Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. Intellectual Regurgitation Tour

By Dr. Wilson Triviño

            As a Latino who was reared in the South, I was disturbed by the rhetoric that was looped over and over on the media of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr.’s bombastic sermon where he condemns America, it’s government, and white America.  Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr.’s words are important because he is the former senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, of which Barack Obama is a member.

               My first reaction was that these quotes were out of context rhetoric spun out of control for political reasons.  Obama quickly distanced himself from the Rev. Wright’s words and in his failed attempt to address the issue in his speech on race on March 18, 2008. He further equated his preacher’s divisive words with his grandmother’s leeriness of black men.

            Up to this point the silence of Rev. Wright was attributed by him as advice from his mother, paraphrasing the Book of Proverbs, “it is better to be quiet and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”  It is unfortunate that he did not heed his mother’s advice and stay silent.

            In anticipation I watched online video and read the transcripts of the Bill Moyer interview, the April 27 speech before the NAACP and the April 28 speech before the National Press Club. 

There is no doubt that Rev. Wright has had a positive impact in his community with building a church, working on the street level to attack poverty, and AIDS while providing spiritual guidance.   The good Reverend states he, “(is) not a politician… not running for the Oval Office.  I’ve been running for Jesus a long, long time, and I’m not tired yet.”

            The Reverend defense of his words is that the criticisms are not an attack on him, but on “black liberation theology”.   I disagree.  Listening to his response to his critics was a case of intellectual regurgitation.  No where did he weave a coherent argument to his bombastic statements that America deserved 9-11 and that AIDS was a government conspiracy.

            I have attended my fair share of African American church services and feel comfortable with feeding the spirit through music and praise.  I disagree that our nation carries the sins of the past and continues to punish on the basis of race and social equity.

            Obama has some more explaining to do about his relationship with Rev. Wright.  How could he be a member for over 20 years and not be aware of the divisive language and ideas promoted by a Pastor that holds on to the evils of the past rather than promote the vision of promise of love and hope of creating the beloved community. 

            Maybe comedian Chris Rock is right on his observation on the Rev. Wright controversy in a comedic bit on April 11 at the Paramount Theatre.  Rock sarcastically quips, “a 75-year-old black man who hates white people. Is there another type of 75-year-old black man?”  When questioned of Rock’s observations at the National Press Club, Reverend Wright’s simply answered, “I guess it’s just like the media. I’m not 75”.  

Is this what Obama means when he says lets bring “change we can believe in?”

Political Scientist Dr. Wilson Triviño resides in Marietta, Georgia and is a speaker and writer for ABC Vision.  A consulting firm that focuses on leadership, change, and innovation. He may be reached at abcvision@gmail.com