by Rev. Reynard N. Blake, Jr.
The author congratulates the president-elect on his having run a “great…eloquent, dignified, and clean race,” but then admonishes: “You blew a tremendous teaching opportunity in teaching America about Liberation Theology when you put some distance between you and Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright.” Obama’s former pastor appears to have “unnerved” him “because the Black Liberation Theology that Wright embodies involves a responsibilty to call White people out on their racism and for Black Churches to address racism.”
Dear “Brother President”: Embrace Liberation Theology
by Rev. Reynard N. Blake, Jr.
“Brother President, you can redeem yourself by remembering your moral responsibility to address racism within the framework of Liberation Theology.”
Well, “Brother President” Obama, you did it! You won! Congratulations!
I voted for you though you did not sufficiently define a progressive agenda and tried too hard to be race-neutral! (But I digress!) However, the main reason I voted for you is almost anyone would have been better than John McCain.
You ran a great race: you were eloquent, dignified, and you ran a clean race. You did not stoop to John McCain’s level as he race-baited you (through his hit-woman, Sarah Palin) and, at times, chose not to even speak your name. You became “that one” to him. You rose above him. You, by example, showed him what it is to be a righteous man. God bless you, God bless yours, and God bless America!
But let’s talk about God, shall we? You blew a tremendous teaching opportunity in teaching America about Liberation Theology when you put some distance between you and Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright.
Unfortunately, America places a Christian litmus test on its political candidates. I believe all or nearly all elected officials and candidates are forced to become Pharisees (the most influential religious party among the Jews during the time of Jesus). To satisfy some Christians, their political Pharisees must, as in Matthew 23:5 indicates, “...to do for men to see” in terms of acting out and articulating their Christian beliefs. (I am sure that atheist or agnostic politicians are forced to play this game as well.) Sadly, candidates that fail to proclaim their Christian faith are rarely elected. One wonderful exception can be found in U.S. Representative Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota). Representative Ellison is a Muslim. However, extremely prejudiced members of the media such as television and radio talk show host Glenn Beck whom, in a tremendous (and proud) show of his ignorance asked Ellison “Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies...I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way." (When Beck said that I almost lost my religion!) It is interesting to note that Beck is a Mormon, a religion that could be considered out of the American mainstream.
“You failed to explain the substance and meaning of Wright’s more controversial statements.”
A noose has been placed around your neck in the name of a Christian God and you have let it tighten and tighten. You tightened it more when you failed to explain the substance and meaning of Wright’s more controversial statements. You allowed Wright’s statements, as interpreted by the White “mainstream” media to be messages of hate. Wright disturbed America when he said September 11, 2001 meant "America's chickens are coming home to roost" and that "racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run." You allowed the White media to redefine Wright’s most controversial statement from a 2003 sermon in which he presents an argument on how blacks have been treated at the hands of the government:
“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strikes law and then wants us to sing, ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, God damn America, that’s in the Bible, for killing innocent people. God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme.”
Let’s decipher Wright’s statement. He said that the government has not “won” its “War On Drugs” (this begs the question: how can the US “win” “The War On Terror” when it has not addressed domestic terrorism?), announced how our government uses a baseball metaphor to describe punishing drug abusers (those at the very bottom of the illegal drug trade), implied how the government fails to track down real terrorists (those that grow and/or make illegal drugs or the banks that protect drug dealer profits), fake patriotism, American arrogance in dealing with global affairs, fake Christianity, and that there will be an American reckoning for not adequately enhancing the lives of poor people whom Jesus Christ described as “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). It seems like Wright was telling the truth with a righteous anger and extremely direct language. Sometimes the truth hurts. Wright put America’s feet to the fire. Maybe that Black man’s fire burned a few of our White brothers’ and sisters’ feet. Maybe White America thinks Black people should be overly grateful for living in America, have no right to criticize it, and complain all the time. Maybe more White Americans will think that racism does not exist anymore in the wake of your victory. Maybe Black America has not been served adequately by your inaction. Maybe you should wake up.
“Wright was telling the truth with a righteous anger and extremely direct language.”
In distancing yourself from Wright you distance yourself from a pillar of The Black Church and one of its driving theologies: Liberation Theology. Liberation Theology, simply put, using faith to assess, point out, and address how our socioeconomic and political structures are based in oppression and domination, which are keys to human oppression and suffering. Nevertheless, although Liberation Theology has been defined as Marxist it is actually a wake-up call to society to promote justice, avoid economic development at the expense of poor people, and announces that salvation is available to the individual and corporations. Liberation Theology reminds us of personal responsibility to God and our personal responsibility to look after each other. Liberation Theology also reminds us that the way we practice capitalism may be immoral. Modern Liberation Theology is not against capitalism but advocates a sensitve, non-exploitive capitalism and just government. The goal is to protect and enable the poor to have better lives. Modern Liberation Theology does not automatically assume that corporations and the rich are bad. It also recognizes that there are bad and immoral poor people.
Black Liberation Theology, which is the essence of Wright, is the mix of Liberation Theology and an affirmation of the responsibilities, action, joys, challenges, and faith of Black people. Wright seems to have unnerved you because the Black Liberation Theology that Wright embodies involves a responsibilty to call White people out on their racism and for Black Churches to address racism. You forget or failed to announce that The Black Church is a direct response to racism based in Liberation Theology. The result of your failure amounts to diminshing the role and power of The Black Church. However, Brother President, you can redeem yourself by remembering your moral responsibility to address racism within the framework of Liberation Theology. You do not have to be open with your reasoning on how to combat racism and all the negative–isms of American society and the world. Your work must go beyond quoting scripture. You must remind all of us that practice Christianity that we are to be scripture. I know this is a daunting task, but I believe that your eloquence and stature will lead to constructive dialogue and action to address racism, American classism, and gender issues.
My name is Reynard N. Blake, Jr. and I approve this message.
Reverend Reynard N. Blake, Jr., M. S. is an ordained Baptist minister living in East Lansing, Michigan with his wife Karen Kelly-Blake, Ph.D. (Anthropology). He is the president and founder of Community Development Associates, a business focusing on Research, Grant Writing, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Marketing, Leadership & Environmental Awareness Training and Conference Planning. He earned his Master of Science degrees in Community Development-Urban Studies from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the College of Charleston (SC). He has co-authored several articles on faith-based community development and is also a poet and hip-hop cultural analyst. He is working on a book of political parodies and essays and he could use some help in the publishing process. He can be reached at reynardblakejr@yahoo.com
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