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From The Sunday Times
March 23, 2008

Barack Obama dares to speak the truth about race

Andrew Sullivan

Watch Barack Obama's speech on race

The candidacy of Barack Obama has already given us many memorable campaign moments, but last week’s Philadelphia address struck me as more than that. It was the most honest speech about race in America that any leading politician has given in my lifetime. It was a shockingly brave speech – the first real test of what this man does under pressure and under fire. It was also, I think, an authentically Christian speech, inexplicable without Christian theology.

Its most surprising aspect was Obama’s simple blank refusal to disown his controversial pastor Jeremiah Wright, who claimed in sermons that the United States had brought the 9/11 attacks on itself and asked African-Americans to sing “God damn America”.

In electoral politics, if someone associated with you has said something stupid or ugly or extremist, the golden rule is to “reject and denounce” him or her immediately and move on. Obama’s decision to face this head-on and actually use the moment to give a speech that spoke of racial complexity – of the legitimacy of white racial grievance as well as of historical black bitterness – sets him apart from many other politicians.

He was not trying to appeal to one constituency over another. He was actually trying to start a conversation – a perilous conversation – that might either kill his candidacy or make it more significant than any since Ronald Reagan’s.

He placed Wright in a historical context. He invoked William Faulkner: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” He spoke to the American public as if they were adults, aware of their country’s tortured racial history. While he didn’t excuse – and, indeed, clearly and explicitly condemned some of Wright’s toxic racial claptrap – he also refused to ignore the fact that the black church has a history of intemperate fulmination, as well as surpassing beauty and emotion.

He reminded us that Wright and Obama belong to a multiracial and mainly white Christian denomination, the United Church of Christ (at least now the rumours about Obama being a Muslim may die down). Wright’s colourful speaking style stems from a long tradition of prophetic, angry sermonising. Let me offer an example from another such preacher: “God didn’t call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war . . . And we are criminals in that war. We’ve committed more war crimes almost than any nation in the world and I’m going to continue to say it. And we won’t stop it because of our pride and our arrogance as a nation. But God has a way of even putting nations in their place . . . [God will say:] And if you don’t stop your reckless course, I’ll rise up and break the backbone of your power.”

That was Martin Luther King in February 1968. His sermon was about Vietnam. Today in America it would be regarded by many as treasonous. This kind of rhetoric is more mainstream within the black church than many whites understand and Wright, when you listen to his full sermons, is often much more sophisticated than the soundbites sometimes suggest.

So Obama trod a complicated path last week, decrying Wright’s apparent disbelief in the self-correction of the American experiment while also trying to explain where that argument comes from: slavery, Jim Crow, centuries of cruelty and humiliation. He invoked the self-confessed racism of his white grandmother and spoke of the sometimes bigoted discourse in African-America’s barbershop subculture. He was not merely being white and black; he was being ghetto black and Ivy League black, upscale black and downscale black, middle-class black and underclass black.

This is the core of Obama’s relationship to his own race. He understands that the ease of pure victimology is as phoney as the release of complete assimilation. Think of other leading black Americans: Condoleezza Rice, a black woman who grew up in the maelstrom of the civil rights movement in the South, who was nonetheless protected from it by her parents and taught classical piano while other black girls were being killed by bombs, and who barely ever invokes her race. Or take Clarence Thomas, a Supreme Court justice utterly defined by race and his anger at white liberals for condescension and affirmative action. Or Al Sharpton, a man for whom black grievance almost always obliterates any empathy with white resentment. Or think of a complicated black conservative like the nuanced and sophisticated author Shelby Steele, who has nonetheless sought occasional refuge as the token conservative black man in various right-wing media outlets. I don’t mean to overly criticise any of them. It’s tough.

Between denying your difference as a minority and embracing it as totally defining of yourself, there is a world of treacherous and difficult tension. But for an intelligent and principled person, the struggle always lies in the interstices. I relate to this a little as a homosexual. I neither want to be totally defined by my gay identity, but nor do I want to deny it. I don’t want to be imprisoned by victimology, but nor do I want to disown those of my fellow gays who do indeed suffer as victims for reasons they cannot change or help.

This is the tough road that Obama has pursued. I would think much, much less of him if he had never opened himself to the black urban subculture and its fears, hopes and resentments, while also being a Harvard Law Review president and intellectual of the first order. He married a black American woman in part to reconnect with an American black experience from which he had been cut off by his own multicultural, multi-national, biracial past. It’s all there in his first autobiography, explained and unearthed with painful candour.

Did he overlook too much of Wright’s racial extremism? Did his white guilt prevent him from protesting? Perhaps. Some Chicago political posturing may have also played a part. But it is important to note that he did not merely sit back; he also dedicated his career to racial integration and understanding. Few politicians have been as dedicated to racial integration as Obama and to tie him to racial separatists because of a few sermons at his church is simply unfair.

It was a wide bridge, to be sure, perhaps too wide for the weight that it is now bearing. And maybe America is not ready for this bridge, for these contradictions, for this complexity. We will find out soon enough.

So we are suspended between the old racial politics and a new form: between Hillary Clinton who believes in her heart that America is not ready, and may never be ready, for this leap and should therefore adopt a politics that assumes the ineradicability of this racial and cultural gulf and the need to disguise it and play cynical defence – and an Obama who offers the chance to see that sometimes authentic identity requires an element of contradiction, a bridging of the resentful, angry past and a more complex, integrated future.

He may fail and the Clintons may be proven right. But he may also succeed – and what a mighty success that would be.

The "grandmother" element is a bit off. Prudence, as much as, if not more than, racism, compels most of us to move to the other side of the street when approachng any group of young males who look threatening. If she'd been a true racist, she'd have severed contact with her daughter. She didn't.

Otherwise, the speech, and Sullivan's interpretation, seem valid.

Gene Touchet, Palm Springs, California, U.S.A.

I am a 34 year old bi-racial american citizen. I heard the news about Rev. Wright and had to listen to his sermon. Like many americans I sat and watched the news air these "God Damn America" statements.

I thought oh no, it's Louis Farakhan all over again. Then I researched and found the whole message being delivered by Rev. Wright. I was once again reminded of how wrong and neglegant the media can be. The fact that they did not air the sermon until recently in its entirety was not fare to Obama, Rev. Wright or the American people.

Who is going to stand up to Big Corporate America who influences the Media? The average american is so tired of working and trying to raise there families and deal with the insane costs of living, they don't have time to always find the truth. We should hold the media responsible for alot of the problems we have in America. Go deeper and find out who is funding and controlling them.

David, Walnut Creek, CA

Any person that truthfully loves their country is not going to sit and hear someone trash it. Any person that does sit there and hear it even one time has a conflict of interest, and should not even deserve to be a Senator, I am glad he is not from Texas, I would be embarrassed. Therefore he should drop out of the race since he does not deserve it, he has betrayed our country. He is addicted and obsessed with his Pastor. Please drop out ASAP so the race can go on, by the way what exactly happen in 1999?

Minnie, Austin, Texas

Tom Benford

The truth is he didn't sit "even 20 seconds of that histronic ranting nonsense, much less twenty years".

Please go to youtube and listen to an extended version of any of the controversial sermons and I think you will come away with a very different view of Rev. Wright.

The people who attempted to make Rev. Wright into an caricature and swiftboat Sen. Obama cannot succeed this time because of the internet and sites like youtube.

Cheryl, NJ, Hackensack,

America, America, this is the time to stand up for freedom. Liberty, isn't that what America stands for? Who will America choose, Rev. Wright who airs his mind on his pulpit or the person who says nothing and wreaks havoc?

Obama is a son of God. He has responded to the issues which the speech by his pastor raised. He has done so, honestly, elegantly and yet simply. The Lord may have destined only this mission for him in all these. If the Lord has higher mission for him, he will sustain it.

Nnoyelum, Benin, Nigeria

On what are you basing your assumption that Clinton, a woman who has spent her life working to improve the lives of disadvantaged Americans, believes America is not ready for change and progress? Obama's speech was an excellent and nuanced examination of the legacy of race in the US. Yet, the desire of one Democratic candidate for progress and his recognition of the challenges we face does not mean the other is oblivious to the issues of race in America. Both are Democrats and subsequently share many beliefs and desires for our country. The inability of either to emerge as the clear candidate of the Democratic Party stems largely from their many similarities, not their differences.

Sen. Obama's speech was a refreshingly honest and intelligent reflection on race in America, one of the country's most important yet too-often ignored issues, and has revitalized constructive discussions about race.

Grace, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

If America made Obama its President, its standing in the world would take off like a rocket and surprise EVERYONE who has written the place off as shallow, fat, trailer trashy, red-neck ande violent (with only a dash of culture, clash and dignity to totally stop it imploding).

All the grave conflicts would change colour instantly (pardon the pun) and become less samey and polarised as all the players would feel uncomfortable with their customary postures.

Yeah, you GO, Barack Obama. Mr. Catalyst.

Valerie, Hove, UK

I agree that although a good speech this was not monumental, yet I think its message is fundamental. I do not agree with all Obama's policies, but here he has struck the right note; albeit the right note on minority relations rather than in response to Wright.

Through discrimination minorities have rightly felt separate from society, yet with the advent of much needed tolerance, this separation does not need to be continued through self-imposition.

The only way to avoid "us" and "them" scenarios is to look accross divides to simliarites and accept rather than ignore past schisms. Obama has correctly highlighted this. History cannot be ignored yet nor should it be sustained.

It is of course very easy to say this, but for a high-level minority politician to admit thsi is unique and should be encouraged. Such a nuanced, non-partisan view is difficult to express memorbaly and concisely in the face of extremes. Yet Obama's oratory and status have enabled this.

Richard W, London,

Allow the man to chose his path and make his position known. Too few are willing to take the high ground and confront the issues that we as all americans well know cross this great land. I ask is the issue race or politics? I go for change with true purpose and meaning. Change is colorblind and action driven.

skip bryant , Graham, Texas

Andrew, I couldn't have said it better. I wish everyone who has seen that outrageous clip of the pastor could read this article. Many people have left Obama because of what his pastor said without listening to anything Obama has said in reply. Those were the pastors words not the senators. Obama didn't hear him say them & has told what he would have done if he had. A lot of people go the that church, including a majority of white people. Few if any left the church after the pastors rant.

Sen. Obama I believe is an honest man & I trust him to run our country. He can & will do a lot to bring our country together.

I never have & never will trust Mrs. Clinton althought I did vote for her husband twice. I still believe that decision was right for the country at the time. But she is just not trust worthy. She lies, cheats, attacks/ runs & has others do her dirty work just to win the election.But a lot of America have her number & it is up!! We will get America back in 08 w/ Obama!!!!

SHERRY HULL, EUREKA, CALIFORNIA

In the midst of the shrill voices of the press, it is refreshing to read an honest and I believe true account of Barack Obama - who he is and what he stands for. Let's hope that all those blue collar, white guys that everyone is so sure couldn't or wouldn't vote for a black man will see the amazing opportunity we have at this moment in history.

Lynn, Columbus, Ohio

The Clintons are such liars because the media have let them get away with lie after lie after lie. They have been rewarded for lying, on not having sex with that or that or that woman, on whose money they have been taking and why, on how they have been piling on their multimillions, on having experience (of sniper fire!). Hillary and Bill are convinced they have merely to repeat lies about Senator Obama (his patriotism, his judgment, etc) and the media will return them to the WH. We cannot say, "Shame on you!" to the Clintons. They are shameless. Senator Obama is a brave and brilliant candidate, and I I do not understand why the Democratic Party elders are permitting the Clintons to kneecap his campaign and bring the party and the nation down.

lin, eureka, USA

This man call Obama hits it point blant. He has said it as it is, what more does anybody want to hear? Those who believe in the truth will always stand by the truth. Obama have just once again proven himself right and matured for this exaulted office in America today. I stand by you.

Otori Sunday, Abuja, Nigeria

Otori Sunday, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport., Nigeria / Abuja.

Give up Andrew. It wasn't the greatest speech since Lincoln, as you Obamaniacs maintain.
Obama is just another big govt, Great Society, liberal, with a smoother manner.
His sitting in that "church" for 20 years shows that, despite his rhetoric, he is just another grievance politician.
Wake up.

D Day, New Orleans,

We all know that the truth hurts. Deep down our hearts, we know that rhis country still has racial problems.

Obama 's speech is the best ever, I will read it to my kids over and over.

Whether America is ready or not ready, rascims still exist. Period. Only people like Obama who are not afraid of addressing the sensitive issues can reduce that gap. The rest would like to go on and on, but this is a different generation, and both sides should work together to bridge the gap, for the future generation.

So Obama you got my vote

Ruth Rogerson, South Orange, New Jersey

Obama is telling it like it really and truly is. And most people of all nations don't like it when the TRUTH is brought to them. They want things sugar coated. I am a lot like Obama, I believe in calling an ace an ace, and a spade a spade, if it hurts someone's feelings, maybe they will think it over, and get over it, if not it's their problem, not mine. You can bring a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink it! You go Obama, you've already got my vote.

Pat Hopwood, Temple,, Texas

Sullivan, whose prior essays I have always admired, strikes a resound chord on Obama's recent speech. Obama's speech was gutsy and courageous and Sullivan, who had grappled with his minority position (as a gay man), was in excellent position to gut out Obama's views on race issues. This essay is a must read for any future political analyst. Bravo, Sullivan!

Thomas Alton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

While agreeing that Obama's speech was both moving and significant in detailing the complexity of racial relations in the United States, I feel that the overall aim of his speech, to counter the un-American and awful claims by his pastor Jeremiah Wright failed. While the people of the United States sacrifice both livelihoods and finances with ongoing military missions into Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama's lack of speaking against Wright's rhetoric that 'condoms a damned nation' demonstrates Obama's true character. As Wright baptized his kids and presided over his wedding, Obama lack of distancing him from this highly controversial and what many white Americans see as a racist figure will be his demise come November, 2008.

Brad, Columbus, USA/ Ohio

If I accept what you say, as I do, I still cannot understand how any halfway intelligent person could sit through even 20 seconds of that histrionic ranting nonsense, much less twenty years.

But, to a disinterested foreign observer, he still seems far and away the best available candidate.

Tom Benford, Kyoto, Japan

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