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Jeremiah Wright sells out Obama
Clay Cane | Posted April 30, 2008 11:39 AM
When a young black man named Gabriel Prosser tried to lead a slave rebellion in Virginia in 1800, he was stopped by a former ally named "Pharoah," who turned him in. This is the best way I can describe Reverend Jeremiah Wright, as Pharoah, the jealous, vindictive and one time supporter of Senator Barack Obama.
Clay Cane is a New York-based journalist, AOL Black Voices contributor and creator of http://www.claycane.net.
"Pharoah had betrayed them.
And on a nearby street corner, empty-eyed, exhausted, alone, stood Pharoah, the pumpkin-colored mulatto. He was breathing hard. Now he could start home, he thought. Nobody would know who gave the alarm. The white folks would thank him. They wouldn't tell. They would protect him. Now he could start home in the heavy shadows.
'If Gabriel had of listened to me, he'd of fared a heap better. He wasn't fixing to do no good nohow, the way how he was going about it. I wanted to lead a line, me.'" - Black Thunder by Arna Bontemps, 1936
Black Thunder is one of the most underrated books in African-American literature. It is the story of Gabriel Prosser, a twenty-three old slave who attempted to lead an insurrection in Virginia in 1800. He mobilized and inspired, but not to kill all whites (as some people assume). There were to be no revolts on Quakers, Methodists and Frenchmen. In many ways, this was a class revolt on the planter elite. Allegedly, Prosser had two white co-conspirators.
Prosser was close to success but was betrayed by another slave, described as Pharoah in the passage above. Pharoah, once an ally of Gabriel was jealous, angry and a bit unstable. He felt giving "the alarm" would give him the acceptance and respect he felt he desired.
This is the best way I can describe Reverend Jeremiah Wright, as Pharoah, the jealous, vindictive and once supporter of Senator Barack Obama, who is now attempting to destroy him for his own good. There are rumors he was put up to this by the Clinton campaign and word of a book deal. It's sad that out of all the things that might destroy Obama, it would be his own.
As a dear friend of mine said, "I think there is this belief among us folks of color that we are not racist. Unfortunately, being oppressed does not mean you are immune to the characteristics of the oppressor -- Liberia is a prime example of that." More importantly, Wright not only betrayed Obama but he betrayed many in the black community (and others outside of the community who support him!). The Republicans and the Clintons are surely thanking him.
Some things just don't change from the plantation.
Note: The most famous unsuccessful slave insurrections: Gabriel Prosser (1800) and Denmark Vessey (1822), were both sold-out by other slaves.
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James Andre commented on Jeremiah Wright sells out Obama:
Sure, Wright can say what he wants - that's his right. He can also have his motives questioned. That... -
H. Williams commented on Jeremiah Wright sells out Obama:
Urgent Request Please contact the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and express ... -
BMS commented on Jeremiah Wright sells out Obama:
I think Blacks should look at both sides of the story before we blame Pastor Wright. Did Pastor Wri... -
brucito commented on Jeremiah Wright sells out Obama:
Clay thank you for the article. I heard this story years ago and I always thought it was Simple (and... -
Purl Gurl commented on Jeremiah Wright sells out Obama:
Clay Cane adds commentary, "There are rumors he was put up to this by the Clinton campaign...." Th...
April 30, 2008 4:06 PM
YES! Brother Clay
You hit the nail on the head. Also, Jeremiah Wright held a fundrasier last fall for Hillary Clinton. Check it out. This should be the lead story. Thanks for speaking the truth.
Jeremiah is a media whore and he is making boo-coo money with these speaking engagements. Why didn't he wait til the campaign was over to write a best-selling book. No, he is on a mission to destroy Obama. Thanks again Clay
May 1, 2008 9:41 AM
Man of God? Surely you jest. Jeremiah Wright seems such a insult to God and His true believers all across this land, and indeed the world. Though Gabriel Prosser is an extremely wonderful example, Judas keeps popping into my mind, too. I'm sure Mr. Wright thought Barack was just fine when he was tithing his large sums of money into the church coffers every Sunday. And please, no defenses of Wright being "only a man" and everyone makes mistakes. In my book some are unforgivable. I say if you raise your banner as an emissary for The King and His Gospel, then I say you oughta' walk the walk!
May 1, 2008 12:55 PM
Clay,
This is what James Baldwin said and I believe it to be oftentimes fitting and true of the black community:
"You know, it's not the world that was my oppressor, because what the world does to you, if the world does it to you long enough and effectively enough, you begin to do to yourself."
May 1, 2008 3:03 PM
i disagree completely!!!
i revere rev w as one of the few renowned black pastors who is not a sexist or a gaybasher...and who leads a congregaton of real intellectual afrocentric community activists
i am not a religious person
but if i was
i would be proud to join his church asap!!!
he had the right to defend himself and speak for himself just as obama does
especially in light of how rev w has been slain by
racist media
rev w for prez!
peace
ab
May 2, 2008 10:22 AM
Alica please, everyone in the world is a racist according to you but Hillary Clinton. Rev Wright made many valid points, but, he also made some screwball ones as wells. He is an egomanic out to sell books, and, could care less of the harm he does to Obama or the black church and black people as a whole, where many of ya'll up in here need to get to, way too much anger and hate in these posts.
May 2, 2008 9:28 PM
I just feel the need to add a comment. What he said about the US gov't manufacturing diseases wasn't so far off the mark.
Links:
*http//www.boydgraves.com
**www.boydgraves.com/news/061303.pdf
***http://www.boydgraves.com/class/download.html
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© Copyright: Ian Gurney May 2003.
Ian Gurney is a broadcaster, journalist and the author of the bestseller "The Cassandra Prophecy-Armageddon Approaches" published by International Global Press. ISBN: 0953581314. (http://www.caspro.com/)
hat tip to focusedpurpose blog
May 3, 2008 9:02 AM
Clay Cane adds commentary,
"There are rumors he was put up to this by the Clinton campaign...."
There is a rumor the Boogie Man lives under your bed, Clay Cane. I have been told black U.N. helicopters routinely and silently hover over our homes while reading our thoughts. People say those who think wrong thoughts, suddenly vanish.
Wright did not sell out Obama. Wright is simply selling himself.
During my childhood, during my young adulthood, my Choctaw elders taught me to always speak for myself and to always speak truthfully, even if disagreement. Our traditional ways teach us to be open and honest for both the benefit of and the health of our tribe. We do not remain silent when there is an issue to discuss. We do not keep secrets from our tribe.
Wright is under no obligation to protect Obama nor is Wright under some secret handshake sworn oath of allegiance to Obama. My presumption is you believe Wright is to be true to and is to stand behind Obama simply because Wright is black. This does not make any sense.
Clay, is not this type of thinking what set murderous O. J. Simpson free? Is not this type of thinking which, in the past, led Black America to rioting, looting, burning and killing when certain legal rulings where rendered which blacks did not like?
This type of thinking, this type of blind obedience is precisely what led the Islamic to also riot, loot, burn and kill all around our world when a person drew a cartoon of Mohammad. This type of thinking also led to the murder of an author who wrote unfavorable words about Islam.
This type of thinking, Clay, leads to suppression of Freedom of Speech.
I do not like Wright, I do not like his words, but I will defend his right to Freedom of Speech.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
May 4, 2008 10:50 AM
Clay thank you for the article. I heard this story years ago and I always thought it was Simple (and I know you know who he is) that said it. I had no idea it was a true story.
As far as that minstrel show that Rev Wright put on I have to say that it is getting more publicity that it still deserves. Let's not continue to boost interest in his no doubt soon to be published book. The same goes for the betrayal of younger blacks by that ex-madame. She made her money and her mark years ago off of and in the black community so why not take what she was no doubt offered ($$$$$$$$$$$$). Let these two ancient relics go on out to the pastures where they now belong.
Thanks again for your article.
May 4, 2008 2:41 PM
I think Blacks should look at both sides of the story before we blame Pastor Wright. Did Pastor Wright do anything to denounce Sen. Obama or his campaign? Did Wright campaign for Obama earlier? When the media was having their hayday with Wright, did Obama come to his rescue? Did Obama denouce Wright? Did Wright speak or behave in any fashion other than the way he always has?
I believe Blacks try to over protect Obama. Obama is a big boy, if he wants to be president he has to be able to handle the tough times.
Once you think about it, you may realize that Wright did not create this situation, it was created by the media because they wanted to expose an inconsistency in what Obama professes and what he may actually believe.
Please Black people, do not create a scortch-earth political trail. You have already burned all the bridges with Clinton. Politically,it may not be wise to do the same with everyone who does not bow to Lord Obama.
May 5, 2008 12:44 AM
Urgent Request
Please contact the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and express your dissatisfaction over Party Leader’s failure to speak out against Fox News conduct involving entering Senator Barack Obama's church which is sacred, to abstract ambiguous terms from his Ministers sermon to paint a negative image of him and to prevent him from prevailing in the campaign against Hillary Clinton and John McCain. In addition, comment on Hillary Clinton’s constituency seizing the opportunity to use the information to condemn Senator Obama rather than abhor the content of the information in the manner in which it was obtained. The number of the Democratic National Headquarters is 1-202-863-8000.
Also, inform the Democratic National Headquarters that you are anticipating leaving the Democratic Party if more Democratic Legislatures do not voice their concern regarding the conduct of Fox News and associates.
Contact Fox News at 1-212-301-3028, and/or email them at www.foxnews.com and condemn them for violating the sanctity of Senator Obama’s church and his religion while abstracting ambiguous terms from Rev. Wright’s sermon to negatively impact his candidacy to promote Hillary Clinton and John McCain. Inform Fox News that practically every White Hate Group in America identify with the Republican Party and refer to themselves as “Conservative Republicans” , as John McCain does without any scrutiny at Fox News or any other News network.
In addition, email CNN at www.cnn.com.feedback and provide them the same information.
May 5, 2008 10:07 AM
Sure, Wright can say what he wants - that's his right. He can also have his motives questioned. That's the right of everyone else.
Context is everything. I may have a right to bear arms, but I don't have a right to wave a weapon around in a threatening manner.
It isn't what Wright said, it is the self-serving and hypocritical way he said it. He said Obama does what politicians do and he does what preachers do. Am I the only one who thinks that a speech at the Press Club looks a lot like what politicians do?
What do preachers do anyway? Did Wright's actions bring us ANY closer to peace, love, or salvation? In this context, it looks like the opposite.