“He does not speak for me. He does not speak for the campaign. He may make statements in the future that don’t reflect my values or concerns.” – Barack Obama

For weeks now, mainstream media have been loathe to separate Barack Obama from his former pastor. Initially, I found it interesting that the views of a pastor would enter the political realm of the race for a presidential nomination. I mean, is there not, according to the design of this democracy, to be a separation of church and state? Of course, as I’ve written before, the African American church has historically been a place where there is a blend of theology and politics — in fact, it was the only place where African American people were allowed to process — aloud and through prayer — the impact of the conditions in which they lived. But now, as I watch Rev. Wright take a pre-book tour and offer more of his public sermons (love them or hate them), I’m compelled to remind the public of one essential detail: Rev. Wright is not Sen. Obama.

The media seems to forget this every now and then. In what is billed as “election coverage,” many news sources devote comments–and significant segments of their program–to statements made by Rev. Wright! Media fixation on the comments of Rev. Wright have fueled a public perception that Rev. Wright is the spokesperson of the campaign, rather than the former pastor of a candidate. I just read an article that suggested Rev. Wright could “cost” Sen. Obama the nomination, and my stomach turned. If it is true that Rev. Wright could “cost” Sen. Obama this nomination, then the same standard should be applied to other candidates, who have been supported by people whose politics have been questionable to significant segments of the population.

There is no monolithic interpretation of inequality among African American leadership, but this has historically been difficult for mainstream America to digest. In the past, there seems to have only been room for one African American leader at a time, one African American spokesperson. There was Booker T. Washington. Then it was Martin Luther King. Then Jesse Jackson. Were there not other African American leaders working tirelessly to counter the conditions of oppression that surrounded them? At the same time, were there not other African American leaders who argued with the politics of these “spokespersons,” challenging them to consider their position on certain issues? Was there not Ida B. Wells and Marcus Garvey? Was there not A. Philip Randolph? Was there not Malcolm X? Just as there is diversity among the politics of white people, so too is there a diversity of thought and action among African Americans and other people of color.

Keep in mind that Rev. Wright is a minister — the former pastor of a church that included (gasp!) more than just the Obama family as members. He has his own thoughts, feelings, and experiences that inform his interpretation of inequality. As a minister, it is his duty to speak publicly about these issues as he sees them. What minister in this Christian theological framework would not seize the public stage to preach his truth about injustice? Still, it is his truth, not necessarily the truth of the candidate he supports for president.

I’m sure you have reminded your mother or father, on more than one occasion in life, that you are your own individual. John McCain is not Pat Buchanan, nor is Hillary Clinton any of the “conservative” leaders and members of the secret prayer group, with which she is believed to associate. And Barack Obama is not Jeremiah Wright. Please remember that.

Write a comment