Rev. Jeremiah Wright's Sermon in Context

When the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons first came under fire, I didn't even want to bother arguing about them. I was raised in a black church. I knew how good preachers would use hyperbole and aggressive statements to make their point during sermons aimed at teaching bold lessons to parishioners.

But then, of all people, Bubba the Love Sponge hipped me to some postings on YouTube, where an enterprising videographer found larger clips of the most notorious sermons quoted by TV news outlets in the stories which kicked off the controversy about his speeches. And I was ashamed.

Because Rev. Wright deserved a better defender than I -- or, frankly Barack Obama -- have been during this nonsense. A look at these clips, which present much larger excerpts of Wright's speeches, shows that his seemingly damning statements came during passionate speeches about America's history of racial oppression and America's history of killing innocents while exacting military revenge against enemies.

One of Rev. Wright's most controversial comments -- the statements about "chickens coming home to roost" after 9/11 -- was his quote of a white ambassador speaking on Fox News Channel. Why didn't the TV news reporters tell us this?

It is true that Wright has also made some strident charges which aren't true. In a phrase within his GD America speech, he says the government injected black men with syphillis. Presumably, he is referring to the legendary Tuskegee Experiment, in which nearly 400 black men who already had syphillis were led to believe they were being treated for it when they were really being observed by government physicians noting the effects of the disease's advancement. (ironically, the story was broken in 1972 by Jean Heller, a former St. Pete Times reporter who was working for the Associated Press at the time)

He's also said the government has given drugs to black people, a possible reference to a widely discredited theory that the CIA helped establish the drug pipeline which first brought crack cocaine to Los Angeles, as a method of funding the Nicaraguan Contra rebels. This theory was the subject of a 1996 three-part series in the San Jose Mercury News and a book. But the newspaper backed off the story after it was published and the reporter, Gary Webb, eventually killed himself in 2004.

What is clear here, is that Wright is articulating the suspicions and cynicism of many black people about the motives of a government led mostly by white people. I think his characterizations can sometimes be simplistic and off base, but I don't think he's the raving racist some pundits have made him out to be.

Check these two excerpts of his speeches from YouTube and see if they don't make you think twice:

Comments

[Linda In Wyoming]

After watching the full video, which I appreciated, I can see how much people are still so prejudice in this country and want to pretend that it is the other people of colors fault for everything. If one does not know "our" bible than you would think the reverand to be in error. He is not. The bible strictly says that one who behaves as America does is to be damned. This simple means that God is not expected to bless their efforts in what ever endevours they are partaking in, because if it is rightous behavior God is expected to put his blessings on their actions. We all need to open our eyes to the decline in morality and the level of tolerance toward self degradation in the country. How can we critise this dedicated man for speaking the word, when Sarah Palin, is so phoney. Christian, she is not, she gives all of us who try to walk out our faith a bad name. Our lives should be the sermon, not our mouths. To condem a person when we do not walk in their tight shoes, is just asking for trouble. Why is it only acceptable to be a middle-class white person, when it is always the whiteman who causes the problems in life by forcing their greed onto the rest. Yes, I am white and feel for those who God made different, because they have to bare our ego. It is only by God's grace that we are all made different and we should be continually thankful that he puts up with us all. It is such a shame that our media has such power over our thoughts and at the same time have the legal right to edit a sound bite, causing such a social conflict and pain.

[David]

I watched the video clips in this article to learn what I missed on TV news shows. Honestly, while it gives more context, it doesn't change much. Rev. Wright is free to say all that he does. His congregation and supporters are free to believe and praise all that he has to say. And, white middle-class Americans are free to be put-off by this, and not elect someone to become President who appears to be all too close to this.

[David]

I watched the video clips in this article to learn what I missed on TV news shows. Honestly, while it gives more context, it doesn't change much. Rev. Wright is free to say all that he does. His congregation and supporters are free to believe and praise all that he has to say. And, white middle-class Americans are free to be put-off by this, and not elect someone to become President who appears to be all too close to this.

we the government whiteman government we this we thatin context this does sound racial to me. anyway abe lincoln was right john brown these men knew what was right cocerning slavery u can blame govnmnt all u want but its no excuse for any kinda sin weall need to stop livin in the past and either go back to our home country or fix this one i believe only GOD-CHRIST can do it

[nr]

rhetoric........watching the "context" only reinforces my belief that this man is way too full of himself and way too anti-american and racist. This is 2008..not 1808. Put yer big girl panties on and get over it! Go around it....make it better! Don't make it worse.

And thanks John! = ) I liked your post as well (assuming you wrote both the John posts there). I'm not familiar with the two topics (Clinton visit & CIA drug-planting) but I'm certainly not going to dismiss them simply because I haven't heard of them, as the patriotic-to-a-fault types are wont to do.

I am reading Lies My Teacher Told Me which I think gives a lot of helpful context for this kind of conversation. I keep coming back hoping Mike might have responded... No dice yet. Where are you Mike??

I found this thread searching for transcripts of the two Reverend Wright sermons. NOT EASY! I found them finally by googling actual quotes I gleaned from each video. Spread them around!

http://politicalbunker.com/rev-wrights-full-comments

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/rnr/617576368.html

[John]

Lindsay,

Your post is truly brilliant! I couldn't have said it better myself--and I'm not just saying that! I really mean that, while I might have thought of some of your points, I couldn't have possibly put everything in such a succinct manner, all while making perfect sense.

Of course, I agree with Doug, too, but it's nice to know that future village idiots might actually read it before they go posting regurgitated nonsense. :-)

[John]

I am so glad that someone has finally put these remarks in context. Perhaps if the mainstream press did its job more thoroughly, we wouldn't have a controversy in the first place. Now, Hillary has jumped into the fray, stating something to the effect that Sen Obama should have moved or changed churches if he found the reverend's statements unpalatable or disagreeable, that by staying he's tacitly agreeing to everything the reverend has been accused of saying. Furthermore, she compared the statements of Rev. Wright to the racist blather of Don Imus, which is obviously horse manure.

I do want to state, however, that Gary Webb presented substantial evidence to back up his claims, and there are currently retired DEA and CIA operatives who have (in 2006, I believe) come out and backed up those remarks with not only their own first-hand accounts of Contra cocaine being brought into LA with the assistance of the CIA and under the nose of the DEA but also with photographs of their own involvement of such "projects." Ricky Ross was basically a patsy so that the main guy wouldn't get taken down and the whole connection to our war against communism in South America wouldn't lose it's primary source of funding. It's quite true that our government did then and does now put more people with dark skin into prisons for non-violent offenses than any of the other lighter ethnicities (and I'm saying this as a "white" person--I'm really of hispanic descent, but you wouldn't know it because of the English and German that has found its way into my bloodline).

In any event, I certainly have no problem understanding where Rev Wright might be coming from. Institutionalized racial prejudice (segregation, Jim Crow) and inequality of opportunity (ensuring that the chronically poor remain so by limiting their opportunities in higher education and by further degrading their ability to establish any kind of real wealth that can be passed down to their progeny and thereby gain value and increase that wealth over successive generations) has by and large been a problem for people of color, rather than people who look like those who already belong to the millionaires club. Of course, that "stereotype" is changing somewhat, as more and more chronically poor whites are finding themselves similarly disenfranchised (though somehow the Republican Machine has been able to convince these people, largely through fear mongering--either by playing the terrorism card or by inciting in them a fear that people of color are the ones taking the measly jobs they had/have--to vote against their own self-interest).

Frankly, I'm glad that these larger videos, demonstrating the context of statements, are finding their way to a broader audience through the power of the web. After all, if it weren't for the power of the web, we might all still be convinced that Hillary was brave enough to be the "fist high-profile American" to fly, with her teenaged daughter, into an active war zone, taking sniper fire as she ran from her plane to her car where she was whisked to safety. We would never know that neither she nor Chelsea were ever in danger and that they in fact took part in a (not cancelled) greeting ceremony that was punctuated by the reading of a poem by an 8-yr-old Kosovar girl; we would never have realized, either, that her husband, the President, was actually the first "high-profile American" to go into the region a full 2 months before she did, also without incident (I mean, after all, what kind of husband or President sends his wife and daughter into a war zone that isn't even safe for him to travel into).

Personally, I think it's a great thing when the web can be used by really smart people who care about the truth enough to give us the real context for statements so that we can correctly judge for ourselves their veracity or falsity.

Thanks again for the post!

[Lindsay]

Thanks Doug! I'm glad someone read it anyway.

[doug]

Lindsay,
You've beautifully summed up the feeling I have about the robotic reaction posts that spring up around here. Granted, the intended target of your post stopped reading after the first sentence and dismissed you and your opinion into some easy, jingoistic category. Thank you just the same though.

[Fred L.]

Thanks St. Petersburg Times, so far you are among the few who have bothered to look into whether, in fact, Rev. Wright is an anti-American racist. I looked into it myself because the clips offended me, but after seeing the whole sermon, I came away with a much different impression. I can't believe people are duped by such propaganda so easily. Sad.

[Lindsay]

Mike, there is plenty of clear evidence that America has ripped off other countries for her own financial gain. A politician wanting to take a more intelligent approach to foreign policy is not anti-American. Far from it; it is thinking in the long-term. A notion known as "thinking ahead" which this country has largely forgotten. It is setting the stage for a more stable future in which countries do not hold grudges against us for arming and financing tyrannical leaders that abuse those same countries (but give us some of their profits). This country has done that, time and again! We have forced out *democratically elected leaders* and installed our own preferred leaders. Then, when those leaders start misbehaving, we distance ourselves and act like we had nothing to do with it.

And guess what, people in other countries don't like it any more than we would like, I don't know, Canada telling us who our president will be (and ushering that person in with force), and then trying to tell us this all happened by our own will.

All the folks who ignore the fact that we DO have interests throughout the world, and not in the grandfatherly way you fantasize, help keep us in the sites of terrorists.

Just look at the ignorance that is brewing on your side of the fence; people trying to equate Obama with extremist Muslim terrorists. Obama, a lifelong Christian. Look at the jargon you regurgitate. Anyone who accepts a modicum of accountability is a "blame-America-first liberal." Hey, I am PROUD to be an American, but I am first to admit we need to set a better example and keep our noses out of other countries' business. The way I see it, it is pretty unanalytical to assume your government is the good guy and assume that anyone who dares to protest is just a "blame-America-first liberal."

I have a question: do you think people who accept accountability enjoy it for some reason (like liberals = masochistic), or that they might have actual logic for feeling that way (like liberals = compassionate)? Because truth be told, I think your way of thinking looks a lot more comfortable and easy, but it also looks short-sighted, uninformed, and self-aggrandizing.

[chuck carlson]

apparently the tampa bay tribune or whatever you call you excuse for a newspaper does not advocate free speech. this message has been censored

cfc

Excuse me, the contra-cocaine connection was verified it was not discredited. The CIA did smuggle cocaine into dealers in black communities in America. It did inject black prisoners with LSD and other hallucingeons in Lexington Kenturcky - some up to 77 days straight. It did inject black prisoners with Malaria during World War II. The Deartment of Defense did expose African Americans Among others to biowarfare agents in the 1950s and 60s. Merck pharmaceuticals recently had drug expriments on Africans suspended after a number died without being told of the risks. They did sell contaminated vacccines to South Africa. Jermemiah Wright did not have to ask god to d*** america; we're already damned. God D*** our willful ignorance.

cfc

[mike]

BWAHAHA... Reality, you people are just so silly. Most of you don't even believe the idiocy that spills from your mouths. You just spout a bunch of moral equivalent BS - Israel is the real terrorist, America is the real terrorist, blah blah, blah - and think it makes you "enlightened." Sorry, it just makes you silly. Nobody said America is perfect, but it's pretty darn great. So excuse me if I don't want a President who thinks it's an evil, racist, imperialist nation. I'll pass on that kind of "enlightenment."

[Thanks]

I would have posted something more, but the comment above made me realize this forum is too high-level.

[My Name Be Balack HUSSEIN Obama]

Yes, it is very interesting to hear the same people that called for Don Imus' immediate dismissal 'justify' the behavior of Reverand Wright.

Is that because he's a man of the cloth? Or is that because those people are all black apologists, and Rev. Wright helps them feel good about themselves as 'victims'? There are far too many questions surrounding Barack Hussein Obama, and not nearly enough answers. His handling of this situation ("If I ignore it, maybe it will go away") will not be lost on the voters of America.

As bad as the Republicans -- no, correct that - as bad as GEORGE BUSH has been, BHO would be far worse as a President.

[DJK]

The only things your clips show is that Rev. Wright is a non-Christian bigot, Obama is a fool for being in this church for 20 years, and you are a hypocrite for excusing racism when it comes from black leadership.

[Romaine Johnson]

Great work on CNN this AM. Although race baiting is clearly evident in the media, I believe that this current controversy is part of a larger political strategy on the part of Barack's opponents. That strategy is to suggest that he doesn't love America. That notion has been brewing for some time. For example, the remarks that he doesn't wear an American flag on his lapel or when his wife spoke of how she was proud of America for the first time in her adult life. These are subtle attacks on Mr. Obama's patriotism. People of conscience must continue to speak out against misrepresentations and distortions of this kind or else we will have another 4 years of bad leadership.

[Reality]

Stay in your lily-white hole. Keep on thinking America, for all its glory, is 100 percent perfect and infallible. Stay in your little fantasy world. The rest of us enlightened and open-minded folk will come get you as the world changes around you. We're not going anywhere.

Nah, on second thought we'll just let you rot amidst your own delusions.

[mike]

Give me a break. Wright is a typical blame-America-first liberal. The fact that obama is so close to him should scare the heck out of sensible voters. But then, those of us who have looked at obama beyond the nonsensical hype, know that he too is just a blame-America-first socialist. Why don't you stop apologizing for Wright's racism? How can you defend this clown, when you insisted that Imus should be fired? Exactly how does that work? Sorry, but I don't suffer from white guilt. Wright can kiss my lily white a@@, and blacks who buy into his victimhood BS can grow up and get a life.

[Patrick]

Thank you. I have been wanting for some time to hear Wright's full "God Damn America" sermon. I did not trust the sound bite. I am glad I saw you on CNN this morning and finally got to hear the full sermon in context. Please understand - I am white, upper class"Bible thumper" and usually vote conservative. But I sensed what Wright was trying to preach, and your posting confirmed it. Wright's point was that when any nation tries to act like it is God, then God will curse it. That is Biblical. Good job pastor Wright. I may disagree with your politics, but I agree with your theology.

Patrick

[Mel]

I would also like to recommend people to the piece by Roland Martin on CNN.com, which he wrote after viewing in full the speeches from which selected portions of the Rev Wrights sermons were extrapolated. What this analysis shows, sadly, is that the media itself engaged in race-baiting, that there was a collective hysteria among white journalists who feared they might have to examine themselves or sensitively facilitate a dialogue about which they had given little intelligent thought. It was frightening watch journalists on CNN, and esps FOXNews sink to analytical low points, giving meaning to Mr Obama's comments .... Are we going to deal with race as a spectacle a la OJ Simpson, as tragedy a la Katrina or are we going to try and take it to another leve. Obviously sensation and spectacle won the day; and that's a tragedy!

Roland Martin's commentary can be found at:
The full story behind Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s 9/11 sermon (21 March 08)
Editor’s note: CNN Contributor Roland Martin has listened to several of the sermons of Rev. Jeremiah Wright from Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Portions of the sermons have been excerpted in recent stories.

As well, The Huffington Post has a couple of extraordinary posts on the implosion that occurred today on FOXNews in which two hosts engaged in the most banal race-baiting and Obama-bashing (really juvenile antics) that even one of its own senior hosts felt ashamed and called in to tell them grow up:

SEE: Anchor Walks Off Set, Wallace Rails Network For "Obama-Bashing"
Huffington Post | March 21, 2008

Third, Bill Clinton whom I think is a moral minion hit a new low with old-fashion southern charm and old-fashion southern racism (you know, the wink wink, nudge nudge you understand what am saying type....)
See Commentary in NYT (March 23, 2008):
Obama Adviser Steps Up His Criticism of Bill Clinton By JEFF ZELENY

Finally, I've always found James Carville distasteful. His comments on Gov. Richardson's endorsement of Senator Obama also speaks to these old white Southern guys subtle racism (old-fashion bigotry).

SEE: James Palermo. James Carville on Gov. Richardson's Endorsement of Barack Obama Posted on the Huffington Post (March 22, 2008). Carville liken Richardson to Judas, and speaks to the Clinton's sense of entitlement.

How anyone can review the Clinton campaign, from South Carolina (Bill says this criticism is a "myth" and a "hit job" on him). Then there is Geraldine Ferraro's innuendo that voters are duped by Barack Obama or that somehow their is national affirmative action for his candidacy (not for Hillary's despite their pressing women through Emily's list, Steinem, etc etc). Of course Ferraro said criticisms of her where reverse racism - duh! The record is clear. The Clintons should retire before they destroy the Democratic party. They are very unsavoury characters.

Sadly, what the public commentary about all of this say is that folks do not even know *how* to have a conversation so their is denial, demonization, rancour and media spectacle, all confirming "racial stalemate".

[Joy Reid]

Excellent job on CNN this morning, Eric, and a much needed blog post. Cheers!

Joy Reid
(formerly w/ NewsTalk 1080 in Miami, where you also consistently shined as a guest)

[ShelaghC]

I'm glad to finally see more than just that one "sensational" snippet of Reverend Wright's sermon.

While YouTube is excellent for getting important information out that we might not otherwise find via the MSM, it's also true that the medium is taken advantage of because of the instant audience to create media circuses and, unfortunately, an intelligent and well-respected man was caught up in the frenzy simply because of his association with a presidential candidate.

This, I fear, is only a taste of what we're going to see in the coming months before the election. Things are going to get far, far uglier and there is no doubt in my mind that good people on both sides of the aisle will find themselves unexpected in that spotlight.

Surprisingly there were moments of note from this past week when two FNS personalities speaking out against their own colleagues on the air for excessive "Obama bashing."

Which either gives us hope for what is to come this year or just gives us a moment to pause and catch our collective breaths.

[Jeremy Archer]

I have read Gary Webbs book Dark Alliance and his research leaves no stone unturned.This maybe "widely discredited" just as the 911 truth activists are, but that does not change the truth.This was not a 3 part series in the San Jose Mercury News.This story captured so much attention that it was stopped in the middle and Gary Webb was fired.See how the truth is twisted and now you want us to believe that he killed himself?The media has been lying to us for years,the story of Rev Wright is just one more lie.

[Albert Johnson Jr]

The most disappointing thing about the Rev. Wright incident is the complete failure of our news media. I was familiar with Wrights preaching before the brouhaha, so when it happened I was truly puzzled. How could anyone draw an opinion of a mans, and especially a pastors words with just a 10 second sound bite, and from that sound bite draw the conclusion that the speaker is hateful, or a racist. I knew then that no one who did actually had seen or read a Wright sermon.

What was insidious about the Rev. Wright story is that every report of those videos on TV, and in the reports of print media the description of the sermons as hateful etc were repeated over and over again. Many Americans view the reports of the media as actual truth. So regardless now of the actual context and meaning of his words he will be forever thought of as hateful and the career of a stalwart man of God is forever sullied.

That should disturb me, but I think I can estimate the heart of the Rev Wright. If only one soul is saved by hearing more than just 10 seconds of the word of God he will consider the condemnation worth it. That the storm over his sermon led to Obama’s speech on race he would consider a blessing.

These so called responsible journalist and not just those who represent the right wing owe both the American people and the Rev. Wright an apology, and the pledge to refrain from viral journalism.