Double Consciousness:
An Open Letter To Rev. Jeremiah Wright

The two articles below point to the dichotomy that people of African descent face in America. W.E.B. DuBois in his book the "The Souls of Black Folks" called it "two-ness," or "double consciousness." In essence the question is how do we as Blacks in America square the positiveness of our African identity heritage and our connection with one another as a people descended from Africans, with the oppressive experiences that have so prominently defined our American identity? ConNN in the article below makes the argument that after reviewing several of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons the conclusion that God should damn America is an accurate conclusion because America raped, robbed and killed the indigenous people it found when it got to this land now known as America. Also America enslaved, lynched, oppressed and is still oppressing people from Africa that were brought here in slave ships under some of the most deplorable conditions know n to humans. Because America helped sustain Ian Smith and his racist Apartheid government in South Africa, along with Cecil Rhodes and his racist government that controlled the country now known as Zimbabwe ConNN concludes that God would be acting justly to damn America. And because America cut an oil deal with the royalty of Saudi Arabia which caused Saudi schools to be organized that produced the persona of Osama Bin Laden again this American government behavior is not reason for God to bless America. ConNN, obviously through the eyes of Jerimiah Wright, a Black liberation theologian, rightfully concludes that for these acts it would be proper for God to damn America. This conclusion evidently is alarming to those who are not aware of these acts, care little about them, or believe that the acts have little to do with their current reality.

Therefore, in many people’s view, Rev. Jeremiah Wright was justified in saying that God should damn America for its despicable behavior. However, Barack was also correct to say Rev. Wright’s analysis is stagnant in history. In his March 18, 2008 speech given so eloquently in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Barack stated “that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.” But in defense of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, does that make America’s past behavior any less damning? Likewise, is this despicable behavior still on display today? Would America’s presence in Iraq come under damnable behavior? What about the sanctions America has imposed on Zimbabwe that is causing innocent men, women and children to experience starvation, some to the point of death? Does this behavior on the part of America make it less qualified to receive damnation from God? This is the task at hand. How do we deal with harsh realities and still come together to represent the American ideal that strives for a more perfected union?

Given, by the above, that Rev. Wright was justified, it would follow that Barack Obama, who by all indication is trying to do right, should not have separated himself from Rev. Wright and his words. And because Barack did publicly denounce Wright’s message, then one can conclude that Rev. Wright is justified to work against Barack in his quest to become the next President of America.

Whew!!! This is a mental tug of war. This is the double consciousness of which Dubois spoke and we see with the theater that is playing out between Rev. Wright and Barack Obama.

The struggle to square our African heritage with our American identity is front and center and a reality that has to be dealt with. This two-ness gets even cloudier. Rev. Jeremiah Wright was a Marine. That means he was trained to kill for America. How can Rev. Wright who fought in America’s mighty killing machine condemn, or have the nerve to question Barack because Barack wants to control the machine? My brother, how do you point out the speck in Barak’s eye when you don’t see the log in your own eye? (Luke 6:42) If Barack is Commander in Chief then he can direct the military so God would want to bless America instead of damn America. When you, Jeremiah, served as a Marine, America had already conquered this land from the indigenous people. America had enslaved your African ancestors and treated them deplorably. Why would you put yourself in a position to go fight for “God damn America?” Shouldn’t you have express your anger toward America by not fighting in its military? Reverend, are you feeling me?

We really don’t know how Barack is going to conduct himself as the President of t he United States. Doesn’t our Christian faith dictate that we give him the benefit of the doubt until he removes such doubt? Reverend , do not get so caught up in the personal part that you play in this history-making endeavor that you lose sight of the big picture. As Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin http://www.lightoftheworld.org has been teaching us , “It is not about me [it is about God and lifting up His word]!!” Now that being said, if Barack gets elected and does the same thing for which America should be damned then , in my opinion, Rev. Wright, you, should be at the forefront of dealing with this "double consciousness" and we should follow your lead. America must decide whether it will risk a fundamental change in how it does business as Barack is selling, or will it stay the course with its behavior that is warranted for damining by the God of justice. However, you should wait until Barack secures the President position. Then hold Barack accountable about being about change. Push Barak to change America's foreign policy that has made it a candidate for damnation. Push him to turn America's behavior around so God will want to bless America. I believe that this is what Barack wants to do. Let’s give him a chance.

Rev. Wright, I say again, your prophetic words that hold America accountable for its past and present acts should be spoken. Barack should be made to account for his break with his Pastor and those prophetic words. However, timing and intent are everything. Wait until Barack becomes President. Then Rev. Jeremiah Wright you should lead the prophetic charge to make Barack and America a tool that deserves God's blessing if Barack represents more of the same. We must increase the love and decrease the hate. Thank you for listening to Ajabu Speaks.

April 28, 2008

ConNN - Dancing with the Devil

ConNN didn't sit in Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years and listen to his sermons, but our staff of ace investigative reporters have listened to several of them (full sermons, not short sound clips) over the last few weeks. Contrary to popular opinion, we understand where he is coming from and we generally agree with what he says about America. Fancy that!

• America terrorized the Native Americans, broke treaties, killed women and children, stole their land, put the few remaining survivors in concentration camps called reservations, essentially committed genocide - God damn America!
• America enslaved the black man and treated them like animals, later suppressed them, terrorized them, and denied them their culture and civil rights - God damn America!
• America turned a blind eye to apartheid in South Africa and refused to condemn it for years - God damn America!
• White America expects blacks in this country to denounce their heritage and behave (pray, dress, sing, eat, talk) like white people. Many blacks in America don't want to be turned into white people. They want to feel that it's ok to be black and they should not be ashamed of being who and what they are. They want to embrace the heritage they were denied by white America.
• America cut a deal with the Saudi Royalty for oil rights in return for US protection of the Saudi royalty. The US established military bases in Saudi Arabia and "tainted" the Saudi culture, especially the Saudi royalty, with what the Wahabbi Muslims perceived as western decadence contrary to their religious beliefs. Had this not happened, then Osama bin Laden, who was taught in Wahabbi schools, would not have had fierce animosity toward the US, and 9/11 would probably not have happened. Thus, to use Rev Wright's slang, "the chickens came home to roost".

America invaded Iraq under false pretenses and apparently intends to establish permanent residence in Iraq and perhaps elsewhere in the Middle East. The Middle East does not belong to America (yet), and the people in that region have every right to distrust our intentions given our history. Prepare for more incoming chickens.

Those are the facts. What's not to understand? Are we as a nation so blinded by our self-righteous patriotic indignation that we refuse to acknowledge or understand that Reverend Wright was saying that America has done some pretty damnable things in its comparatively short history and that there are lingering consequences for those wrongs? Maybe white people just don't want to be reminded of such things, particularly by an angry black man. It may be easier to dismiss and demonize him, to continue to pretend that we're not like that anymore, that we are now on some higher moral ground. Yes, America has many good, noble and desirable attributes. But if we turn a blind eye to our flawed past, we will miss a vital and compelling lesson which will help bring this country together and become a good example to the rest of the world.

Blindness is not a prerequisite for patriotism ~ Larry Conaway

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. ~Philip K. Dick

Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces. ~Sigmund Freud

Insider Report from Newsmax.com

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright wouldn’t mind seeing Barack Obama’s presidential campaign derailed — that's how angry he is over his former parishioner’s “betrayal” of their long relationship, the New York Post reports.

“After 20 years of loving Barack like he was a member of his own family, for Jeremiah to see Barack saying over and over that he didn’t know about Jeremiah’s views during those years, that he wasn’t familiar with what Jeremiah had said, that he may have missed church on this day or that and didn’t hear what Jeremiah said, this is seen by Jeremiah as nonsense and betrayal,” a source with ties to Wright told the Post’s Fredric Dicker.

“Jeremiah is trying to defend his congregation and the work of his ministry by saying what he is saying” and “doesn’t care if he derails Obama’s candidacy or not.”

Obama’s relationship with Wright has been under fire ever since videos were made public earlier this year in which Wright claimed that the United States brought 9/11 on itself and people should say “God damn America” instead of “God bless America.”

Obama has recently sought to distance himself from Wright, calling his remarks “divisive and destructive” on April 29 — which angered the minister. But according to the source, Wright first became disillusioned with Obama last year when Obama unexpectedly barred him from participation in the public announcement of his presidential campaign.

After Obama was “embraced by this congregation as a brother in Christ, after his pastor was a father figure to him and gave him credibility in a city he had not grown up in, and in a black community that was suspect of someone from Hawaii and Harvard, he thanks him by not allowing him to speak publicly at his announcement last year?” the source told Dicker.

“Rev. Wright, as well as other senior members of his church, believe Obama has betrayed over 20 years of their supposed friendship.”

Editor's Note:

• Special: The Obama Story You Must Read