But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial。 They weren't simply a religious leader's effort to speak out against perceived injustice。 Instead； they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country … a view that sees white racism as endemic； and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America。
As such； Reverend Wright's ments were not only wrong but divisive； divisive at a time when we need unity； racially charged at a time when we need to e together to solve a set of monumental problems … two wars； a terrorist threat； a falling economy； a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change； problems that are neither black or white or Latino or Asian； but rather problems that confront us all。
Given my background； my politics； and my professed values and ideals； there will no doubt be those for whom my statements of condemnation are not enough。 Why associate myself with Reverend Wright in the first place； they may ask？ Why not join another church？ And I confess that if all that I knew of Reverend Wright were the snippets of those sermons that have run in an endless loop on the television and You Tube； or if Trinity United Church of Christ conformed to the caricatures being peddled by some mentators； there is no doubt that I would react in much the same way。
更完善的联邦（8）
But the truth is； that isn't all that I know of the man。 The man I met more than twenty years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith； a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another； to care for the sick and lift up the poor。 He is a man who served his country as a ； who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country； and who for over thirty years led a church that serves the munity by doing God's work here on Earth … by housing the homeless； ministering to the needy； providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries； and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS。
In my first book； Dreams From My Father； I described the experience of my first service at Trinity：
〃People began to shout； to rise from their seats and clap and cry out； a forceful wind carrying the reverend's voice up into the rafters。。。。And in that single note … hope！ … I heard something else； at the foot of that cross； inside the thousands of churches across the city； I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath； Moses and Pharaoh； the Christians in the lion's den； Ezekiel's field of dry bones。 Those stories … of survival； and freedom； and hope … became our story； my story； the blood that had spilled was our blood； the tears our tears； until this black church； on this bright day； seemed once more a vessel carrying the story of a people into future generations and into a larger world。 Our trials and triumphs became at once unique and universal； black and more than black； in chronicling our journey； the stories and songs gave us a means to reclaim memories that we didn't need to feel shame about。。。memories that all people might study and cherish … and with which we could start to rebuild。〃
That has been my experience at Trinity。 Like other predominantly black churches across the country； Trinity embodies the black munity in its entirety … the doctor and the welfare mom； the model student and the former gang…banger。 Like other black churches； Trinity's services are full of raucous laughter and sometimes bawdy humor。 They are full of dancing； clapping； screaming and shouting that may seem jarring to the untrained ear。 The church contains in full the kindness and cruelty； the fierce intelligence and the shocking ignorance； the struggles and successes； the love and yes； the bitterness and bias that make up the black experience in America。
And this helps explain； perhaps； my relationship with Reverend Wright。 As imperfect as he may be； he has been like family to me。 He strengthened my faith； officiated my wedding； and baptized my children。 Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms； or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect。 He contains within him the contradictions … the good and the bad … of the munity that he has served diligently for so many years。
I can no more disown him than I can disown the black munity。 I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother … a woman who helped raise me； a woman who sacrificed again and again for me； a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world； but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street； and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe。 电子书 分享网站
更完善的联邦（9）
These people are a part of me。 And they are a part of America； this country that I love。
Some will see this as an attempt to justify or excuse ments that are simply inexcusable。 I can assure you it is not。 I suppose the politically safe thing would be to move on from this episode and just hope that it fades into the woodwork。 We can dismiss Reverend Wright as a crank or a demagogue； just as some have dismissed Geraldine Ferraro； in the aftermath of her recent statements； as harboring some deep…seated racial bias。
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。
The fact is that the ments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the plexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through … a part of our union that we have yet to perfect。 And if we walk away now； if we simply retreat into our respective corners； we will never be able to e together and solve challenges like health care； or education； or the need to find good jobs for every American。
Understanding this reality requires a reminder of how we arrived at this point。 As William Faulkner once wrote； 〃The past isn't dead and buried。 In fact； it isn't even past。〃 We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustice in this country。 But we do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist in the African…American munity today can be directly traced to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow。
Segregated schools were； and are； inferior schools； we still haven't fixed them； fifty years after Brown v。 Board of Education； and the inferior education they provided； then and now； helps explain the pervasive achievement gap between today's black and white students。
Legalized discrimination … where blacks were prevented； often through violence； from owning property； or loans were not granted to African…American business owners； or black homeowners could not access FHA mortgages； or blacks were excluded from unions； or the police force； or fire departments … meant that black families could not amass any meaningful wealth to bequeath to future generations。 That history helps explain the wealth and ine gap between black and white； and the concentrated pockets of poverty that persists in so many of today's urban and rural munities。
A lack of economic opportunity among black men； and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one's family； contributed to the erosion of black families … a problem that welfare policies for many years may have worsened。 And the lack of basic services in so many urban black neighborhoods … parks for kids to play in； police walking the beat； regular garbage pick…up and building code enforcement … all helped create a cycle of violence； blight and neglect that continue to haunt us。
This is the reality in which Reverend Wright and other African…Americans of his generation grew up。 They came of age in the late fifties and early sixties； a time when segregation was still the law of the land and opportunity was systematically constricted。 What's remarkable is not how many failed in the face of discrimination； but rather how many men and women overcame the odds； how many were able to make a way out of no way for those like me who would e after them。
更完善的联邦（10）
But for all those who scratched and clawed their way to get a piece of the American Dream； there were many who didn't make it … those who were ultimately defeated； in one way or another； by discrimination。 That legacy of defeat was passed on to future generations … those young men and increasingly young women who we see standing on street corners or languishing in our prisons； without hope or prospects for the future。 Even for those blacks who did make it； questions of race； and racism； continue to define their worldview in fundamental ways。 For the men and women of Reverend Wright's generation； the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away； nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years。 That anger may no