The Rev.

I watched Reverend Jeremiah Wright's speech and final address, as the senior pastor is now stepping down from the Chicago Trinity United Church of Christ after a tenure of 36 years. He spent the length of his oration exclaiming the nuances of his church's faith, positions and actions in relation to social justice, and public service. More importantly, he aimed to profess the prophetic ideology of the Black Church by engaging in rhetoric that, to some degree, unveiled its history, traditions, theology and objectives.

I must say, I was impressed. Reverend White is undoubtedly well read and well versed. He made an interesting allusion by comparing the tradition and history of the Black Church to Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. The senior pastor subtly suggested that the existence of the Black Church has historically lay dormant in the culture of this country and has imminently become non-existent in the eyes of the dominant culture. However, there are a group of sociologists, theologians, political experts, and denomination officials who will convene and collectively study the history and traditions of the Black Church. I find that totally eerie. The history and traditions have been void of any penetrating studies by outside authoritarians for centuries, and now the scholars of the "dominant culture" (meaning white) wish to study the Black Church? They finally want to study the Black Church when it finally shows signs of subversive ideology towards the dominant culture, with the most prominent and recent example being the edited comments of Reverend White.

In addition, the Reverend happens to be the pastor of a Black senator who is now showing a great possibility of inheriting the most coveted job in these United States. This is the same senator who, with all things that disturbs him about this country, has shrewdly evaded the label of the "Angry Black Man" and has used that elusiveness as a paradigm to secure his political position. But now his pastor is being stratified as an "Angry Black Man" by the same forces who aim to suppress and repress any dark, brown, or fair skinned human being who accurately expresses the sins, collusions, bellicosities, injustices, and vile actions that lay in the fabric of this nation's history. Totally not surprising.

Why are people so fearful of the "Angry Black Man" or the "Angry Black Woman"? Because those same people understand that that Angry Black Man or Woman has discerned the darkest parts of this country's history and customs with a level of impeccability that disturbs their conscious. And consequently they feel guilty. And this is why those people label the conscious Black person as "angry". It serves as a means to qualify that person as illogical. They deem the conscious black person as a human being who is consumed with fermenting emotion and lacks a necessary logic that could bring credence to whatever they're saying. That has remained palpable throughout history. Brother Shabazz is the perfect example. I read the great Malcolm X's book and I swear, that man typified what it meant to be analytical. He examined and critically assessed the problems of this nation with great poignancy and in the face of some his most ominous opponents. And what did they say? They said he was "angry". You damn right. He, as well as any other person who has begun to understand the terrible customs and history that underlies this country, has the right to be severely disturbed by what they have learned, found and seen. Malcolm X was not commercialized as much as Dr. King Jr. because Martin's ideologies were subtle opposed to Malcolm's who expressed an extreme undying disappointment in the history and wills of this country. The "angry" black person is the most feared human being by that abstract "they" I keep referring to. And you know I'm telling the truth.

This is great a time to integrate a Huey Freeman quote into this blog:

White teacher tells the young Huey that he would love to see his vision.
Huey's response.....

"My vision? My vision would turn your world upside down, tear asunder your illusions, and send the sanctuary of your own ignorance crashing down around you. Now ask yourself, do you really want to see that vision?"

Nuff said.

They said the same thing about Spike when he made his most controversial film, Do The Right Thing. They called him "angry". Why? Because that film unveiled the darkest truths about the race relations that existed in Brooklyn, and probably more so in these United States. I have definitely been called angry. And I'm pretty sure every time I open my mouth in class and suggest some kind of subversive theory or philosophy, I've been thought of in the minds of my conservative peers as either "angry" or "conspiratorial". Ha! And I thought truth was undeniable. And here we are again with the labeling of the angry black man with Reverend Wright. And what kind of subversive antics is he pulling that "they" don't like? It's the denomination of the religion to which he is proscribing to: Liberal Christianity. The Conservative Christian Fundamentalists probably hold the Reverend in the roots of their ire. Why? Because Liberal Christianity denounces all methods and ideologies of hate, discrimination, exploitation, injustice, marginalization, and oppression......things that Conservative Christianity fail to address and even reinforce or facilitate.

Now, I haven't exactly proscribed to a specific religion. But I must say I'd be leaning towards Liberal Theology. Any set of religious mores and principles that recognize and adhere to the fair treatment of people, I'm down for holistically. And I love what The Rev. is doing. He has that rare combination of unmasking the truth and rhapsodizing with seriousness and humor. While he was being facetious throughout the Q & A session of his address, he was witty and refuted every question with intelligence and accuracy. Yeah, The Rev's got that swag. If you haven't watched the address by Reverend Wright, I encourage you to do so. The Rev keeps it real. And thats the double truth, Ruth.

Favorite Rev. Wright Quotes from Speech

1.Question: Could you explain what you meant in your sermon when you said the United States had brought the terrorist attacks on itself, quote, “America’s chickens are coming home to roost”?

After the Rev. asks, she admits that she didn’t hear the entire speech.

Answer: So…. You haven’t heard the whole sermon. Well, that nullifies that question. Let me try to respond in a non-bombastic way.

(claps from the audience)

First of all, if you heard the whole sermon you heard that I was quoting the ambassador from Iraq, that’s number one. But number two, to quote the Bible, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For whatsoever you sow, you also shall…. (crowd ends his sentence) Reap.” Jesus said do unto others as you would have them do unto you. You can not do terrorism on other people and expect it never to come back on you. Those are Biblical principles, not Jeremiah Wright bombastic divisive principles.

2. I served six years in the military. Does that make me unpatriotic? How many years has Cheney served?

3. I believe that people of all faiths have to work together in this country if were going to build a future for our children.

4. You get two people in the same room……you got three opinions.

5. Louis Farrakhan is not my enemy. He did not put me in chains. He did not put me in slavery and he did not make me this color. (Rev. Wright is fair skinned)

6. I’m not running for office…….I am open to being Vice……..president.

7. Question: Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but through me. Do you believe this and do you think Islam is a way to Salvation?

Answer: Jesus also said, other sheep have I, who are not of this sole.

Parting Thoughts:
Who ever colluded to assassinate the great Malcolm X killed more than just a man. After reading him, researching and learning about him, I think they killed a powerful hope as well. Malcolm's ideology had profoundly changed towards the end of his life, and he began calling upon the leaders and the masses of Black people to aid him in his efforts to expunge the miserable condition that darkened this country. And his leadership skills were unbelievable...... Maybe if he hadn't died, the unification, enlightenment and the socio-economic upward mobility of the masses of black people, and possibly everyone in the African diaspora, wouldn't be just a dream.

Oh yeah, Make your ideas heard. By Any Means Necessary.