My two cents on the Obama v. Reverend Wright Fiasco

One. I find it hard to believe Obama’s claim that he was not fully aware of the reverend’s stance on race matters. Bro, he’s been your pastor, confidant and mentor for more than twenty years. The man comes to your home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and has attended dozens of family events. You mean to tell me that ya’ll never kicked politics? Never spoke about Rodney King, the Panthers, Amadou Diallo? Seriously.

Two. Obama’s speech on race was indeed very eloquent and truthful. Yes, the nation has changed since the days of Jim Crow laws. The fact that a man of color can run for the highest office is proof of this. This is the result of broad based coalitions among varying ethnic and racial groups that have fought for change over the years. But make no mistake, what Reverend Wright has been preaching about is self-determination as it pertains to the sector of African-Americans who are not interested in being absolved by the larger white majority. Obama made some stellar points about the need to remain pursuant of the truth on race while working in tandem for the betterment of a larger society. But that’s his game, he is comfortable in the middle, and the truth is that the middle is where you can accomplish the most from in this country. However, history will tell us that it’s the least effective place to carry out the mandate for social justice in this nation.