Saturday morning I had the opportunity to attend what was billed as the “Unity Prayer Breakfast” at the Greater Tucker Baptist Church. The event was presented by “The Unity Group” in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. I went there along with several of my friends, both black and white. Not that the color of their skin should matter, but for some reason our culture and community finds it useful to divide us along those lines.
I went out of curiosity over the keynote speaker, Dr. Jeremiah “g-- d---- America” Wright (given his infamous speech several years ago). I wanted to see and hear for myself whether the man who mentored Barack Obama and was his pastor for 20+ years was all that others said he was and whether he would make any of the divisive and racially provocative statements that he has long been known for saying.
As Wright was introduced the audience was reminded that “Our speaker for this morning has often been misquoted and misunderstood… as most voices for God are.” Given those remarks, I looked forward to hearing him in person and in context. As we’ll see in a minute though Wright did not contradict any of the reports concerning his racially charged and destructive comments.
As I sat there, one of just a few white Chattanoogans out of several hundred in attendance, in an event billed as a “Unity” event, I did not feel uncomfortable or at ease as I knew many of the individuals in attendance. In the room were many of my black brothers and sisters in Christ that I have come to know over the last number of years as a result of some of my political and social endeavors in our community through the Chattanooga Tea Party and Citizens for Government Accountability & Transparency. Many in attendance I would consider friends, some even close friends.
Jeremiah Wright’s talk lasted a full 45 minutes and was sprinkled with some smattering of Scripture but quickly descended into a tirade of political statements, slurs and accusations. From his recitation of his grievances and conspiracies, it’s clear that Wright continues living in the past, holding on to the sins of other generations, and projecting his anti-American, anti-semitic, anti-white and racist viewpoints on our modern-day culture.
While Americans are a long way from perfection, and we will never achieve it, for Wright to equate 2015 to the 1950’s and ’60’s reveals the level of hate this man carries and how wrong Wright is. I wonder if this same “Reverend” Wright who loves to quote Scripture so often has ever read Matthew 18:21-22? Recall that in this passage when Jesus was asked by his disciples how many times they should forgive a brother who offends them, Jesus answered by saying “… up to seventy times seven” thus informing them that there should be no end to a spirit of forgiveness. Oh that Jeremiah Wright would be so eager to forgive as he is to condemn.
Some may know that I lead the Chattanooga Tea Party, a group that erupted quite spontaneously in 2009 out of the dissatisfaction with many of our government’s policies that are supported or exacerbated by both political parties. So I was particularly disappointed when Jeremiah Wright shouted "the tea party ain't nothing but a 2.0 upgrade of a lynch mob!" But what was even more disappointing was the response by a majority of the attendees there as they erupted in applause and a standing affirmation of Wright’s wrong-headed statement. And recall, this event was billed as the “Unity Prayer Breakfast."
Those in our community who are honest and not filled with the same spirit of hate and racial bigotry that Wright exhibited know that, while members of the Chattanooga Tea Party are far from perfect, we are known as a group of concerned citizens who have reached out across the racial divide in our community and have worked hand in hand with black pastors, churches and individuals on areas of common concern. I have met and prayed with a number of our community’s black leaders and pastors and so I am bewildered at the response reflected at this “Unity” event.
Now, less some say again that Jeremiah Wright was simply “misquoted or misunderstood,” I am attaching the entire audio file of Wright’s speech. In addition though, it should be noted that in 2008, even Barack Obama denounced Wright’s despicable statements (although it might have been for political cover) by saying:
“I am outraged by the comments that were made (by Jeremiah Wright). His comments were not only divisive and destructive, I believe they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate… When he (Jeremiah) states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS; when he suggests that Minister Farrakhan somehow represents one of the greatest voices of the 20th and 21st century; when he equates the U.S. wartime efforts with terrorism – then there are no excuses. They offend me. They rightly offend all Americans. And they should be denounced..."
God’s Word is replete in warning about men and women who would seek to sow discord in the church (as well as the culture) and we would do well to apply those warnings to such false prophets and hate mongers as Jeremiah Wright. Likewise though, God’s Word is also clear about what will ultimately heal wounds and how we can rebuild relationships that have been broken. It is through following Christ’s perfect example of forgiveness when He exclaimed as He hung dying on the cross for you and me:
“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
In that one sentence Christ revealed the two responses we must have in Chattanooga to heal our community:
Forgiveness and Love.
While this is not Jeremiah Wright’s solution, it is the right step forward and God's way to Unity.
Mark West
* * *
J. Wright is in town spewing his hatred of white people. He even called a political group (Tea Party) "a lynch mob." This man does this in a so called church. Which I guess is fitting when J. Wright is a so called Reverend. Personally, if I was the head of a establishment that designated "Reverend" to a guy like Wright or Sharpton or Jackson, I'd revoke their titles.
Yes, the world is a unfair place. It's a fallen world and will be until the second coming of Jesus Christ and only then. All groups have complaints. All races and sexes. So stop pointing your finger at the white man, J.W.
Chattanooga has a black on black shooting almost every other day, one even resulted in the shooting of a toddler. J. Wright doesn't even see a blip on his radar screen in regards to this "lynch mob." But he spits and spews misleading headlines about blacks being killed by white police officers. The cases he sites were ruled justifiable in courts of law. Court of law you ask? That's what O.J. Simpson was in.
Chattanooga is desperate in stopping the chaos in the streets. So what does one of its churches do? They invite a hate monger to stir up as much anger as possible. They even give him standing ovations, not your finest moment.
This course of action will lead only to free Air Jordons and flat screen T.V.'s for all whom take to the streets.
All lives matter. Obey the golden rule. Who's coming next week? A Grand Knight of KKK? How sad.
Michael Burns
* * *
Maybe Mr. West needs to have a serious heart to heart talk with his own Tea Party members about hate and intolerance before pointing fingers at Reverend Wright. My own personal experience with individuals identifying themselves as both Christians and members of the Tea Party, has shown many are both intolerant and filled with hatred themselves. Otherwise this new "friendlier" more "tolerant," peaceful image is suspect and not convincing.
I've been called a lot of names. To a discussion on a forum with talk of trying to have me declared a threat in order to bring some kind of trumped up, false charges against me. Giving directions to where I live, description of my car and then the drivebys and having pictures taking of my house, and calling out unsavory remarks. Even having encountered the occasional racist while walking in the racially mixed neighborhood I've lived for nearly four decades and having them toss their bodily fluids from a cup while walking as they drove by, shouting racial slurs and having grown up during segregation was mild in comparison. Perhaps because then they were at least honest and one was always prepared for the worst. For the first time, 21st century, I felt threatened enough to put up a security camera. As many of my tormentors were in positions of authority or married to or friends with people in such positions.
If there's any dialogue to be had, perhaps it should first start within your own party. Decide if you're going to be the "Prince Of Peace" and tolerant tea party or the "warrior-god" of destruction of chaos, mayhem, suffering, division and hate. But of all things, just be honest about it. The rest of us will survive one way or the other the same as we always have.
On a finally note, I do believe you are at least honest in your philosophy and quest. We can all respect that.
Brenda Washington
* * *
Both Reverend Wright and Ms. Brenda Washington would probably suffer an apoplexy if they attended a Tea Party meeting and discovered the presence of local black ministers, political figures, educators, businessmen and students in the crowd. Nor do Reverend Wright or Mr. Washington seem to be aware that among black speakers who have appeared at local Tea Party events, one of the most outstanding was K. Karl Smith, the founder of the Frederick Douglass Republicans-who had a standing-room only crowd comprised of all races, ethnicities, and ages standing and applauding again and again. What an absolutely amazing and uplifting message he shared, not at all like the hate-filled speech given by Reverend Wright.
Ms. Washington also is acutely unaware of the number of Tea Party members who have stepped up to the plate to help the local black community in various needs and endeavors over the years, including responding to recent requests for tutors for their children. She doesn't know that the "admittance fee" for meetings is canned food or monetary donation, which is contributed to the local food bank to feed people in her own community. She is ignorant of the fact that Tea Party members participate in this community in many ways with local charities, walks, fund-raisers, and other events, many sponsored by black groups.
It might surprise Ms. Washington to know that her name has never been mentioned at a Tea Party meeting, and frankly, most don't even know she exists. A very few are familiar with her only because of her periodic rants in the Chattanoogan.com detailing her ongoing persecution complex, which apparently extends to maligning everyone in the entire city and county. I guarantee that most people in this area have no idea who she is, where she lives, much less what she looks like, nor would they waste their time seeking her out or timing their trips to catch her unaware. Debunking her rants on public forums? Yes, I'll buy that one, because her missives are always so hateful, incendiary and wrong-headed that no other response should be expected by a rational person.
If it helps, I can assure Ms. Washington that Tea Party members are far too busy tending to much more important issues than to worry about what she says or thinks at any given time. I suspect, however, that some of the people "persecuting" Ms. Washington very well may be from within her very own community and/or neighborhood and are driven by her permanently whiny "victim" status, regardless of the issue. Incredibly, none of my black friends who live across the entire city and county seem to have the avalanche of unfortunate events that Ms. Washington apparently incurs in her daily life.
But alas. Neither Reverend Wright nor Ms. Washington will never change their views, because they are both stuck in an antiquated and deep hatred of a race and a group that they know absolutely nothing about.
Mya Lane
* * *
I read all the replies about Reverend Wright. I understand he believes all people are racists. We all need to quit living in the past. It cannot be changed nor undone. Live for the future. Quit bringing up the past. Do good today and love one another and tomorrow will be a peaceful world. Jesus said, "Do as you wish to be done by," or do unto others as you want them to do by you.
Julia Buckner
Chattanooga
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Mya, I think most people would be surprised if they attended a Tea Party meeting, and spoke of their experience instead of repeating what they read and hear in the main stream media. People from all sides of the political spectrum would do themselves, and most everyone else, a favor if they would take the time to research things for themselves rather than take for granted what they hear from some of the media sources.
I am not a member of the Tea Party, but am currently looking much harder at their views and stances on issues, given that the Republican Party has redefined themselves as a party that no longer necessarily listens to the concerns of the people that elected them.
The Republican establishment has shown that they have no intention of securing the border. Forget whether or not it is needed to control immigration limits, it is needed to know who enters the U.S. for security purposes if for no other reason. No other country allows such, and for good reason. The GOP has shown they have no problems allowing the gap between the richest and the poorest to grow at levels never seen before under the Obama administration. Many, that don’t do their homework, would say that the Republicans are for the rich, but the Obama administration more than owns that label now.
What I've gathered studying the Tea Party is that they would like to have local issues controlled locally, they want the taxes paid currently to be examined for prudence before adding additional taxes that increase the debt, and they think that families play a big part in a successful population.
Anyone that is just now coming to the conclusion that Jeremiah Wright has anti-American, anti-Semitic, anti-white and racist viewpoints on our modern day culture, and does no good for any group of people, just because he recently spoke in our town, needs to do their own research instead of listening to others. And anyone willing to stand up and cheer for that is part of the problem, not the solution.
Stan Conner
Soddy Daisy
* * *
Dear Mr. West,
When it comes to whether or not the Tea Party is a racist organization, Reverend Wright got it exactly right. For proof, all one needs do is read the placards you folks like to wave around at all your rallies. You know, the ones replete with all those misspellings.
As for Reverend Wright's characterization of the Tea Party as a "lynch mob," it's also well documented the Tea Party is simply the latest in a long tradition of anti-American, fringe, political movements in the tradition of the Ku Klux Klan - complete with many of the same pathologies. Its members are quite simply the remnants of those who cheered when Governor George Wallace, at his 1963 inauguration, proclaimed "segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" and then stood in the schoolhouse door at the University of Alabama.
Still, if you don't like lynch mob, how about American Taliban (my personal favorite) or domestic terrorists? Both seem quite appropriate, as it's not wasted on me that just like the ISIL we're now confronting in Syria and Iraq, all your group seems to want to do is dress-up in ridiculous clothes; ride around in pick-up trucks with the biggest gun you can find mounted on the back; wave the flag; and then wreak havoc on those of us Americans who actually believe in democracy.
Brandon Baines
Signal Mountain