Because of the theme of this blog and the topic of our conversation over the past few days, I feel obligated to post something here about “that speech.” But, man, this is one of those times when I really feel there’s nothing left to say—except maybe this: Barack Obama’s Philadelphia address from this morning, “A More Perfect Union,” is probably one of the most important American speeches of the last 40 years. In fact, at the risk of sounding too high on the Kool-Aid, I believe it’s the 21st century continuation of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream.”
I wasn’t able to watch the speech until this evening, but I read the text and viewed video excerpts at my work desk this morning. Just reading it gave me chills.
What Obama was able to say about race, religion, and the hope for national reconciliation was inspiring. It was eloquent, honest, and deep. It left me feeling both hopeful and ambivalent. Hopeful because he was able to articulate in 37 minutes much of what I’ve been trying to express on this blog and in all the talks I’ve delivered at churches, colleges, and conferences over the last year. In many ways, he told the whole American story in that speech, in all its complexity, unpleasantness, and messy contradictions. Yet, if we’re honest, we can also see God’s redemptive hand at work through the mess. As Obama said, “in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.”
My ambivalence comes from the cynical side of me that thinks, That speech is too important to be wasted on this presidential campaign. When I read comments about the speech on blogs and message boards and listened to some of the political pundits afterward, I realized that for some folks, nothing Obama says will be taken seriously, simply because he’s not Hillary or McCain, or because he’s too liberal, or because he chose to attend a church like Trinity United Church of Christ and remain friends with a pastor like Jeremiah Wright for 20 years.
Sadly, for many the speech was just another part of Obama’s campaign strategy—and certainly it was a speech designed to repair the swelling damage done by the Jeremiah Wright sermon snippets and save Obama’s candidacy—but it was really so much more than that. It was a message that needed to be delivered to our nation—and the American church—for such a time as this.
As Obama said, there are racial issues in this nation that we’ve never worked through. And I’m convinced we will be condemned to keep repeating our fear and anger and distrust over and over again unless we dive deep and apply justice and grace to our divided nation’s root issues of racism, resentment, and unforgiveness.
Whether Obama wins the presidency or not, I believe the message he shared this morning was as important as anything a president or national leader has delivered to the American people. And really, only a person of his unique background and experience could have offered that message in such a way. My prayer is that God will help us, as a nation, to press pause on the politics long enough to honestly listen to Obama’s words and contemplate their implications for our lives.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, Ed. This speech really struck a chord with me. I do believe that his speech will not effect those who have already want Obama out of the race, and have already condemned to hell. They will continue to use Wright’s comments out of context to make sure of that.
My sadness is truly towards the complicity of the Church in America with the sin of institutionalized racism and oppression to this day. I’m trying in my relationships to informed my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ esp. of white evangelical backgrounds of the harsh fact that racial reconciliation is hard road to travel. It means to expose and uproot the harsh reality of the birth and success of our nation is largely the cost of innocent lives. May the Lord raise up more laborers for this tedious harvest field.
I agree as well, Ed. I feel that Barack’s speech today was remarkable. I’m not sure if it will help him or hurt him politically. I have my doubts about the learning curve of our nation as it relates to race. But he said so much, so well and spoke to Americans of all colors about their feelings.
I too believe this speech transcends this campaign now and is a part of our national dialogue regardless of how the campaign turns out.
I feel like I heard a major piece of history today. Something that will be looked back upon years down the road in much the same way that we quote and refer to many of Dr. King’s words.
Ed - Barack’s speech today was one of the most moving and eloquent addresses I’ve ever heard. Truly, he had his work cut out for him - to speak in a way that communicates to both blacks and whites on this issue is near impossible, but he turned in a brilliant effort. Listening to him, though, I must confess I was both inspired and saddened. I was inspired because I felt like this was the first time in my life I’ve seen a person with that powerful a platform honestly bring America’s race problem to the fore (”racism is not something that simply exists in black people’s minds” - so easy to see; so difficult to admit). Yet I was also saddened because I realized as he spoke that most white people will likely take his speech the wrong way. The first ten minutes I ventured to watch on Fox News confirmed this: Barack is supposedly racist for tolerating the “racism” of his pastor (ironically, aren’t blacks typically the ones pointing out that complicity with racism is racism?). Barack spoke very vulnerably today, almost “letting whites in” on the black experience, but I’m not sure that white America is ready to listen. For this reason, I have a nagging fear that Obama might have sacrificed his campaign to speak the truth. This was indeed a “teachable moment” for our ailing city on a hill, and I hope very much that we will respond in humility and repentance. I’m just not sure we’re there yet - and that makes me very sad.
Justin-
We’re there with you brother! THIS is the hope that I see in this man, and what he represents for America AND the church all at once (I never thought it possible). I truly got goosebumps today. And subsequently bristled at the commentary of his political opponents of the media in its wake.
The sin, here, I believe (as it has been alluded over the past several days specifically on this blog) is the lust for power through the vehicle of politics, specifically among the “Christ-followers” in the crowd. Can somebody please tell me how such partisan political passion is justified biblically? (I think I can make a better “Christian” and “Biblical” argument for political non-participation than I can for an avid affiliation with EITHER political party.) It will take White and Black Christians alike “stopping the madness” of ridiculous political rhetoric to truly gain ground in the arena of racial reconciliation within our Church– which will, I believe, lead to the same in this country. As much as I point my finger at my fellow white “believers” in rebuke of their “philosophical and political idolatry” and their continued adulterous affair with the political right, the “Wrights” and “Jacksons” of the black community are going to have to also make similar gestures in the black community, in regards to the “left”. But to do that, for either “side”, would be “political suicide”… the unprovoked– and potentially unreciprocated– revocation of ones own power. (For an object lesson of such self-denial, I urge you to consider the event we will honor this coming Friday.)
“Professor” Gilbreath so profoundly wrestles with the thought, “That speech is too important to be wasted on this presidential campaign.” The problem is, that we as Christians (on both sides of the racial divide) have held so passionately to partisan ideology as to somehow take such a wonderful opportunity for real strides toward racial reconciliation within our Body, and write it off as “political double-speak” and “pandering”.
As it stands today, this man (Obama) is my vote for President, because he can take such a passionately charged issue such as race relations in America and somehow (if just for a day) relate with BOTH sides of an issue, building a consensus, among those in the audience who are truly willing to lend an ear and an open mind, and inspire constructive change. (Neither Republicans nor Democrats, as far as I know, think we are without the need for change in our country, society, and world as a whole.) God help him in his efforts to do the same inside the Beltway.
Helpful, keen thoughts, all. The post and the comments already cover what’s on my mind and in my heart, but I have to add like others that I’m impressed with the honesty and integrity behind and in the speech. Even though the speech responded to the particulars of the (political) moment, it transcended it at the same time. That is a testimony, I suppose, to one part of the new politics Obama speaks about; he’s in it for the long haul, but I just hope the votes are there in November to do it.
I have a lot of thoughts about the speech and will share just a few here.
I will share this speech on my personal blog so that people who may not normally pay attention to this stuff will be forced to look at it
I think the speech contained a lot of things that challenge everyone to think about race and race relations as they stand currently in our country. It’s amazing that he spoke out loud in front of everyone the issues we’ve been saying in our own communities for years. Quite a jolt. And a good thing.
I don’t agree with his policies, but I like how he does politics for the most part. Disagree, but be enthusiastic and positive about your own ideas without demonizing those that disagree. What a concept!
Anyway, I think this paragraph is the most challenging one for whites to read:
That has been my experience at Trinity. Like other predominantly black churches across the country, Trinity embodies the black community in its entirety – the doctor and the welfare mom, the model student and the former gang-banger. Like other black churches, Trinity’s services are full of raucous laughter and sometimes bawdy humor. They are full of dancing, clapping, screaming and shouting that may seem jarring to the untrained ear. The church contains in full the kindness and cruelty, the fierce intelligence and the shocking ignorance, the struggles and successes, the love and yes, the bitterness and bias that make up the black experience in America.
Why? Because honestly we don’t know how to react to this stuff. These things bring on confusion, fear, defensiveness, and sometimes longing that our church and worship could contain this fire and enthusiasm.
If I were to base my vote on this speech alone, I might vote for him. If I were looking for a friend or a couple to go out to dinner with, I’d choose the Obamas hands down over the competition. Problem is I’m choosing a president.
And this is where this part of the speech comes in:
two wars, a terrorist threat, a falling economy, a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change; problems that are neither black or white or Latino or Asian, but rather problems that confront us all.
I will also add education that he addressed later in the speech.
I agree that these are problems (except for climate change), however I 100% disagree with how Obama wants to go about solving these problems. That’s why I can not vote for him. His intentions may be pure and good, but I believe his policies will be disastrous for all people in the nation and for many others across the world.
I won’t vote for him, but I pray that politicians stand up and notice the positive way he goes about things and start to do the same.
For some reason, I feel like crying when I see clips of him giving that speech.
I keep thinking of Jim Croce’s “I won’t hang upon a lover’s cross for you.”
And I think, “but Obama will.” In a sense, it was created by his parents, but in a larger sense, it’s been built by our society/history. A cross is an intersection., as well as a symbol of reconciliation.
“Love can build a bridge.” (the Judds)
Ed,
Three words express the whole speech, words that moved me deeply:
“Not this time.”
I’m old enough to remember when MLK was giving similar speeches. Unfortunately I don’t think he, MLK, was recognized as a prophet of his time by most of America while he was alive. I hope Obama doesn’t have to die for people to listen to what he is saying. He is putting into words what this country needs to hear. Bravo!
[...] civic obligation, for generations to come.”Following Obama’s Philadelphia speech, I also remarked that it was a shame that such an important speech about the reality of the racial divide in America [...]
[...] Of course, without Wright we wouldn’t have gotten Barack Obama’s brilliant Philadelphia speech on race in America, and one more opportunity to cut through the crap and deal honestly with our nation’s deep [...]