Jeremiah Wright Thoughts
I watched Dr. Jeremiah Wright yesterday with amazement. Here are a few of my thoughts about his speech before the NAACP yesterday:
1. Dr. Wright is very smart. I knew that already, but to hear him reveals the depth of his education. Wright’s a big idea preacher: He said, ” I believe that a change is going to come because many of us are committing to changing how we see others who are different.” He went on to repeat how African-Americans are not deficient, but are different. From a speaker’s view, he was great.
2. Education can be used powerfully to cut off communication.
3. Pastor Wright has done a lot of good in his life using the vehicle of the civil rights movement. We should celebrate that.
4. Jeremiah Wright will never be asked to preach at a Promise Keepers event.
5. Dr. Wright is a product of his generation. His generation did a lot for African-Americans in the past. The civil rights movement was and still is effective. But it can only get the results it has gotten thus far.
6. Pastor Wright’s message resonates well with many people. But his message, tone, and approach will not bring about racial reconciliation. He comes across as one sided, and that’s too bad.
7. I can’t find the end game in his message.
8. He embraces Islamic clergy. This is common in the more liberal African-American traditions. It makes me wonder if he really believes in the exclusivity of Jesus Christ.
9. He had fun making fun of the way people talk. And he’s wrong, it’s not “only” Black children who were/are told their English is bad. I get that all the time. I get his point, but don’t see it’s positive impact to bring people together. But that’s not his goal.
10. Why would he go public now? I’m not sure about why he would do this when Barack Obama needs him to be quite.
11. Anglos will never listen to this guy. Where are the other evangelical leaders such as Bishop TD Jakes, Dr. Tony Evans? We need someone to come in and bridge this issue. We need someone who can interpret the times.
Anyone want to be courageous and say what you thought of Pastor Wright’s speech?
My daughter doesn’t know what to do with a message like Wright’s. Her generation will be the one that sees the dream of MLK fulfilled (I hope). They are the emerging generation that will put aside race for character.
I think he’s smart, but not as smart as he thinks. He’s educated and opinionated about civil rights issues but carries bitterness in his heart. He comes across as angry, even blinded by that anger. I wonder if to some degree it’s not an act. He almost seems too smart to believe some of his rhetoric…like maybe he’s pushing his agenda for his own purposes. I don’t know. The one thing that I find the most disheartening by his public displays is that it has influenced the thinking of many over the years that have sat under his preaching. And that’s too bad. I feel sure he’s probably done much more to divide people than bring them together.