Why Are You Surprised?

Recently Rev. Jeremiah Wright has been catching more hell for telling ugly truths that are negatively affecting Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Why are they negatively affecting his campaign? Because Obama’s tactics have been to appease White Americans and convince them that he is what we in the Black community call a “safe Negro.” THIS is why many Black Americans are of the mind that this country is not ready for a Black president. Personally, I believe that if it were just a matter of who is best suited to bring about the change that this country so desperately needs, then Obama is sitting at the top of my list; however, I make no secret about the fact that he was NOT my first choice, and did not become so until Dennis Kucinich dropped out of the race. Basically Kucinich was saying exactly what I wanted to hear. Unfortunately, he did not have the popularity, celebrity support, and financial war-chest that our present slew of candidates has.

You see, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that Barack Obama cannot run for president as easily as John McCain and Hillary Clinton can. You have to remember the historical hierarchy of this country’s view towards both race & gender. At the top of the food chain is the white male; next comes his woman, and everyone else is considered a “minority.” Why must Obama distance himself from Rev. Wright – despite the fact that Wright has not told one single falsehood? Because White America does not want to face its ugly truths. How is it un-American or unpatriotic to tell the truth from your point of view? Answer me this … if you were to wake up one morning and roll over to kiss your husband or wife and they said, “Eeeew … your breath smells like hot garbage!” Even though your feelings might be hurt by the brashness of the statement, would that negate the fact that you – like everyone else on the planet wake up with “morning breath?” Morning breath is an ugly truth, but you cure it by facing it and brushing your teeth and using mouthwash. Racism is cured in the same fashion … you face it, and you do something to change it, but the fact of matter is White America wants to pretend it doesn’t have “morning breath.” The problem with that is, it may convince itself that there’s no bad smell, but everyone else can still smell the funk of 400 years of oppression!

Rev. Wright is a U.S. Marine who served this country in war. Why has he not the right to speak his mind? How is it that a man who valiantly put his life on the line for this country does not have the freedom to speak his mind? Here’s an even deeper question … Does White America really think that he’s the only Black person who feels that way? Talk about delusional! The bottom line is FREEDOM AIN’T FREE … especially when a decorated war veteran can’t speak his mind!

As he’s stated in recent public appearances, Rev. Wright is not the one running for president. Obama has officially distanced himself from Wright, so why is Obama even paying him any attention? Because White America sees & thinks of all of us as being one big family, and what one of us believes – apparently we all must believe. The funny thing is, when it comes to the historical treatment of people of color in this country, most of us are in agreement. But see, Obama can’t afford to agree with us, but then again, there is something that must be understood about this particular Black man. His lineage does not have the same history and bloodlines of the slave trade in it as does mine or many other African Americans. His father’s side of his family is from Kenya (Africa) and his (white) mother’s side of the family is from Kansas. Talk about sitting on the fence!

The bottom line is the only way Barack can pull off winning this election is if he can successfully make White America feel comfortable with him in the “WHITE HOUSE.” I believe in his vision and how he wants to improve life for ALL Americans, but I am also concerned with how far he must distance himself from the truth behind and supporting Black America’s rage, and thus Black America itself in order for him to become our next president.