Why Jeremiah Wright's Comments Bother Me. (Just this black woman's perspective)

I'm hurt on so many levels by Jeremiah Wright's comments. I hardly know where to begin. I'm a Christian. Although I heard him proudly proclaim black liberation theology in an interview, I couldn't help but twinge. I didn't find his comments very Christian. As a black woman, I also didn't find his comments very liberating. In fact, they felt somewhat shackling and restrictive. I'm not a writer. I can't express myself as well as many here on Gather. It's hard to write about how I feel about this man.

Growing up in the south (Mississippi), I've experienced racism. It's raw. It's ugly. But, I know the Mississippi I live in today is not the Mississippi my grandparents experienced. I feel blessed. There's no better way to express it. I'm blessed to live in these times. So, the Christian in me bristled at Reverend Wright's comments.

I'm also a black woman in an interracial marriage. My husband is white. We've been married here in Mississippi over ten years. It's not easy. In fact, the hardest thing we've ever experienced was finding a church that could accept us both. The woman in me that loves my husband, bristled at Reverend Wright's comments.

I have a beautiful biracial son. He's two years old and asleep now. He's so precious to me. It's hard for me to think of Reverend Wright and picture my son at the same time. My heart aches for the pent up anger this man must carry.

I haven't been a political supportor of Senator Obama's. I do follow his campaign. It's hard to see him and not consider new opportunties for my two year old. My sister was five years old, when another child in a neighbor's backyard called her the "n" word. Words do matter. They stick with you. His grandparents had always been very kind to my parents. This neighbor helped my father install my basketball backboard. He was very ashamed of his grandson. He insisted that his grandson had never heard such language from him. He admitted his son-in-law was another story entirely. We believed him. But, the relationship was forever altered.

My family and I have visited many churches. Some churches with predominately white congregations would have willing pastors. But, would later pull my husband aside and tell him older congregation members may have a problem with us. Black churches tended to be more willing. But, with some older ministers, a little "Jeremiah Wright" would bubble up to the surface. Probably not what my husband needs to make it through the work week.

My husband teaches at a black high school. It's hard to call it a "predominately" black school because it has NO white students, although there is one hispanic child in the school. My husband's students assume he's rich. Since we're both educators, this is worth a good chuckle. His students admit, they assume he's rich because he's white. They assume most white people are rich. That's their reality. So, he's called a number of names (whitey, cracker...), etc. Hurtful, I can assure you. Some of these kids hate him before they know him. It's the kind of hate, you really don't expect from children.

Whenever we've looked for a church, we've always considered what we wanted our children to learn. It's unfair to reduce Rev. Wright's career to a few seconds on CNN. But, it's been my experience over the years that what bubbles up is what's really on the heart. I'm not naive enough to believe these were isolated incidences, but rather an honest assessment that he felt driven to share. I'm sure he preached on other topics. I can't imagine how a sermon on love and forgiveness can come through the same lips. But, I'm sure he preached those sermons as well.

I can understand Senator Obama's explanation of a man who's from another era in our history. But, my grandmother was much older than Reverend Wright, and yet her open acceptance of my husband even now brings tears to my eyes. Surely, its the same bible.

I don't believe Senator Obama believed the racist comments made by Jeremiah Wright. His relationship with him doesn't strike me as unusual. Perhaps, they connected on a personal level. Perhaps Jeremiah Wright was instrumental in not only leading him to Christ, but also in learning about his heritage. And, yet...I can't imagine sitting in the pews each week with my children listening to this venom. I can't deny it. I've heard it from a pulpit or two. But, not for long. It's not what I wanted for my children. Perhaps, this is what my husband's students (that actually go to church) get to hear on Sunday morning.

On that particular issue, our judgement differs. I'm old enough to decipher a message and understand the underlying hate that might sit in his heart. But, it's hard to explain that level of hate to my children when it comes from the pulpit. Is it righteous anger? Quite frankly, I don't know.

I think righteous indignation has to actually be right.

Consider the following:
Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who despitefully use you, and persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven.
<address>(Matthew 5:44-45).

It's hard for me to know this verse and justify Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
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