out in Wright's defense, wouldn't that make McCain guilty by association as well?
I'm just sayin'.
My only qualm with Rebb'n Wright is the same as it's always been: timing. Namely, why did he allow this situation to fester for weeks and weeks when he could have just as easily granted the very same interview the minute this became an issue? One quick visit to 60 Minutes, 20/20, or hell, even Maury could have squashed the whole beef immediately? Instead, Obama is forced to defend another man's words and the media (not just conservatives) has a field day at the expense of a history making run for President. Whether this delay was Wright's decision, Obama's request, or somewhere in between remains unknown. Many of you slammed me when I named Wright one of the 13 Debits To The Black Race a few weeks ago. I hope you understand exactly why I did so now.
This being America and all, I'm sure many people won't bother watching the interview in it's entirety. These people will instead keep spouting the same B.S. about how Wright, and by proxy Obama, is an American hating, Black-nationalist Muslim. And that's all well and good. Because I have a name for these people.
Idiots.
Question: After watching the PBS interview in it's entirety, do you have a different opinion of Wright? John McCain says he will not use this issue in the Fall, but do you believe him?
See The Entire Wright/Moyers Interview [PBS.com]
The Wright factor, part II [Chicago Tribune]
[1] Black Liberation Theology is little more than a call for black folks to be more accountable for their own actions, and less dependent on the government. You'd think the right wing would be all for this.
[2] Slavery and MLK were the only things I learned about black folks in 12 years of public schooling. Period.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Redemption of Rebb'n Wright
Tags Popped: Barry 4 Prez, PoliTricks as Usual, You Must Learn
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Haven't watched it yet but I will before I comment. I just want to say two quick things by way of clarification:
McCain has "condemned" (and yes that's the word he used) the NC ad you mentioned, and said he wished they'd pull it off the air.
Mike Huckabee is a Christian left-oriented populist... how he ended up in the GOP I have no idea, because there is nothing Republican about his policies on economics, taxation, foreign policy, homeland defense, or pretty much anything else except social issues... and lots of Republicans don't agree with him on those either. His opinion signifies nothing about how McCain or the Republican party ought to be thinking or acting.
Now to watch the interview!
McCain won't use it. Nor will he inject the issue of race into the race. I think the way he was treated in South Carolina in 2000 by his own Republican base has cured him forever :)
If anything, it confirmed my belief that Rupert Murdoch (patron saint of meglomaniacal & angry white guys) and his 'followers' need to check their own credentials before challenging the Rev's patriotism and beliefs. Just like those of us in Gen-X/Hip-Hop generation who need to put in a couple of hundred community service hours before criticizing the civil rights establishment...or putting the Rev on a Debit list ;)
@ Mwanga
I appreciate your opinions here, but if you've been around here long enough, you'd know this site is all about Community Service, not bashing elders.
I'm 34 years young. I have been involved in the very tutoring, mentoring, and youth sports coaching activities I advocate here since my freshman year in college. I don't just talk the talk, I try to walk a bit as well.
I respectfully ask that you read around a bit more.
http://www.averagebro.com/2007/10/take-averagebro-challenge.html
I completely agree with you AverageBro. (I almost called you Field Negro)
I think that he waited because he was waiting for God to lead him. Sometimes you need to REALLY think before you speak. Plus, he would never give ad dollars to the same corporate owned media that profited off belittling his name.
But honestly, I think that he should go on a speaking fast and do a little visiting of the sick and shut in. There are some crackheads and dope boys and prostitutes who need a word from the Lord. Forget Fox News and CNN. They only want to vilify Rev. Wright.
The GOSPEL must be carried now and not later. It's not candy, but its the bread of life.
My position remained unchanged. Rev. Wright wasn't saying anything new under the sun. I support him fully.
Maybe Rev. Wright laid low for a minute because he was getting death threats against him and his family and Trinity UCC was getting bomb threats??? I might go underground for a second too, ya think??
The folk that weren't going to vote for Barack weren't going to vote for him anyway so for me that's a non-starter.
Once, again it just proves that white folks are so blinded with privilege that they can live life blissfully without having to learn about or try to understand other cultures. I'm sure some probably think everyone that attends a black church is some flaming radical. Eh. What-evs.
I enjoyed the program and I'm happy that Rev. Wright was given a chance to defend himself.
My views of him remain unchanged --- I agree with him.
Correction, it's TUCC, you said TCC, it stands for Trinity, which is a part of the UCC, United Church of Christ denomination.
Now to the questions.
Personally I think Wright is feeding his own ego. I think he could have waited until at least the convention time since he decided to wait. And granted that the church was in a tailspin right after that with church members getting followed by news reporters, bomb threats on the church, church members getting their bags searched, dealing with media calling members on the sick and shut in list--I don't blame him for not going on the air.
As a result, I think politically he should have waited.
But, if not now then when?
Honestly, would any time have been the right time (no pun intended)? So, honestly, as much as I want Obama to win, I'm not even convinced that people are making the connection between the two now and thankfully we're having the broader discussion about what Wright is saying as opposed to why Obama was a church member. Now of course, in white owned media, it's still taken out of context, but at least its out there. I just wish there were more people who took the time to analyze and intellectualize the sociology and culture from which black people speak, and stop trying to fit what we say into the mold of what whites define as mainstream thought.
Alas, I'm living in the United States.
JLL
My opinion of the good reverend has not changed at all. While I never said he was not a decent man, he like many black people whether they were alive back then or not, still think its 1950 and no progress has been made or better yet 1850.
You can tell from the comments about being "blinded by white privilege" and "what whites define as mainstream thought" that it's not just Wright who needs to break out of a rut.
Which one is a larger proof of blinders: failure to fully understand or appreciate the acknowledged nuances and diversity of a minority culture, or attributing to the majority a monolithic unified worldview in which diversity and multiplicity of opinion and belief is entirely ignored?
Or, to put it in the common southern dialect, don't go thinkin all them white folk think the same.
My favorite part of the "blinded by white privilege" argument is that it's impossible to disprove. Any argument that tries to falsify the charge of blindness is defeated by claiming the arguer is too blinded by white privilege to understand how his white privilege blinds him! What's not to love, eh?
I think the young earth creationists use the same circular logic to defend their beliefs... proof of evolution is merely another example of how God tests your faith in Creation. Classic!
I'm 24min into the interview... I'll have something on point to say when I'm finished with it.
Since I don't have a life, I watched the Moyers show on Friday night, so my impressions are three days old (and not refreshed by the video since I'm at work).
My impression of Wright before Friday was of a man unfairly accused by a too-short soundbite in order to smear a presidential candidate. Colateral damage. After the interview I came away more impressed by his depth and intelligence than had been shown.
McCain doesn't need to use smear tactics. He can "condemn" them, "condemn" them "strongly", and it won't matter. Some Republican 527 or another will put out one hit piece after another and he won't have to be seen as going into the gutter himself. Very conveeeenient.
BTW, how long have you been blogrolled by CrooksandLiars? I just noticed you this AM. And FWIW, I'm a 50-something average white guy. Screen name is stolen from a pet that had an unfortunate series of accidents in his first few weeks of life.
Fall back, AB. I've gone through the archives and know your service card's been punched. I was just pulling your chain about putting the Rev on your debit list and the statement you'd made about the NUL not doing anything, which hit a nerve, considering how active the NUL Young Professionals are in the Beltway. No disrespect intended.
@Spool 32:
Since I was the one who made the comments about 'white priviledge', I'll bite.
Obviously, hit dogs will holla. If you were one of those progressive thinking white folks then you probably wouldn't have responded at all. Because my comment wouldn't have applied to you, right?
As for being in a rut, I think not. I'm simply shaped by experience plus I'm a realist.
You might the exception to the rule but the reality is that white folks do have to learn about minority culture if they don't want to.
Minority folks on the other hand learn about the majority culture all day, every day.
And that's just the truth.
@ Mwanga
I shouldn't have included the Urban League on that post. Bad decision, I will cop to that one.
I was actually a member of the GWUL Urban Professionals for a few years long ago. I give that organization lots of credit for being proactive and encouraging grassroots level service. It's how I got started with being a mentor.
So, bad call on my part.
@ uppity
My bad, spelled it wrong. Spellcheck doesn't catch that sorta stuff. TUCC, not TCC.
@ Daedalus
lemme guess... you didn't bother watching the video, did you?
@ poopyman
love that screen name!
C&L crosslinks me every now and then. I just wish they'd actually link to REAL POSTS that I do, as opposed to the occasional weekend video dump. But hey, it brought you here, so I guess it's all gravy.
@ zack
Being compared to Field is a high compliment. that's my 2nd favorite blog.
@Tiff:
I'll grant you the point about learning of minority cultures, though I'd prefer we all learn American history together, with all the good and bad you find, than focusing on "black" or "hispanic" cultures, which are almost as comically oversimplified ideas as "white" culture might be. I promise you, the white guy from Soho is going to have more serious cultural disconnect when I take him down to the BBQ joint / firing range near my house, than any black guy from a southern farm town will.
But that wasn't my point. :)
The last thing I'd ever want to be accused of is being a "progressive", mostly because politically they have very little interest in progress, and when they do, it's often just for the sake of doing something without thinking of the consequences. the Progressive movement is who brought us Prohibition, and their track record is equally bad right up to the present day.
Anyhow, if I'm reading your response correctly, you've pretty well proved my point, in an impressive double-loop of circular logic. Not only are protestations against "white privilege" proof that the protester is blind to his privilege, pointing out the circularity and unfalsifiable nature of this argument is even stronger proof!
Clearly, the only people who would point out that the "white privilege" accusation is impossible to disprove due to the circular nature of the argument itself, are people who have been beneficiaries!
lol!
I prefer to believe instead that logic is color-blind, and equally accessible to people of all races.
@Spool:
Since I'm not really interested in getting into a pissing match in AB's comments, I'll just end this madness right here by saying: you believe what you believe and I'll believe what I believe.
As you were.
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