The one thing that is clear to me about the issue of Jeremiah Wright is that it is far too complex for our media to accurately capture. But one other thing is clear: as much as one can argue that his words were taken out of context before, his speeches to the NAACP and National Press Club contained extremely troubling statements, in context. And Obama was right to forcefully renounce those views today.
It is clear that Wright’s assertion that AIDS was created by the U.S. government is paranoid.
It is clear that his support of Farrakhan is troubling and his implication that white people are his enemy by placing his ancestors in chains appears on its face to be opposed to the teachings of the Christ he follows.
It is clear that he simplistically morally equates U.S. and Israeli military action with terrorism.
And yet to dismiss what he says completely without listening and engaging with it is to miss an opportunity. Why does Reverend Wright believe the things he does? What has he seen in his life which has formed his opinions? And are there nuggets of truth in his message from which we can learn?
Regardless of what happens to Barack Obama’s candidacy, our country needs to deal with its racial demons. What we need is not the vilification of people who say things which are wrong or which make us uncomfortable, but true racial reconciliation. Messy, angry, forgiving, racial reconciliation. White folks are going to need to hear what the Jeremiah Wrights have to say and black folks are going to need to understand the fears (rational or irrational) which continue to drive white racism, without condemning each other. And every other ethnic group will need to join in right along with them in this conversation. We’re going to need to listen much more than we speak, and forgive much more than we condemn.
Like with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, this incident is a teachable moment for our country. If we miss the opportunity, like with our failure to address issues of poverty and race after Katrina, we will continue to slog through the uneasy racial peace which defines our country today. But if we grasp it, we have a chance to start to build the beloved community that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called us to so many years ago.
I pray that it will be the latter, but unfortunately my cynicism leads me to believe it will be the former.
