MARY JO said:
My advice to Black Americans...get it together because whites are going to cut you off soon.

As a mostly-white American, what am I going to cut all of black society off from, exactly?

-Disproportionately high incarceration rates?
-Disproportionately inadequate health care?
-Poor emergency response management in hurricanes and floods to predominantly poor, black neighborhoods?
-Profiling and suspicion of blacks with 'Arab' sounding names?
-Higher educational drop-out rates?
-Stereotyping, commercialization, and profiteering of 'black culture' in music, fashion and media?
-The fact that race, instead of character or platform even HAS to be an issue in political campaigns?

You're right, I AM impatient with all that, as I'm sure they are, too. Let's work together to do something about it and lift everyone up to a higher standard of living including equitable justice, affordable health care and acessable education for everybody regardless of race, religion, gender or socio-economic standing.

So once again the double standard for blacks and whites....blacks can spew hate speech and blatant lies about whites but whites can no longer even use the word "noose" or it's a federal crime.

Until blacks start taking responsiblity for their own families (and lack of same) and communities and culture....this ridiculous diversion will continue.

My advice to Black Americans as a first generation immigrant to this great country....get it together because whites are going to cut you off soon...patience is wearing. Try a good work ethic, it goes a long way to repairing a community.

Really now who cares?

I want to vote for a guy who is going to take the country in the right direction. If Obama could do that, I'd vote for him, even if his core political base is composed of racist rabble-rousers, so what? Bill Clinton is a liar and a womanizer, so what? He was a very good president. Anyway, Obama's too far left to make a good president, so he's unacceptable to me.

However, Hillary's out now, so I'm gonna have to go with McCain.

Hey Bud,
You really can't see the difference between an African American or a woman being delighted that an African American and a woman are running and a white man being delighted that a white man is running? Suppose every candidate who had ever run for the presidency came from Boston. Then, one year, someone from Denver ran. Couldn't you imagine someone from outside of Boston being delighted that someone from outside of Boston was running? (And perhaps people from Denver would feel especially delighted.) And wouldn't it be silly if someone from Boston equated that delight with saying, "As someone from Boston, I'm delighted that someone from Boston is running." C'mon, Bud, get a clue!

Youngj1 said:

"Sadly Ms. Smith the evidence of the anger and fear that you speak of in your "...

So it's OK for Rev. Wright (and other Blacks) to express anger over perceived injustices, but it's not OK for whites to express anger over blatent lies made by the Rev. Wright that had absolutely no basis in reality and were specifically designed to incite fear and hatred (I'm referring to the famous AIDs comment)? So the right to get angry is now relegated to Blacks only? Please explain to me why there is a double standard here?

“ …as an African American woman, I am absolutely delighted that an African American and a woman are running.”

Really? Would it be appropriate for me to say "as a white male I am delighted that that a white male (McCain) is running"? You attribute some sense of joy and even elation based merely on the candidates sex and color? But if I were to do the same for a white male, I would surely be labeled a white racist. I'm sorry Susan K. Smith, but you can't have it both ways. If you want white America to be color and sex blind when choosing their elected leaders, YOU (and other blacks and women) must do the same. Or perhaps you feel you have special priviledges and are exempt from the rules others must follow due to your color and sex?

Sadly Ms. Smith the evidence of the anger and fear that you speak of in your (again I say!!!) wonderful article is demonstrated by many of the posts. It has always intruiged me that there so are many who harbor such red hot emotion about a people and culture they know so little about.

If nothing else you've helped to maintain a dicussion that needs to continue until calmer more rational heads prevail.

Thank you for this beautifully written expression of many of my thoughts. Well done!

Susan Smith, you painted a pretty severe picture of whites. Sounds like there is some prejudice on your side also.
I admit many whites act superior, but not all whites are that way. There are some blacks that also act superior, such as "Jessi Jackson".
If I understand my history correctly, In order for America to have black slaves--someone had to make slaves of these people first. The British came by in ships and Black Tribal leaders would sell slaves to them. These slaves were captured from a neighboring tribe, then sold to anyone that was willing to give money for them. It was a money making project like selling vegetables or cattle. Not a good practice, but , it was blacks that made slaves of them and sold them "as slaves". If the ships did not purchase these slaves, then that tribe kept them as slaves to work for them. In any event, they were slaves. Why is this never mentioned in criticisms for the whites --making slaves of the black people?
In America, the white man voted to stop slavery in this country. The white man voted to allow the negroes to vote. It was voted to give them equal opportunities. They could eat in the same cafe. They could sit on the front seat of busses etc.
As I see it, if you had stayed in AFrica as their slaves, the children might still be slaves. Even if they were free people, there is a good chance they would have very little food to eat and little chance that they would have a house to live in or good medication and hospital access.
Not all blacks have good access to these but not all whites do either. We have white slums and black slums. Both are probably pretty much alike except for the skin color. In this country, if the blacks have not enough food or clothing or housing, they can get on welfare, and get government help, as soon as a white person. And sooner in some of the Southern states where the African Americans are the predominant race.
Some of your people think the current day, white people of America should pay your people money to make up for having purchased them as slaves, and bringing them to America. Would any of you like to go back to your native land of Africa today? No, well I didn't really think so.
African Americans complain bitterly if the whites have any newspapers, movies, tv programs, magazines, schools, organizations, clubs etc, that are exclusively for whites. Yet, the blacks feel perfectly comfortable, at the same time, to have all black schools, all black scholarships, all black magazines, museums, newspapers, etc. So ,now , who is abusing whom? Many colleges take the African Americans before taking the white student because they must have a quota of African Americans. It doesn't matter that some of the whites, have much higher grades and other qualifications. I believe the Negroes should be accepted if their grades etc, are the best over a white whose grade is less. That is equality. Reverse discrimination is just as bad as the other way around. Why justify one side.
I was raised to respect people as people, I have some very good friends that are African Americans, In fact, Brutus Moore was the pastor that performed the marriage ceremonies of both of our girls. He and his wife are really great people (African Americans). I have very good friends that are Spanish Americans. They came here legally and Americans love them and they have become Americans. No better or no worse than the rest of us. They do not complain about not being given special privileges like the "Illegal Immigrants from the South.
This, may sound a bit harsh, but I feel like we are all Americans (if we are legal American citizens) and should be treated as such. We should not look at one side thru rose colored glasses and not see our own short-comings.
Any group of people, whose belief system tells them to kill Americans, Jews, and Christians, those, I feel like we need to be careful of. They claim we "profile" them. We need to profile them. They state publicly, that their purpose is to dispose of all Christians, Jews and Americans. Now, some of them claim this is not true. That may be true, but it is kinda hard to tell by looking at them who believes what. In this case, I feel like being uncomfortable having them here with us, is understandable.
I have no problem, shopping with persons whose color is different than mine, or eating at the same table, sitting beside them to eat. travel or other things. I JUST WANT US TO QUIT OUR SQUABBLING and get along. There are some people on both sides that enjoy keeping us stirred up against each other. That's how they get their fame. They love to be recognized for their efforts. If we ever get along, they would not be needed anymore. Let us worship together, work together, learn together, and enjoy each others company. And may God Bless all Americans.

Donna Williams:
...Hard to hear for some folk, but true anyway.

...mistreatment of some of her people because of the color of their skin, the identification of their gender, the naming of their sexuality and the lack of their financial resources.

Thank you, Donna. Thank you.
A lot of anger these days is socio-economic, and socio-economic class is pretty stagnant. Not for everybody, for for most. There is too much evidence, I believe, for there not to be SOME systematic racism endemic in our country. Criminal sentancing for minor drug offenses is one example that comes to mind. Does it explicitly target urban blacks? No, but what factors cause them to buy/sell drugs that get them caught up in a for-profit criminal justice system with lopsided sentancing? There are a lot of factors that people use for oppression: Greed, fear, ignorance. It's getting over stereotypes, organizing and working collectively towards a greater good that is important. We have the resources now, and the hindsight (hopefully) to aknowledge "America's Dirt" and focus on where we're going from here.

One specific thing I noticed in the main article is the either-or identification of people's race and ethnicity. Everything is (literally and figuratively) Black OR White. She does not address mixed races of any group, or even any other minority - Native Americans, Latinos, Asians, Indians, Arabs, etc. that face daily, blatant racism and discrimination, that was not a lingering precedent from slavery. The US Census allows people to self-identify, so if someone chooses to identify with a herritage that is facing more challenges than another, they are going to feel it doubly so. "Reverse racism", by the way, is a misnomer, as it infers that racism is only a White-originated thing. Racism is racism is racism, no matter where it comes from, or whom it's against. Look it up.

I am very happy to see that other posters here have already said what I just said in my own post and they said it much better than I did.

I especially like what Bruce Tucker said to Ms. Smith on his post @ 12:37pm.

"What's also offensive is that sanctimonious jerks like you keep spinning this as another example of white racism rather than recognizing it for what it is: justified outrage over a hate-spewing fanatic."

Exactly!!!

It seems that under the guise of religiosity or self-rightousness African-Americans can accuse present-day whites of the most egregious, the most hateful behaviour and think that they can get away with it.

Rather than be accusing others the AA community should look at itself and its own problems and, for example, wonder why it has so many unwed mothers and absent fathers bringing innocent children into a world which is as close to hell as it can be for a child.

Something, which I am sure, that the "rev." Wright, and other middle-class African-Americans would rather not talk about. Because then they would have to do something about it.

Since the Reverends Wright and Smith and "Father" Pfleger all claim to be Christians, perhaps they should read Proverbs 15:1.

susan
it seems to me the fear and anger are there but they don't need to ruin it.
amazing beauty and fear and anger are no strangers to one another.
andy

This is what the pastor at the main UCC church in Cleveland had to say on Pastor Wright. It was on the UCC website. Pass it on to Mary. Thanks! Judy

I find it difficult to understand why Ms. Smith's defends the racist bigot "rev." Wright and what he said about America. And I wonder why Ms. Smith accepts as truth, for example, rev. Wright's assertions that the US Gov. is responsible for infecting black men with AIDS.
Is Ms. Smith that ignorant of what "rev." Wright has said in his speeches? Or is she willfully ignoring "rev." Wright's falsehoods. If she is then Ms. Smith is no better than "rev." Wright.
And the AIDS lie is just one of the many lies told by rev. Wright to his adoring congregation yet Ms. Smith's considers Wright as someone to be respected. Too, she rants at people taking offense at someone like Wright who "criticizes America." Nobody takes offense at someone criticizing America. But what many people take offense at is people making false and unsubstantiated charges against America as Wright has done.

EARTH TO SUSAN K. SMITH: WHY DO YOU THINK MS. SMITH THAT BARAK OBAMA DENOUNCED HIS PASTOR? OR HAVEN'T YOU HEARD?

Also, the white woman from Nebraska is not the only one who is cautious about blacks.

According to Jesse Jackson:

"There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life,” Jesse Jackson once told an audience, “than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery—then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved.” As quoted in US News & World Report (10 March 1996)

Too, Ms. Smith, can you tell me if there is another part of the world where African blacks are as safe, secure, wealthy, as educated, politically empowered, etc. as they are in the United States?

Not even in Africa, where blacks kill each other by the hundreds of thousands are blacks as safe as they are here in America.
And even here they would be safer if they didn't kill each other at such a disproportionate rate.

One piece of advice: If singing "God Bless AMerican" gives you pain, then don't sing it. Maybe you should try "rev." Wright's version.

Regardless of our race, religion or gender, it is hard for many to accept but each of us is ultimately responsible for the shape of our lives and the condition we find ourselves in.

There is only one God given right and that is the right to become wise through self effort.

We should all do what we can to live productive, honest and compassionate lives; and promote justice, ethical practices and fair play in the life of our communities.

Change will occur in our nation only when it first occurs in each of us as individuals through acts of self-examination and the application of will power to effect authentic change in our consciousness.

In my view the need for sincere efforts toward refinement of individual behavior and character applies equally to whites, blacks and every other race or color.

This too should be part of a dialogue on getting real about race, religion and all entrenched beliefs regarding these and other topics.

There is an old teaching that the world is really a mirror, and we only see in others the same capacities and energies that exist in ourselves.

"Hey, I ain't buying that the Obama supporters are voting "on the issues." Otherwise, they'd be just as likely to vote for Hillary. They're practically the same on the issues. So what's the real reason they like Obama? Charm? Charisma? Good oratory skills? Because he's black?"

I've found that a lot of people of all colors are voting for Obama because his last name isn't Clinton. Many of his supporters are, like myself, people who supported other candidates that dropped out. (Oh, I'm white, BTW). Obama doesn't campaign as a "black candidate" the way that Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did. In fact, a lot of prominent Blacks don't support him. (Conyers, Ron Johnson, etc.) A lot of White, Hispanic, Asian, and Native Americans do support him. The point is that we are all Americans, and we all need to work together to fix this country.

Ain't Buying It:
I ain't buying what you're selling Ms. Smith. The so-called Rev. Wright may be a theologian in black liberation theology, but he sure lacks an understanding of the Bible. He blasphemes God's name in the pulpit and places politics above the one duty he has as a Christian, to go into all the world and preach the good news of the gospel to everyone -- all skin colors, all political persuasians. Until I see Rev. Wright and his angry friends doing that, I ain't buying that Wright and his ilk are anything but racist, hateful, angry men.

You obviously have not seen the full videos of Reverend Wright's speeches, if you think he's worse than Hagee or Parsley. You saw snippets of him quoting people who he disagreed with and warned the parishoners against it. If you claims he blasphemes, you don't know the bredth of his knowledge. He's been an adjunct professor at most Ivy League schools, would they utilize him as someone not knowledgable?

I don't have to be black to know and understand that he speaks the truth and he makes people uncomfortable. But people need to stop discounting him as a crackpot or preacher of hate, he is just the opposite.

As a 64yr old African American woman, I too am disturbed. The first source of my disturbance is that you are the 1st person voice my chagrin at the invasion and critique the services @ Trinity. The Black Church tradition has been ridiculed and demonized. This time it was our church -- next time there will be no one to protest because all were silent when it happened @ Trinity. Second the overt racism that has surfaced and the failure of the TV pundits to call it what it is astonishes me. I am disturbed, but it only inspires me to work harder for Sen. Obama.
YES WE CAN !!!!

Doug,

I assumed wrongly that Bush was raised as anevangelical like the neochrisitans that surround him now. My apology to the Episcopalians who, unlike the racist Smith et.al., had enough sense (back then at least) to keep race and politics out of their church.

JJ said: "A white woman from Nebraska who is wary of black men is not a racist. That is simply being wary of the unknown. You could argue prejudice, but prejudice is natural: people will always be more comfortable around those who are most similar to them."
------------------------------

I disagree, JJ. That is prejudice, plain and simple. There is nothing natural or unavoidable about a white person looking at a black person and seeing a being not similar to themselves. This is simply learned behavior- not innate. We don't have to differentiate between people based on skin tone-- that is a choice we make due to culture and learning directly.

Great Post Ms. Smith!

Talk about speaking common sense to power!

To those who dont believe race was a significant factor in the nomination battle and wont be in the general election: look at the exit polls from S.C., Tennessee, Pennsylvania, W.V., and Kentucky. The DEMOCRATIC (!) exit polls (primary exit polls).

Hillary pandered to simple-minded white people, and thus won big among them. In the process, she hurt the country and the democratic party. Way to go, Hill.

Hey, I ain't buying that the Obama supporters are voting "on the issues." Otherwise, they'd be just as likely to vote for Hillary. They're practically the same on the issues. So what's the real reason they like Obama? Charm? Charisma? Good oratory skills? Because he's black?

"Because some people vote on where a candidate stands on certain issues rather than what church he or she attends, and who is running that church. Ya know, like you're supposed to do?"

Anonymous, I was directing my question to Roy, but since you answered...

My question is why about 90% of blacks are voting for a black man -- are you telling me they all agree with him on the issues, not that they're voting based on skin color?

And another thing. Would can you honestly say you would vote for a white candidate --whether or not that candidate agreed with you on most issues-- if that candidate was a member of a church for 20 years that preached hatred toward blacks? Honestly?

I agree with some of the replies to this article but let's get real.

Jazzcomedian, I agree with some of your views, but let's look at the big picture. Nobody is blaming whites for the issues in the black community. And the black community understands that not all whites are racist, we they hate to believe that any for that matter. But this is the real world and racism still exists amongst some whites that makes it look bad for the good and honest ones. The same can be said for blacks. Not all young black men are bad and indulging in some of the activities you expressed in your post. But it makes it look bad for all young and old black (men). Because other ethinic groups start to sterotype all black men under these same categories. And in return, the media will focus on this type of young black behavior that doesn't apply to all black men. But when you constantly see this portrayed on the television that will become your view of black men. Example: During katrina, some black men were taking things but not all. But the media portrayed on the ones that were taking stuff and not the good ones that were trying to gather food etc. for good reasons just like everyone else including whites. But in the paper it read with pictures that most whites were taking for good reasons. but then it read with pictures that the blacks were looting when the pictures had the 2 races having identical items in their possession.

Also jazzcomedian. Again, no one is blaming whites about education because many blacks is pursuing it. But again, the ones that's not makes it look bad and sterotype everyone. What some of the comments that has been made applies to what hendered blacks in the past that plays a important role today. Like being denied education or even the right to try and read and learn. And if you were caught, you were beaten or killed. So tell me where's the backbone in the average black household that can stress education to the utmost when the average parent doesn't it. Yes! it's was up to the parent to get it growing up. But then, they're parents more then likely didn't have it either. Why! did you forget it wasn't too long ago that blacks were actually given full rights to everything like segregation into better schools. Let's say blacks were given more opportunities to pursue higher education in scholared schools and drink from the same water fountains in 1969. And that was depending on if your state decided it wanted to act right and not still deny blacks and water hose them for protesting and marching.

So my point is this. Blacks are finally starting to catch up after 500 years of oppression and being denied educational rights. So again, where is the foundation in the average black household with education when all they're ancestors were slaved and denied basically everything. But now, more black households are stressing education because we as a people have made strides after 500 years of oppression. And as the years passed and continue to pass, more racist whites have opened up in giving blacks more opportunities in places they own, like schools, companies and basically everything. What you forget is Black families started with nothing, zip after slavery. And no ones looking for 500 acres and a mule. But blacks had nothing after slavery on a foreign land that denied them a chance to get anything after already having nothing. Put any race in the same shoes and the results more likely would be the same.

But blacks as a race has progressed tremendously after such conditions. And yes, we can put other ethinic groups like the jews and some others that migrated to the U.S in the same situation. But frankly you can't. Other ethinic groups choose to come to the U.S and had foundations in they're country and fore farthers with money to better get established. But blacks were shipped here and en-slaved here and taken from any and everything without any kind of foundation to build with or on. What you see in many households that don't express education to the utmost is the blind leading the blind after really not having any kind of foundation to pass on to their kids. When can stress education in these househoulds and poverty stricken environments. But sometimes it doesn't come across well when the parents aren't educated and the families barely making it in poverty. Also, lets look at some of the scholl systems that don't have the same resources, funds, teachers and other things some of the surburban schools have.

Anyhow, you have to look at the entire picture on how oppression and slavery affected a race on foreign land that gave them no rights after slavery. And then, you hvae to look at the good whites, good blacks and not catogorize everyone as the same or with the same mentality.

Ellie:

I agree with your comments.

Guess who has been trumpeting the 'Obama can't win' argument the loudest? Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I'm sorry Dr. Reed but to post the income of a few as somehow indicative of the lack of problem as a whole is a little shortsighted. We don't have to fight civil rights battle everyday. But minority individuals and women (both minority and majority) live in that battle everyday. There were rich women in the 20's as well. Does that negate the tremendous political, cultural, and economic imbalances of that time. No. Nor does it here. The existence of Oprah Winfrey does not eradicate the institutionalized system of privilege and disadvantage that America has no more than saying 'I have black friends' makes someone more or less racist.

At an old age, their is so much more to learn.This is so true. To bad no one will understand a word of what you wrote, or will they and will not ammit it. I have learn that not much have change and it do hurt to see that so many people do not want to change. Where do that leave our children. Just open up your eyes and see where our children are now. It is so sad to see that our parents and their parents have made our children what they are today.People need to open up their eyes. I just hope it is not to late.

Our Sunday paper carried a section about the incomes of highest earners in 2007. Opray Winfrey and Tiger Woods were at the top. Famous ball players and entertainers were also listed, many of whom were black.
As I listened to the sermons of Rev.Jeremiah (God Damn America)Wright, I saw the photos of his new gorgeous mansion on a golf course,with a three car garage and his two mercedes cars. This man lives like an emperor, in the America he damns, and in a way he could never live in his beloved Africa.
Blacks who want the presidency of this nation, yet do not respect this nation are the ones who are not real, Ms. Smith. We don't need to be fighting a civil rights battle constantly to pet the egos of those who don't want to accept reality.

“ …as an African American woman, I am absolutely delighted that an African American and a woman are running.”

As a white male, I’m also absolutely delighted by the candidates and the prospects of the coming election. Though, I get the feeling that I must not be as delighted as you, apparently because you’ve got something in common with both of them. I would say that there’s also a white person and a male running, but you’ve already used the racial and gender connections to legitimize yourself, and the white male cards have certainly been overplayed, anyway. They’re both lawyers; I’m a lawyer—but that just doesn’t seem to do the trick. It’s not fundamental enough, I guess. What about being delighted as a citizen? Better yet, as a human being? Now that’s fundamental!...maybe too fundamental, in fact. It’s got a nice ring to it, but it’s not nearly exclusionary or inflammatory enough and certainly doesn’t do any good for lending credibility to my opinions. I guess you’re just going to get to be more delighted than me this time.

Whenever I hear that "Obama can't win the election," I think what people are really saying is that a black man can't win the election. If he was a brilliant charismatic young white man, would they be saying that? Of course not...which is all the more reason to vote for him. We cannot change anything if we continue to buckle under weight of racism and injustice. Thanks for your commentary. You're right on.

Look, we as white people are not ingorant of history: We know there this country has some rather unpleasant parts to it, especially with regards to race. We also know that racism isn't completely gone from this country. But we also look at the bigger picture and can see just how far we have come. Honest, true racists are now on the fringes of society. A white woman from Nebraska who is wary of black men is not a racist. That is simply being wary of the unknown. You could argue prejudice, but prejudice is natural: people will always be more comfortable around those who are most similar to them.

Another part of the bigger picture is the rest of the world. How many countries have as many civil protections as the U.S.? Not many. In Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, racism is rampant and often violent. So when you look at race through the prism of history AND within a global context today, the current state of affairs in this country is among the best in the world and in history.

So the reason white people react defensively with regards to people like Mr. Wright, who spout virulent anti-American phrases, is because we see that as an attack on each of us. We feel that he is branding all of us as racists, even though the vast majority of us don't have a racist bone in our bodies. I can understand that anger in the 50s and 60s, before the landmark reform took place. But today? Whatever race problems remain are miniscule compared to what problems have already been overcome. This kind of speech is divisive, and distracts from actually fixing the problems that still exist. And as for the problems that do remain, such as high poverty, high crime, lack of education, blaming white people for them is completely wrong, and will not solve the problem. What will solve the problem is people making better chioces, finishing school, staying away from gangs, drugs, and crime, and finding a job. I realize these things are easier said than done, but they can be accomplished, and are accomplished everyday by people in less than stellar circumstances. Yes they are starting at a disadvantage, but it doesn't mean they have to stay that way. People talk all the time about wanting the American Dream, but many of them aren't willing to do the work to achieve it. I think if we gave this country an infusion of personal responsibility and work ethic, it would go a long way to solving the problems that exist.

"When the world heard the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright speaking from his pulpit, (in a sermon delivered several years ago) and the YouTube clips were seen by the masses, even though many people, whites included, decided that he was merely telling the truth, they were bothered."

"What bothered them was that this was an angry black man having the audacity to criticize America. That was scary and that was offensive."

Nonsense. What was offensive was that he spun a web of lies - the biggest whopper being that AIDS is a result of American biological warfare against African-Americans - and used them to foment hatred against the nation. That's a far cry from honest, let alone constructive, criticism.

What's also offensive is that sanctimonious jerks like you keep spinning this as another example of white racism rather than recognizing it for what it is: justified outrage over a hate-spewing fanatic.

The longer politicians and journalists like you keep conflating outrage over real offenses with racism, the longer many whites will avoid facing genuine issues of racism because they sense that there's a hidden (and malicious) agenda underlying the conversation.

I think the people who "Need to get real about race" are blacks.

Of course slavery was wrong, but many blacks choose to remain enslaved to this day. Rather than make a sucess of themselves, they choose to look for reasons why they can't, and their fingers always point at the whites. Ever hear the expression "When you point the index finger of the hand at someone else, the remaining three point back at you?"

Looking for excuses generates the popularity of the so-called Revs. Wright, Pleger, Sharpton, Jackson, et al. In their naivete the honest black church attendees are unknowingly making these clowns rich.

Ever see pictures of the homes of Wright, Farrakan and the others? Palaces all, not the single and doublewides most of us live in.

Ms. Smith: your racist diatribe is a perfect example of the hypocrisy that imbues the discussion of hateful comments by Rev. Wright and others. What makes white people angry about such comments, and about yours above, is that you falsely accuse white people (all white people) of being mad about criticism of the country, or the Constitution. Nonsense.

What white people are angry about is the racist attacks directed at them by racists like Rev. Wright. You say he speaks the truth, and white people don't accept that. Also nonsense. It is not the truth that AIDS was invented by white people to kill black people. It is not the truth that, as you claim, white people are angry at the country being criticized. All people who respect decency and are not racists should reject stereotypes that hurt people- whether the targets are black, white, or another hue. What is at issue here is not defensiveness and failure of whites to understand the "truth." The issue is whether racist attacks and lies are acceptable and harmless when promoted by black people - including black clergy - or whether that position is racist and hypocritical. I think the evidence is clear that latter is correct.

B.S. - If Obama becomes President, I never want to hear about "Institutional Racism" again. True, there will always be racism ... buck up and look at yourself as an INDIVIDUAL (I'm talking to EVERYBODY), and not as a torch-bearer or spokesperson for your race.

I'm Black, and I'm sorry but I don't buy this argument about how racist America is in 2008--though vestiges of it certainly exist. But that's okay, this is not heaven. What is important, is that opportunities for Black people never dreamed of when I was growing up in the '60s, are now a reality.

We've got numerous Black men and women indulging in unprotected sex resulting in 70% of Black children being born illegitimate into low income envvions. In 1960 when there was much more racial discrimination, the figure was 21%. We've got many Black men going on the now well publicize "down low" to engage in unprotected anal sex with men, and then infecting unsuspecting Black women--resulting in an HIV epidemic. We've got continuing low academic performance because far too many Black parents don't emphasize education as a core value as is done in Asian and Jewish homes. These are the things that are currently responsible for holding back Black progress in today's America. This is not the fault of White people. Both Barack and Michelle Obama are where they are because parents in both their very different households emphasized education. Neither of them were born with silver spoons in their mouths.

Until Black organizations, and spokespeople address these self-inflicted issues in a more public, and vigorous manner, Whites will not take Black complaints, and grievances seriously. Nor should they.

"I'm sure Georgie Jr. heard his fill of racism in chruch growing up in the Bible belt."

Dunno... Georgie Sr. is a lifelong Episcopalian, which is not one of those racist Fundy churches (even when Jr. was a boy).

Racism is wrong. But as a so called "beneficiary" of white suppression of blacks, what the hell do you want me to do about it now? As a liberal, I support civil rights and affirmative action. What more do these Black "Christians" want? Blood?

Their house is of hatred, racism and prejudice
- things they themselves denounce when the shoe is on the other foot.

As for Obama, how many politicians sat in church for decades and heard hate speech against gays, Muslims and others. Obama has no corner on this. I'm sure Georgie Jr. heard his fill of racism in chruch growing up in the Bible belt.

GJDAGIS:
Who blacks vote for is not really an issue. Did not Catholics (and blacks especially)vote for JFK in 60, and Bobby in 68? I think they did, but not JUST because he was white and Catholic, but they liked what he had to say. Blacks have voted for Democrats since FDR, so to say that we are voting for him (Obama) solely for his blackness shows how blind and closed your mind is to an issue you have no insight into. As far as your ancestory, many blacks have come from much, much, much tuffer conditions than being poor and disenfranchised. You can be a (please, excuse my terms, a "poor cracker", and still be in a better social situation, in most cases, than a "poor N---". The Great Society of the 60's was directed to poor whites as well as blacks, who had little access to betterment solely based on the color of their skin. So don't get your feathers up, my White Brethern, when we comment about the social climate of race in our country. Dont get angry when a comment is made about OUR AMERICAN DIRT! Thats right, OUR AMERICAN DIRT! I retired from the military and have a son and neice in the desert, so I can talk about OUR AMERICA. Like it or not the new generation is not like our parents and grandparents. They have seen their country become something they dont like and will vote accordingly. Obama will be elected IF THIS ONE IS NOT STOLEN, and we will all see his cheshire cat grin every night--yes OUR PRESIDENT--just like we all had to digest GW Bush. God Bless, and ONLY IN AMERICA!!!

What a great article! And right on target. We have a lot of work to do. It's time to get started.

Dr. Smith, you got it right! Black anger over the treatment they have received from white Americans is appropriate and normal. Most whites hear this and say, "I haven't done anything to blacks, and they shouldn't blame all of us for what some(most, all) whites did. White society never offered black people that kindness of respect.

I am white, but I am neither surprised nor offended by Rev. Wright's comments, or for that matter, what Michelle Obama said about her pride in her country. I feel this way because I know the difference between anger and hatred, and which one of those two emotions all Americans should fear, and which one they should not.

Wow. Amazing beauty is, for me, just reading this, the thoughts in this writing. Thank you for sifting through what many of us have felt, and wanted to say but couldn't define quite, and your perception is healing because reading truth is healing. Thank you for writing from heart and mind together.

White and Black Americans alike need to come to grips with American history. Its not all good. But, the beauty is how me move past adversity..unlike other nations. We can't have an adult conversation about our racial diversity without fear and hate surfacing. The irony is that the article said just that....Did most you read the article and not comprehend?

Where there is no vision....the people perish

( . . . and)What bothers me is that nine out of ten blacks vote for the black candidate. If that is not blatant racism, I don't know what is.

The main point is that the preachers in the pulpit from Obama's "church" are unapologetic racists and that he obviously had to know about it ! If not he must be quite dense and isn't presidential material at all !

Most white people in this country have NO ancestors who were here during the times of slavery yet these nuts lump all white people together (racism)as though they had derived any benefit from slavery. My people came here in the 1900's and worked the mines and other horrible jobs at that time on wages that enabled living conditions WORSE than what any slave endured. It's been 150 years since slavery ! Many people (Chinese, Middle Eastern) have come since and done very well. Get over it already !

White and Black Americans alike need to come to grips with American history. Its not all good. But, the beauty is how me move past adversity..unlike other nations. We can't have an adult conversation about our racial diversity without fear and hate surfacing. The irony is that the article said just that....Did most you read the article and not comprehend?

Where there is no vision....the people perish

Reverend Wright was well known and not just in Chicago well before 2008...in 1998 he was one of about 150 invited to the annual prayer breakfast at the white house.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/photograph-of-bill-clinton-and-rev-wright-surfaces/

Oh, yes, Karriem, I know about theologians, who specifically study the nature and character of God, my favorite of which is RC Sproul. Can't say that I know any geologists, which is why I don't comment on them. You know what is really idiotic? To comment on what a person knows without actually knowing what that person knows. I believe the word is "presumptuous." Wright may be respected in his little circle, but that circle does not reach across the board. Otherwise, the shock value would not have been so large (and such a surprise).

Atten: Susan K. Smith. Re: Your column of 6-3-08.
There is much truth in what you say, but we cannot change the past. However, we can hope to perform with greater wisdom and courage in the future. Although we may not agree with the words of the recently quoted Pastors, the Constitution guarantees their legal right to say them, and to publish them, if they so desire. We also have,
inherent in the same Constitution, the absolute right of any person, regardless of race, creed or color, to run for, and to be elected to high office. So, What's the problem?
Sincerely yours: Kenneth B. Smith, P.E.
Former Naval Person, W.W.II

The point is, we have always been contstantly told, in school, and everywhere else, how "bad" racism is, how blacks suffer from it constantly. Now, a presidential primary has been won by a black man over a white women, and we are STILL hearing it. What? A black man just won over a white women! There is no racism - the civil rights industry just needs that to stay in business, and people who don't want to work hard just need that to have something to blame. Obama has barely done anything and he won the nomination. If anything, reverse racism is in play - it is now harder to be a white male than anything else. Forget being president, forget that promotion, forget the special government contract, forget getting in a good school, forget receiving any aid. And that lie about a "good old boy network"? There is no good old boy network, only a born rich network that you can be in any from race as long as you are rich. Do we "deserve" it? Many of our families came here in the 1920's and after. The civil rights moevment would not have succeeded without us. And if "deserving it" is how you want to play, better hope we don't remember that.

In this fairly lengthy article about racism, the author can cite only one concrete example of it -- a private conversation in which one woman admitted, ashamedly, that she still worried about black men because her mother had warned her to.

If this is extent of how severe racism is in America today, I suggest you look at black-on-black crime and non-marital birth rates as sources for the current socio-economic disparities.

Any people of color who just can't stand America's human rights record are free to leave. Maybe you could sing "God bless Zimbabwe" or "God bless Somalia" with tears of gratitude in your eyes.

I supported Hillary Clinton because I agreed with her on policy questions like health insurance reform, public school funding, taxes and saving Social Security. Now I support John McCain. Because I agree with him on policy questions like is telling the truth a good thing? what causes AIDS, sexual irresponsibility or whitey? what causes drug addiction, irresponsible self-indulgence or whitey? and especially, who's the good guy, America or the terrorists?

The important policy questions changed when the Democrats nominated a radical-left lunatic.

You can't get real about race unless and until you're willing to admit that racism is wrong, no matter who is doing it.

You can't begin a dialog on racism by apologizing for and excusing black hatred. You can't begin by excoriating whites for what people who are long dead may have said or done. You can't hold all whites responsible for the behavior of a few. And you can't dismiss Wright's hatemongering and racebaiting by claiming that the perpetrator is smarter or better respected than his white counterparts.

What you call truths many people see as paranoia and a clinging to old griefs.

We've lived for quite some time in a world where discrimination on the job, in housing, health care, lending, voting, et al is illegal and punishable. But we also live in a world where distrust and alienation exist, in one way or another, for almost every one.

You can't self-righteously cling to a truth of white hatred and condemnation and then get outraged if whites cite their own truths about crime, illiteracy, STD's, drug use, gang violence and the like. If you want to dish out truth you first have to look it in the eye and determine how much of it is real and how much of it is paranoid drama. You then have to be willing to eat the truth other's will be eager to feed back to you.

This article doesn't get real about race. It just keeps promoting racist double standards and clings to its own jealousy cherished hatred.

MOST white people living today, and almost ALL white people over the age of 50 benefited from the victimization of black people. Sure white people can say that they never owned slaves...but Jim Crow wasn't that long ago.

Segregated schools, back of the bus, etc...wasn't that long ago. White people act as though when slavery ended, they grabbed up arms with black people and sang kumbaya for 200 years, and why are black people still upset. Less than 50 years ago, dogs were still being sicced on small black children for trying to go to school or walk down certain streets.

and with respect to some of the comments placed before me...for DCP to think that because he or she hadn't heard of someone, that they aren't well respected or considered brilliant in their particular field, is the most idiotic sort of arrogance possible.

Do you know the well respected physicists, how about geologists, how about archaeologists, how about any number of topics that you know nothing about...including theology.

I am proud we are having this open, frank conversation about race. We will emerge from this a better, united people. Black people are hearing white people's concerns and whites are hearing blacks. In the end it doesn't matter because our children are already mostly post racial. They don't have hang ups with race we the grown ups have. God bless America.

Great article, and absolutely true!

Good article. It is indeed disturbing to see the way white America has found its reason not to vote for a black man. Basically, many whites now think Obama is too black. I never did think that America would elect a black man as president. Now that they have found their Willie Horton, it looks like the issue in the campaign is going to be race. Typical America.

Jeremiah Wright- a respected theologian? brilliance?- garnering respect across the board? Are you kidding? I never heard of the man before 2008. I heard about Hagee, Falwell, and Parsley eons ago. Now whether or not they are respected theologians is another thing. But Wright? Someone came out with the jokes today.

"...how can you still vote for Obama if you disagree with the "spiritual" teaching he's received for 20 years, and apparently has no problem with even today."

Because some people vote on where a candidate stands on certain issues rather than what church he or she attends, and who is running that church. Ya know, like you're supposed to do?

Wonderful article! Hard to hear for some folk, but true anyway.

As a woman of color and of faith, I have seen first hand America's mistreatment of some of her people because of the color of their skin, the identification of their gender, the naming of their sexuality and the lack of their financial resources.

When will we ever become "One Nation Under God with Liberty and Justice for ALL?!"

Roy, how can you still vote for Obama if you disagree with the "spiritual" teaching he's received for 20 years, and apparently has no problem with even today. His speech announcing he was leaving Trinity did not criticize the theology taught there. He merely said he didn't want to have to answer for it. Even his fellow parishoners when asked if they were hurt by Obama quitting the church said they were sad but that they realized he's only doing it for political reasons. Just like Rev. Wright said he knows, as a politician, Obama has to distance himself from him. Remember, birds of a feather flock together.

"Funny how nobody in the media has picked up on that one. It wouldn't be another case of Republicans getting a free ride, would it?"

Gee Mister Mark

Perhaps you are out of touch with reality. The "media" has to make money and pay the bills like everyone else. What will happen to the "media" as Americans turn to other sources for their news and opinion?

KT is right. These articles hurt Obama almost as if Black theologians don't want him to win to prove their point that America is racist. As a white male, I will still vote for Obama because I think he is more intelligent than this author or other the proponents of the "Black chruches" I don't believe what they say is what he stands for but I do have a better understanding of and a lot less respect now for what Blacks do in their churches week after week.

Another apologist for Reverend Wright and the Chicago Trinity Church of junping-up-and-down-and-cheering Black Racists. Instead of teaching Christ's love, forgiveness and inclusion and trying to heal the racial divide, this church and its self-serving "pastors" pick at the wounds week after week relishing the specter of enraging the congregation into ugly displays of "hate whitey."

Like the hateful white neochristian racists, their use of Christ's name is an abomination to the Lord. Poor Jesus.

I agree with KT.

I think many whites are ready to vote for a black man, some merely to prove that they aren't racist, others hoping it would bring us all together. But as we find out more about Obama and the kind of friends he hangs with, it's looking like Obama's not the guy.

Someone like Harold Ford, Jr., or Michael Steele, or Condoleza Rice would do much better in trying to bring our country together than Obama ever will.

You may not realize it, but articles like this just hurt Obama's campaign. Most white individuals living today have never victimized black people, yet they feel like they are being blamed and vilified simply because they are white. Backlash is inevitable. Obama started off being viewed as a post-racial candidate, but the Rev. Wright fall-out has resulted in his becoming identified with those who blame and hate white people and/or America for their problems. Articles like this just feed hatred and misunderstanding when they fail to point out the reality that most white people don't oppress black people, and most black people don't blame white people for their personal problems.

I ain't buying what you're selling Ms. Smith. The so-called Rev. Wright may be a theologian in black liberation theology, but he sure lacks an understanding of the Bible. He blasphemes God's name in the pulpit and places politics above the one duty he has as a Christian, to go into all the world and preach the good news of the gospel to everyone -- all skin colors, all political persuasians. Until I see Rev. Wright and his angry friends doing that, I ain't buying that Wright and his ilk are anything but racist, hateful, angry men.

Again Obama, no!!! Too much religious baggage i.e. Wright and Pfleger- without said baggage, I would vote for him. McCain has similar baggage but not as heavy and with his experience, he will get my vote.

CCNL,

Barack Obama chose to run for President. Colin Powell did not - precisely because of a lot of the racism that is being leveled at Obama. Colin Powell is not in the race. If you wish to write his name in, go ahead. You can write in Mickey Mouse (many people do). But you have to respect the fact that Senator Obama is dealing graciously with the sheer amount of racist crap that's been thrown his way. Actually, he's dealing with it a lot better than Senator Clinton is dealing with the sexist crap that's been thrown her way.

It's not easy being the first minority to do anything. I respect both candidates for being trailblazers, and going where many - including Gen. Powell - have feared to tread.

Concerned The Christian Now Liberated sez:

"Colin Powell- yes, a proven leader!!!"

Colin Powell, who knowingly lied before the world during his speech at the UN, a piece of outright mendacity that won over many people and their support of the illegal Iraq war. Colin Powell, a man whose hands now drip with the blood of the tens of thousands of people who were sent to their deaths on the lies he told, lies that he knew were lies while he was telling them.

A proven leader? Whatever.

Isn't strange how the people who had no problem saying, "Ronald Reagan made me proud to be an American," are the same people who accuse Michelle Obama of uttering "anti-American" words when she expresses a similar thought about her husband? That the same people who somehow lost their pride in being an American during the Carter term don't consider themselves to have been "anti-American" during those years of their disillusionment (after all, they must have lost their pride or Reagan wouldn't have had anything to restore, would he?).

Funny how nobody in the media has picked up on that one. It wouldn't be another case of Republicans getting a free ride, would it? Why not ask any RW gasbag how Reagan making him feel proud to be an American is A-OK, while Michelle Obama feeling proud because of what her husband has accomplished is not so A-OK.

Obama, no!!! Too much religious baggage i.e. Wright and Pfleger.

Colin Powell- yes, a proven leader!!!