The Question: Jeremiah Wright's sermons continue to be an issue in the presidential campaign. Why? What do you think of his preaching style? What do you wish you understood better about it?
The Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s recent reemergence in the media is generating intense coverage solely because of his connection to Senator Barack Obama. Equally interesting, however, is the gap between Americans on Wright and his so-called “black preaching,” a gap which reveals the extent to which race and religion still divide our country.
Though I find Wright’s rhetoric hard to comprehend, I understand his frustration at the mainstream media’s failure to fairly depict African-Americans and the complexity of their communities. As Muslims – which include many African-Americans– we, too, are frequently seen through a political lens, victims of sensational portrayals. And like African-Americans, we consider ourselves regular people, albeit holding diverse narratives.
The media continues to misunderstand religion, whether Islam or black Christianity. Religious rhetoric and sermons are frequently taken out of context and sensationalized for 5-second sound bites. Nuance is completely absent. In the Wright case, for example, no sincere attempt has been made to distill the history, theology, or circumstances behind any of his comments. We can disagree with what he said, but let us do so with knowledge not ignorance.
This problem is compounded by the apparent double-standard between white and non-white preachers. Where was the similar outrage when Jerry Falwell told CBS’s 60 Minutes that “I think Muhammad was a terrorist” or when Pat Robertson said about Muslims and Islam: “These people are crazed fanatics and I want to say it now: I believe it's motivated by demonic power, it is satanic…”? While Falwell backed off his comments, Robertson refused. Nevertheless, the latter’s endorsement of Rudy Giuliani as President this past year was treated as a great victory for a man hoping to enhance his conservative credentials. As opposed to Obama with Reverend Wright, pundits did not demand that Giuliani distance himself from Robertson.
Like Obama, the other frontrunner for President, Senator John McCain, enjoys a close relationship with a controversial pastor. Rod Parsley, who McCain recently called his “spiritual guide,” famously declared that America can only "fulfill its divine purpose” by ensuring that Islam, “this false religion, is destroyed.” Yet once again, McCain never faced a similar level of scrutiny as Obama. See my earlier post on the McCain-Parsley relationship.
In spite of Wright’s offensive comments, Americans should not be blinded from seeing the good in his faith-based activism. This Christian message of liberation from suffering has reached many Americans, including Barack Obama. Obama, however, has combined Wright’s message of hope with the rhetoric of reconciliation and mutual understanding to offer a better vision of faith and change.
Please e-mail On Faith if you'd like to receive an email notification when On Faith sends out a new question.
Email Me | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
