SPRING BREAK BLOG: “Obama should have spoken sooner”
Kathleen Parker
March 31, 2008
Barack Obama’s race speech didn’t adequately answer the key question of his relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, but his comments were revelatory in important ways.
What Obama highlighted, if indirectly, is the dormant disconnect between much of black and white America. And what he revealed, if accidentally, is that he has contributed to that disconnect as a passive participant.
We need to talk, Obama says. So let’s talk.
What has become clear in the several days since Obama’s speech in Philadelphia is that blacks and whites see things differently – in some cases, as different as black and white.
To the average white American, especially one who doesn’t subscribe to the fire-and-brimstone school of religious expression, Wright is an unfamiliar character. He may be a Christian but his orientation is African and he speaks the language of white conspiracy.
What was jolting for many whites wasn’t that Wright has a following – to each his own – but that Obama, a man who intends to lead an entire country, found a home among the pews of Wright’s church. That Obama eventually distanced himself from some of Wright’s rhetoric only raises the second question: What took so long?
How can anyone sit in a church where the minister says, for instance, that the U.S. government invented the AIDS virus to kill blacks? Obama may have been too young or too naive at some point along his 20-year relationship with Wright, but eventually, shouldn’t the man who became an Illinois state senator and then a U.S. senator and then a presidential contender have spoken up before he was forced to?
Those are reasonable questions, but they are mostly white questions.
Blacks have others. Obama was correct when he said that Wright, though sometimes wrong, spoke to deep wounds and a history most whites don’t like to examine too closely.
The historical experience of blacks and whites in this country couldn’t be more different. Whites know it intellectually, but blacks feel it viscerally. No matter how many books we read or movies we watch, whites can never quite grasp what it is to be black or to be descended from people who were denied their humanity and enslaved by whites with the benign approval of the state.
But we didn’t do it, we protest. Our children aren’t guilty. When is enough enough? Why must preachers such as Wright insist on fanning those flames?
White Americans want to put race behind them, to move on. And many had hoped Obama was the man to make that happen. The big surprise was learning that he belongs to a church where the past is loudly present. Obama gave himself away when, in his speech, he paraphrased William Faulkner: “The past isn’t dead and buried. In fact, it isn’t even past.”
Black history, meanwhile, makes it possible for many to accept the theory advanced by Wright that white men invented the AIDS virus to destroy black populations. After all, the 40-year Tuskegee syphilis study, in which about 400 black men with syphilis were left untreated and uninformed as part of an experiment, was conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Public Health Service.
Given that history, the AIDS theory doesn’t require much of a leap for many in the black community. The AIDS virus has hit African-Americans harder than any other group. For blacks in the United States, HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even though blacks account for about 13 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 49 percent of those who get HIV and AIDS.
Whites account for 31 percent.
A white person might view these statistics on the CDC Web site and understand that blacks suffer more in part because of barriers such as poverty, sexually transmitted disease and cultural stigmas that put blacks at higher risk. Blacks – especially those under the spell of Wrighteousness – might view the same information and at least wonder if something else is going on.
So, yes, there is work to be done. Between a history of distrust born of painful experience – and people like Wright who keep that history alive and well-stoked – racial harmony will require more than hope. It will also require that people like Obama speak up and object to harmful rhetoric, sooner rather than later, even if it hurts the ones he loves.
There’s a reason why it’s lonely at the top.
All right, I can understand how some blacks can look at those AIDS statistics and wonder if something is going on. I can even understand how they and Rev. Wright can see that blacks account for 49 percent of AIDS victims. But I can’t see how they can possibly believe that the government would create a virus to try and destroy the black population.
First of all, the government has made too large of an effort over the past forty or fifty years to make amends with the black community to try and destroy them. All it takes is a quick look at the myriad college scholarships offered to African-Americans and other minorities to see how much the government values this group’s support.
Second, the AIDS virus has been around for what–forty years? Didn’t the Civil Rights Movement start sometime before then? By 1968, it was well underway and people were beginning to look at African-Americans not as subhuman, but as a minority group that had been mistreated and now needed government protection and compensation. Any plot that the government had to destroy them–especially through a deadly virus–would have come to light by now.
Finally, why create a deadly virus that isn’t restrained by race? Why try to destroy one group with a virus that kills all races, whites included? It seems kind of counterintuitive to me.
In short, Wright is wrong. There is no evidence that whites want blacks gone–especially when we’re doing everything possible to help them. Just take a look at the requirements for Spokane community colleges’ scholarships and you’ll see what I mean.
This article in some ways is ridiculous. It is unreal to hear that African Americans think that the government created the AIDS virus to kill off the black race. That is RIDICULOUS! This whole article reminds me of the movie we watched in class about the African American kids going to the white school for the first time, and how they were so hated by all the whites. It is unbelievable to me that still Americans as a whole have not gotten over the race issue. Except now its African Americans who hate the whites, it’s a complete 180 from back in the day. It is unfortunate for Obama that his Pastor said the stuff that is getting made into a huge deal. But I can’t figure out if it’s going to be good or bad publicity. Obviously it’s bad in the sense of what his pastor said, but can he spin it to make him look like the good guy in the situation. If Obama can get the United States to get past the idea of racism, then I believe that he has a great shot at presidency, if he can get Americans to get rid of racism, then what other great things could he do for our country?
This is all about spin. In the first place, white and black Americans have different worldviews for many reasons. When videos of Rev. Wright surfaced, white and black Americans reacted very differently. Many conservative whites believe Wright to be an Anti-American racist, while more liberal blacks point out that he represents a generation of African-American leaders angered by this nation’s historical treatment of their race. I watched videos from FOX news and other sources, designed to highlight the aspects of Wright’s sermons most likely to incense white folks. Rev. Wright says some inflammatory things, yes, but he also speaks a great deal of truth. A guest commentator on FOX pointed out that Republican political candidates have been endorsed by the likes of Pat Robertson and Jerry Fallwell for years, without nearly the kind of outrage expressed at the relationship between Barack Obama and Wright. Robertson and Fallwell are racist and homophobic, yet their endorsement of white Republicans fails to ignite passions because we are quite accustomed to that perspective. We’re used to privileged white men who think 9/11 was retribution for the U.S.’s acceptance of homosexuality. Rev. Wright’s comments caused an uproar because his perspective—that of a middle-aged black man unwilling to forget centuries of state-sponsored discrimination—is not often heard in the mainstream media. There is a divide between blacks and whites in this country, and rather than tear apart a minister and his congregant for condoning a perspective of anger, we should look closer at the causes of anger on both sides.
NC – Connection
I haven’t yet sat down and watched Obama’s entire speech, but I’ve heard about it (my mother talked all about it during dinner the night he spoke) and have seen many clips on the news.
I think this a very tricky situation that Obama is in, and it brings up the issue of race in a frightening way. I mean, one could argue (and I’m sure many are) that if he spent years in Reverend Wright’s church, listening to his theories of white conspiracy, he must have seen something in those theories. Perhaps some truth? Because obviously some people did/do.
I personally think the whole thing is sort of ridiculous. Obama made sure to distance himself from Wright’s claims, while still keeping his connection to the man, whom he described as a father figure. I think if Obama was a fellow believer of Wright’s outlandish claims, we’d have some solid proof by now. I think the fact that he spoke out against what his former Reverend said, whether prompted or not, should dissuade many worries.
As far as claims that the government started AIDs to kill of the black community… seems like grasping at straws to me. He’s obviously found his following with other African Americans who believe the white community is out to get them, so he’s going to feed that fire with everything he can think of. He just sounds like a very outspoken, angry guy who might spend a little too much time on his soapbox. (I thought Danielle made a really good point about this theory… it just doesn’t add up. Why would the government risk every race in the attempt to eliminate one?)
NC – Connection
Is the article title pertaining to…
The fact that Obama sat in the church pews, listening to R. Wright’s preaching, or the fact that he didn’t immedietly respond to the stories running about him?
People tend to lash out when they …
are hurt/scared/want attention. Maybe this is what Wright did.
As far as Obama sitting in the Church pews and listening, the only thing I can say about that is sheer curiosity.
It has been said many times before that Obama can be the one to bridge the gap.
But the article says that he has been like the rest of us. Dormant about the issues between.
As a white kid, no, I will never quite understand what it means to be black. But I’ve been taught all my life that blacks were freed from slavery, and not to be racist against them. A little pondering on my part makes me wonder, if we, just forgot… the racist past we’ve had, if we simply, dropped, the fact that they are differant from us. And treated people equally, would, would there be equality? Would the tension disappear? …Probably not. Because history is bound to repeat itself (people are just afraid of differance?), but, it was worth a thought. Two cents.
I found this article quite interesting mainly because I didn’t know everything that this crazy pastor has been saying in his sermons. In my opinion this just goes to show you that we do have a racism problem in America and white people really aren’t the only ones to blame. How many times have you seen or heard an African American make a joke or a rude comment about being white? I know that there are racist white people, but I’m sick and tired of being the scapegoat for all racism. Barack Obama must believe the things Wright has been saying because he wasn’t there to speak up and say “That’s not right,” while it was going on. Some of the African American community demonstrates grudges against white America and believes we are here to hold them down and keep them from being something in our society. We give them the same opportunities as white people and in some cases more. Should the color of your skin give you a better chance to get into college just because they want to diversify the campus? You can’t listen to Hip Hop music without hearing “And the white man gets rich off of all of that.” Personally I’m amazed that white people aren’t seriously pissed about this. If we were to make a WET (White Entertainment Television), or a white caucus* in Congress, all hell would break loose. Barack Obama needs to break away from this black vs. white business and show that he is more mature than to believe that the “White” government gave black people AIDS on purpose, oh and can’t forget that we gave them crack too, you know cause white people don’t do drugs either. What it boils down to is Barack Obama believes this hate speech nonsense that Wright is spreading or else he would have done something about it before the media and his run for presidency forced him to.
*Caucus (congressional)—a group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Most are composed of members from both parties and from both houses.
We’ve talked in class about how Wright has been a father-figure to Obama since he was young. How can people just expect Obama to just distance himself from this man. Not only that, but Kautzman has also said that these “white conspiracy” talks aren’t all that Wright talks about and that it’s quite possible these clips could just be the worst of it (in small amounts). How can that be fair? When someone is a father to you, there is only so far you can push them away…and I think this is very true in Obama position.
I don’t in anyway agree with these things that Wright has said in this article, but Obama hasn’t agreed with them either! He’s never supported these things said.
Finally, I think that when we talked about opportunities for African-American students applying for scholarships to college in class, some people were ignorant. Even though it’s not us who have oppressed their race, they have still paid the price for it. Many white families have been going to college for generations (or at least had the opportunity), whereas for African-Americans, that hasn’t been the case. They have been set back by generations because of oppressing them, so why not give them opportunity to become everything they can…which is FAR more than “our” slaves. They deserved and deserve the same treatment in every way…unfortunately they didn’t get that generations ago, so it’s our job to give them all the opportunity possible now.
Well, interesting article. I wouldn’t say that the government really wanted to kill off African Americans by creating an intense virus, but I was not there and do not know how corrupted the government was or how desperate they felt about African Americans. Anyway, it is all about the perspective: “blacks and whites see things differently – in some cases, as different as black and white.” Although we grow up together in one country, we have different backgrounds and different parts in history. Those two things create a very different view of life. “No matter how many books we read or movies we watch, whites can never quite grasp what it is to be black or to be descended from people who were denied their humanity and enslaved by whites with the benign approval of the state.” African Americans have suffered through these things whereas whites have just watched. It is very sad, but it’s true. And unless white Americans go through what the black population had to, they will never understand the feelings and the perspective that the black population has been ingrained with. One thing about this article that really bothered me was this quote: “White Americans want to put race behind them, to move on.” The thought is all fine and dandy, but the reality of it is preposterous! You can’t just put it behind you, not yet at least. It has only been about 50 years since the big racism was lessened, and much racism does still happen today. One thing about this quote that also bothered me was that it seemed to imply that the past should be left behind and not learned from. It could just be me, but that’s how it felt. Anyway, this article really reminded me of my summer book, Stupid White Men by Michael Moore. I know that this is a very biased source, but in it he had an entire chapter of the many racist acts that still happen today in our country. The little things that just don’t seem right if we are ‘so past racism.’ He told of an African American girl whose case was dismissed because she was black. He told of many business agreements that really disregard African Americans, and it really bothered me. The thing that really bothered me was that I had no idea. I could barely fathom it. I thought that racism was way before my lifetime and that it was never going to happen again. That was my perspective. I had never seen other perspectives about race. It gave me a little bit of understanding, but I will never truly know because I have never been discriminated against in that way.
SSEMB
Obama’s race speech was an incredible one that I was really intrigued about after I listened to it. He is known as the man of change and as a man who can bring people from so many diverse groups together. However, after Rev Wrights comments came out, Obama and his campaign had to do a lot of spin control. Rev Wrights is not one that speaks to the masses, or appeals to them. His comments are very racist and strongly opinionated, which is why (like in the article) people question why Obama stayed in the church for so long. Never the less, the Obama campaign had to spin this story, or explain the story to the media and such in a way that it helps Obama or the result doesn’t completely destroy his campaign. The brilliant “race speech” Obama’s team put together was their spin. In his speech he talks about why he stayed in the church and tries to lessen the blows and radicality of what the Rev says. He also takes the chance to bring up the idea of race in general to show that his views are not Rev Wrights. I think this spin control method worked because not a lot of much media attention was given to the story. It also helps that Obama’s team decided to push them in the direction of Clinton’s fake sniper attack allegations but altogether it was a great example of taking a bad situation and spinning into a slightly positive one.
I remember a week or two ago Hilary Clinton made a statement about not being able to choose your family, but you can choose your pastor. The only problem with this is that Reverend Wright is like family to Barack Obama. Kautzman told us in class that Wright was and is like a father figure to Obama since he didn’t have his real father around. We have also heard that the sound bites and video clips that were played on the news are not Wrights main focus during his sermons. I personally don’t agree with the things that Wright has said but im not about ready to put the words of another man on Obama. He has stated publicly that he disagrees with what his Reverend has said. I don’t understand how people blame him for not pushing Wright away after this, because it would be about the same as pushing his father away.
The writer is very wrong about a lot of very key things. He says white America just wants to move on; the problem is that segregation only ended within a majority of people’s lifetimes. It’s not as if White America is now friendly to minorities. We like to pretend we are, but in reality many things that go on today are causing many of the African American population to think like Rev. Wright. For example, the predominately white national government being slow to respond to New Orleans. Thousands died because they had no fresh food or water, many of these thousands would have lived if the government had reacted. The majority of these people? African American. It infuriates me that someone can make such a bold claim as to suggest that white America is no longer prejudice against African Americans. It is not that African Americans have not let go, it’s that their culture is now so different because we segregated them from society for so long, and as we’ve learn they are still today naturally segregated. African Americans are rare in North Spokane, but in the Bronx a Caucasian might feel “out of place” because they are now amongst the minority. Until we resolve that “out of place” feeling racism will never be gone.
I read this article a few days ago, and I’ve been thinking about it a lot.
When you guys say that it would be preposterous for a Government to discriminate against a certain group of people, I imagine you all getting startled at the very suggestion, your fancy monocles falling into your drinks. Also, in this scenario, you all have British accents. Danielle, you point at the various scholarships offered to minorities, and Government protection for blacks. Have you ever heard of the term 40 acres and a mule? You can NOT point at a free pottery class at SCC and call it compensation.
The AIDS virus is theorized to have come out of Africa, after hunters came into contact with contaminated monkey blood. The AIDS virus spread within the black population quickly, and many white supremacists claimed that it was because they bred like animals, propagating the idea the black people were subhuman. By 1968, interracial marriage was still illegal in 17 states. Red-Lining policies for real estate agents made sure that black families were confined to very condensed areas and/or areas far away from white people. This policy was very popular in Spokane. There is research being conducted to see the correlation between the bubonic plague and the AIDS virus– European descendants of the small percentage of people who were immune to the plague that swept the continent in the 1600’s are said to have an extremely high resistance to the HIV virus today.
It’s not about validating the Reverend’s point, it’s about trying to get a glimpse of his point of view. Instead of looking at Reverend Wright and denying that racism exists within the system, we can do the EXACT OPPOSITE BY SEEING THE RACISM INHERENT IN THE SYSTEM, AND MAKING THE SYSTEM BETTER.
I think Obama should have cut ties with Rev. Wright long ago if he wanted to pursue a career in politics. I think Hillary Clinton is right to say “you can’t pick your family, but you can pick your pastor.” It’s so true. And don’t try to tell me “oh Wright is like a father figure to Barack” because that’s bull. Obama should have distanced himself from some one kooky enough to believe that the U.S. created AIDS to kill blacks. They should probably look to inner-city neighborhoods in Chicago, L.A., and Baltimore where many blacks are sharing needles to figure out AIDS stats. (I know that sounded really racists and I know there are tons of different people who do drugs.) Well back to Obama. I hate how when he is faced with a scandal like this he turns it into a discussion on race and how he’ll change things, again with the “changing” and the “hope” and all the words with no action. But I have to hand it to him. He knows how to spin a story. We’ve talked about knowing how to spin things is essential in an election campaign and I just wish people could use it as a reason not to vote for Obama. (Because I like Hillary a lot more)