Obama and Rev. Wright

Amidst the inflammatory remarks spouted by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, presidential candidate Barack Obama has been forced to address the issue of race for the first time. In a sermon in 2003 Rev. Wright stated that “instead of singing ‘God Bless America’ Black people should a song essentially saying ‘God Damn America”. Standing in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia Obama admitted that “race still matters”. Now it might not have been the most politically correct thing to say, but truth is truth and the fact is color matters in America and there are vast racial disparities still exist in this country.

Of course progress has been made and no one is challenging that fact, however African Americans, other minorities, and the poor continually come out on the short end economically, educationally, and dare I say politically. Obama used this teachable moment to contextualize the anger and resentments on both sides of the racial divide. "But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America - to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality."

While Obama condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright, he refused to disown him. He simply stated that if we walk away and retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, education, or the need to find good jobs for every American. I do not know if Rev. Wright’s comments will hurt Senator Obama’s political aspirations in the long run, only time will tell. You got to love a man who is eloquent and able to think on his feet.