When Obama’s minister, Jeremiah Wright, was initially quoted in the news media, I stated in one of my reflections that the big news for me was that white people were so surprised at his comments. I’ll stand by that statement. Perhaps more information about the black church might be helpful, to explain how Wright could appear so “wrong.”
I should say, to begin with, that although my experience with the black church has not been extensive, I have attended Black worship services from time to time; I took a course in black preaching in seminary and preached in a black church as part of that course; and subsequently facilitated a seminary course in black preaching for Starr King School, our UU seminary in Berkeley. (Two of my African American colleagues had agreed to co-facilitate the class and then for personal reasons had to back out at the last minute, leaving me, a white woman, to do the job. So about 8 African American seminary students and I spent an interesting semester together, and I learned from them.)
Although all black churches are not alike, one can make some generalizations that hold true for many such churches. The minister is the prophet, the truth-teller, the dominant force of the community. His word (and it’s a masculine world, by and large) is law. In the sermon, black preachers typically start slowly, interpreting the scripture for their people, and then build to a climax, which is often dramatic and can include shouting, striding up and down the aisles of the church, and chanting repetitious phrases. There may be other ministers and lay ministers in the congregation who will minister to the minister by wiping his brow or giving him water, for he may be exhausted at this point, having given his all to call down the Spirit to his people.
In terms of the content, the black preacher will speak to the experience and the needs of his people, and the message will often contain prophetic words of justice and/or a specific political message. Some ministers are more dramatic, more playful, more intense, more “show-offy” than others. Clearly, Jeremiah Wright is one of these.
But back to the question, was Jeremiah Wright wrong? I believe he was wrong in grandstanding, as he has done, at a very crucial time in the candidacy of his congregant, Barack Obama. Ministers are there to serve others, not themselves or their own egos. Sure, we all have egos that get dragged into play, sometimes in unfortunate ways–but this election is too important and Obama’s candidacy too threatened to justify Wright’s current behavior. It appears that he wants his 15 minutes of fame, and if he has to sacrifice his congregant, and our potential president, so be it. That’s not OK.
Rev. Wright, I have to say you’ve got it all wrong this time.
