,SOME ,?\<TS ON ,OBAMA 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,*RI/OPH] ,Z4 ,HOBSON 

,TEXT 3 

,!SE ?\<TS WILL FOCUS ON :AT ,I ?9K IS UNIQUE AB\T ,B>ACK ,OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN = ! PRESID5CY1 AS WELL AS ON :Y ,I DON'T PLAN TO *ANGE MY LONG-/&+ PRACTICE ( NOT VOT+ 9 ORD] TO VOTE = HIM4 ,I WILL PAY ! MO/ ATT5TION TO ,OBAMA'S SIGNIFICANCE AS AN ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN C&IDATE & TO :AT >E = ME ?REE DEF9+ MOM5TS ?AT BE/ PUT 9 P]SPECTIVE HIS APPROA* TO RACE AS A POLITICAL ISSUE & HIS RELATION TO ! ,U4,S4 POLITICAL SY/EM4 ,!SE >E HIS SPEE* ON RACE 9 ,PHILADELPHIA1 ,M>* #a#h2 HIS RESPONSE TO ,REV4 ,J]EMIAH ,A4 ,WRI<T'S SPEE* ON ,APRIL #b#h2 & HIS ,FA!R'S ,DAY HOMILY1 ,JUNE #a#e1 AT ,*ICAGO'S ,APO/OLIC ,*UR* ( ,GOD4 

,FIR/1 ! HYPE IS TRUE3 ! FACT ?AT AN ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN IS POIS$ TO BE NOM9AT$ = PRESID5T BY ONE ( ! TWO MAJOR ,U4,S4 P>TIES1 & /&S A GOOD *ANCE ( BE+ ELECT$1 IS AN 5ORM\S1 HI/ORIC %IFT 9 ,U4,S4 POLITICS & ! CONSCI\SNESS ( ! ,U4,S4 CITIZ5RY4 ,?IS IS SO DESPITE SOME OBVI\S QUALIFICATIONS4 ,= EXAMPLE1 AS ! SON ( AN ACTUAL ,AFRICAN RA!R ?AN A DESC5DANT ( SLAVES1 ,OBAMA DOESN'T /IR UP ! FULL COMB9ATION ( D5I$ GUILT & DEF5SIVE HO/ILITY 9 SOME :ITE VOT]S1 NOR BR+ ) HIM ! SAME POT5TIALLY 0POL>IZ+0 AG5DA ( RACIAL JU/ICE1 ?AT A C&IDATE FROM ! LATT] GR\P MI<T4 ,FUR!R1 AS DETAIL$ BEL[1 ,OBAMA HAS MADE REAL COMPROMISES 9 HIS WILL+NESS TO >TICULATE ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN CONC]NS4 ,!SE PO9TS ADMITT$1 9 5DORS+ ,OBAMA'S C&IDACY PRIM>Y VOT]S HAVE DONE--& ,U4,S4 VOT]S AS A :OLE MAY DO 9 ,NOVEMB]--SOME?+ UN?9KABLE AS REC5TLY AS ! DATE ( ,OBAMA'S [N BIR? 9 ,AUGU/ #a#i#f#a4 

,= ALL ! TRAGIC ! TRAGIC CO/S & ) ALL ! LIMITATIONS 9 :AT HAS BE5 A*IEV$1 :AT A DIFF]5CE LESS ?AN HALF A C5TURY HAS MADE6 ,9 #a#i#f#b1 A GR\P ( COLLEGE FRI5DS & ,I MADE A SUMM] TRIP TO ,MEXICO1 PASS+ ?R\< MO/ ( ! OLD ,CONF$]ATE /ATES ON ! WAY4 ,:ITE BOYS FROM ! ,NOR?1 WE B\<T TAKE-\T FOOD & SLEPT 9 \R C> TO AVOID DEAL+ ) :ITE-ONLY RE/AURANTS & MOTELS--A *EAP GE/URE BUT ONE WE C>$ AB\T4 ,9 ?OSE /ATES & 9 ! ,NOR? & ,WE/ AS WELL1 SIGNS 9 /ORES1 HOTELS1 & RE/AURANTS R\T9ELY W>N$1 0,WE ,RES]VE ! ,RI<T TO ,REFUSE ,S]VICE TO ,ANYONE0--AS IF !RE W]E D\BT AB\T :O ?AT MI<T BE4 ,! SEGREGATION SY/EM WAS 9TACT6 ,NO ONE C\LD HAVE GUESS$ ?AT 9 #df YE>S A ,BLACK MAN W\LD BE S]I\SLY POSITION$ TO BECOME PRESID5T4 ,= A :ILE1 9 ! GLORI\S DECADE ( /RUGGLE1 ! ,SIXTIES1 WE ?\<T SU* A DAY MI<T COME SOON]2 LAT] WE LE>N$ H[ LITTLE HAD *ANG$ & H[ DI/ANT ! DAY /ILL SEEM$4 ,\T ( ! 9T]SECTION ( ?OSE VIEWS1 A LESSON3 HI/ORICAL *ANGE1 :5 IT COMES1 COMES QUICKLY4 ,= EXAMPLE1 ,AFRICA1 F\R-FIF?S COLONIAL 9 #a#i#e#f1 WAS F\R-FIF?S 9DEP5D5T BY #a#i#f#d2 ! ,SOVIET EMPIRE1 PALSI$ BUT MI<TY 9 #a#i#h#h1 WAS GONE BY #a#i#i#a4 ,! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES ,I GREW UP 91 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES ( OP5 RACIAL EXCLUSION1 IS GONE--,I HOPE NEV] TO RETURN4 

,AN EV5 LONG] P]SPECTIVE3 9 #aiaa ,A4,M4,E4 M9I/] ,REV]DY ,C4 ,RANSOM1 ONE ( ! TURN ( ! C5TURY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN M9I/]S ,I HAVE BE5 /UDY+ & WRIT+ AB\T REC5TLY1 /AT$1 0,! SUN ( ! #b? C5TURY IS RIS+ TO BANI% ! AGE-LONG D>KNESS ?AT HAS SO LONG OBSCUR$ ! RECOGNITION ( BRO!RHOOD BETWE5 MAN & HIS BRO!R MAN2 IT WILL NOT SET UNTIL IT HAS GILD$ ) GOLD ! /EEPLES ( A NEW CIVILIZATION40 ,N[1 EI<T YE>S AFT] ! 5D ( ?AT C5TURY1 #b MILLION ,U4,S4 VOT]S HAVE NOM9AT$ A ,BLACK MAN = PRESID5T4 ,IS IT ANY WOND] ?AT SOME CAN SEE A NEW WORLD COM+8 ,A NEW WORLD--ONE 9 :I* ?IS MU* IS POSSIBLE--IS H]E4 ,ALL ?IS1 9 MY VIEW1 IS CAUSE = REJOIC+4 

,9 SPITE ( ! REAL1 & TRULY HI/ORIC1 *ANGE ?AT ,OBAMA'S C&IDACY & POSSIBLE ELECTION REPRES5T1 ,I = ONE DO NOT 9T5D TO VOTE = HIM OR ALT] MY LONG PRACTICE ( NOT VOT+4 7,AS A P]SONAL ASIDE1 ,I LA/ VOT$ 9 #a#i#f#h1 :5 ,I WROTE 9 ,DICK ,GREGORY = PRESID5T & VOT$ 0NO0 ON A PROPOS$ NEW ,ILL9OIS CON/ITUTION1 FEEL+ ?AT :ATEV] IT SAID1 IT WAS LIKELY TO BE WORSE ?AN ! EXI/+ ONE47 ,! RE/ ( !SE NOTES WILL DISCUSS MY REASONS1 :I* CAN BE SUMM$ UP BY SAY+ ?AT :ILE ,OBAMA'S C&IDACY DOES REPRES5T A LIMIT$ *ANGE 9 ! ,U4,S4 VOT+ PUBLIC1 IT DOESN'T REPRES5T A *ANGE 9 ! POLITICAL SY/EM1 9 ! NATURE ( ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY1 OR 9 ! PROCESSES NECESS>Y TO BECOME A VIABLE C&IDATE 9 ?AT P>TY & SY/EM4 

,! ISSUE ( ! POLITICAL SY/EM DOESN'T NE$ MU* DISCUSSION4 ,! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES POLITICAL SY/EM HAS OBVI\SLY NOT *ANG$ OR BECOME /RUCTURALLY MORE EQUAL OR DEMOCRATIC2 RA!R1 ,OBAMA HAS SUCCE$$ 7SO F>7 )9 ! SY/EM AS IT IS4 ,AN>*I/S1 9 G5]AL1 DON'T BELIEVE P>TICIPAT+ 9 ?IS SY/EM CAN *ANGE IT2 & \R GOAL1 AFT] ALL1 IS TO GET RID ( ! /ATE ALTOGE!R4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ?OSE :O SUPPORT ,OBAMA DON'T NECESS>ILY DISAGREE AB\T ! LIMITS ( *ANGE )9 ! SY/EM4 ,!Y FEEL ?AT M>G9AL DIFF]5CES 7= EXAMPLE :O WILL NAME ! NEXT ,SUPREME ,C\RT JU/ICES7 >E WOR? PURSU+2 & SOME FEEL ?AT 9 A H>D-TO-SPECIFY WAY ELECT+ A ,BLACK PRESID5T WILL OP5 UP ! SY/EM & BR+ IT & ,U4,S4 SOCIETY CLOS] TO REAL EQUALITY4 ,I DON'T NECESS>ILY DISAGREE ) ! PO9T AB\T M>G9AL DIFF]5CES2 ,I JU/ ?9K O!R CONSID]ATIONS >E MORE IMPORTANT1 NOTABLY1 EXPLA9+ :AT ,I SEE AS ! SY/EM'S CLOS$ & ELITI/ NATURE1 :I* W\LD BE H>D TO DO IF ,I W]E SUPPORT+ 7& PUTT+ MY HOPES 97 ONE ( ! LIMIT$ ALT]NATIVES )9 IT4 ,I DO DISAGREE ?AT ELECT+ ,OBAMA C\LD DEMOCRATIZE & EQUALIZE ! POLITICAL SY/EM & ! C\NTRY 9 ANY IMPORTANT WAY1 AS ,I HOPE TO EXPLA94 

,! SECOND & ?IRD ISSUES M5TION$ ABOVE >E RELAT$4 ,:ILE MO/ PEOPLE PROBABLY ?9K ( ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY SIMPLY AS A SOME:AT LIB]AL POLITICAL BLOC1 0! ,AM]ICAN P>TY ( PROGRESSIVE *ANGE0 ACCORD+ TO A REC5T >TICLE BY ,H5DRIK ,H]TZB]G1 IT HAS AT LEA/ TWO O!R FUNCTIONS ?AT 9 MY VIEW >E MORE IMPORTANT4 ,ONE IS TO ACT AS A C5TRIPETAL =CE PULL+ DISCONT5T$ PEOPLE ON ! $GES ( ! POLITICAL SY/EM BACK 9TO ITS C5T]4 ,?IS FUNCTION IS MO/ IMPORTANT :5 L>GE NUMB]S >E ACTIVE 9 V>I\S BOTTOM UP PROTE/S & DIRECT ACTION CAMPAIGN1 AS 9 #a#i#f#h1 :5 ! PRESID5TIAL CAMPAIGNS ( ,EUG5E ,MC,C>?Y & ,ROB]T ,K5N$Y PULL$ ?\S&S ( QUITE RADICAL Y\NG PEOPLE BACK 9TO APPROV$ POLITICAL *ANNELS AS FOOT SOLDI]S = !SE C&IDATES4 ,!RE HAS BE5 A SIMIL> UPSURGE ( Y\NG & OLD] PEOPLE GETT+ ACTIVE = ,OBAMA ?IS YE> BUT IT HASN'T HAD ! SAME D]ADICALIZ+ EFFECT SIMPLY BECAUSE !RE IS MU* LESS /REET LEVEL ACTIVISM GO+ ON 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 

,! O!R FUNCTION ( ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY IS TO ACT AS A FILT] OR VETT+ ME*ANISM 5SUR+ ?AT :ATEV] C&IDATE IS SELECT$ WILL BE ?OR\<LY SAFE FROM ! /&PO9T ( 5TR5*$ ,U4,S4 9T]E/S & ! /&>D RULES ( POLITICAL LIFE1 & WILL NOT (F] A *ANCE ( SUB/ANTIALLY DEMOCRATIZ+ POLITICAL LIFE 9 ! WAY SOME PEOPLE ?9K ,OBAMA MAY4 ,ONE CAN GET AN IDEA ( H[ ?IS PROCESS WORKS FROM A QUITE TRIVIAL EPISODE 9 ! #bd PRESID5TIAL PRIM>IES1 ! 0,DEAN ,YELL40 ,9 #b#d1 LIB]AL M$IA & POLITICAL FIGURES APP>5TLY BEGAN ?9K+ AT SOME PO9T ?AT ! !N-LEAD+ ,DEMOCRATIC PRIM>Y C&IDATE1 ,H[>D ,DEAN1 W\LDN'T BE AN IDEAL NOM9EE4 ,P]SONALLY1 ,I ?9K ?IS WASN'T BECAUSE ,DEAN WAS OV]LY RADICAL 7HE WASN'T & ISN'T7 BUT BECAUSE !SE FIGURES ?\<T HIS ANTIW> FOCUS WAS TOO N>R[ TO ATTRACT A WIDE BASE & DEFEAT ,BU%1 :I* WAS ! LIB]ALS' MA9 PRIORITY4 ,AS A RESULT1 ! M$IA TRANS=M$ A P]FECTLY ORD9>Y AUDI5CE-RALLY+ %\T AT A CAMPAIGN RALLY 9TO ! 0,DEAN ,YELL10 A SIGN ( POLITICAL & P]HAPS PSY*OLOGICAL 9/ABILITY4 ,DEAN'S CAMPAIGN SANK1 BUT 9 ,DEAN'S PLACE ! ,DEMOCRATS GOT A C&IDATE1 ,JOHN ,K]RY1 :O LACK$ ! SP9E 7& ! ELEM5T>Y HONE/Y AB\T HIS ANTIW> PA/7 TO C\NT] ! ,BU% TEAM'S SME>S4 ,AS ?IS EXAMPLE %[S1 ! VETT+ PROCESS ISN'T C5TRALIZ$ & ISN'T ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL 9 F9D+ AN IDEAL 7FROM ! ELITES' VIEWPO9T7 C&IDATE1 BUT IT DOES OP]ATE1 EV5 ON QUITE M9OR POLITICAL MATT]S4 

,?IS K9D ( FILTRATION OR VETT+ PROCESS1 IT SEEMS TO ME1 IS :AT WAS 9VOLV$ 9 ! ?REE 9CID5TS ,I REF]R$ TO 9 ! BEG9N+ ( !SE NOTES4 ,!Y >E NOT SO MU* DECISIVE TURNS 9 ,OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN AS P>TICUL>LY /RIK+ P>TS ( A PROCESS ( ADJU/M5T & CALIBRATION ?AT ,OBAMA HAS BE5 5GAG$ 9 FROM ! BEG9N+4 ,OBAMA BUILT HIS CAMPAIGN FROM ! />T >\ND ! PREMISE ?AT HE IS A PO/RACIAL C&IDATE2 ?AT HIS BIRACIAL BACKGR\ND1 ,U4,S4_/,AFRICAN ORIG9S1 SELF-*OS5 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN CULTURE1 ,*RI/IAN FAI?1 & NONRACIAL LIB]AL POLITICS >E EMBLEMS ( A NEW POLITICAL REALITY1 AN 0,AM]ICAN0 C&IDATE :O IS 9CID5TALLY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN4 ,SO F> AS ,OBAMA'S ABILITY TO POSITION HIMSELF 9 ?IS WAY DOES %[ A NEW DIRECTION 9 ! ,U4,S4 POLITICS ( RACE IT IS P>T ( ! %IFT ,I REF]R$ TO E>LI]4 ,BUT ?IS /ANCE HAS ALSO BE5 ! PRODUCT ( A CONT9UAL BALANC+ ACT & REPEAT$ MOM5TS ( READJU/M5T DESIGN$ TO MA9TA9 ?IS IMAGE & AVOID PROB+ B>ELY SCABB$-OV] ,U4,S4 RACIAL W\NDS4 ,9 P>TICUL>1 ! ?REE 9CID5TS ,I'VE M5TION$ %[ ! CONT9UAL PROCESS ( REPUDIATION REQUIR$ TO BE ACCEPT$ AS A VIABLE C&IDATE )9 ! ,U4,S4 POLITICAL PROCESS4 

,AS EV]YONE :O FOLL[S ,U4,S4 POLITICS KN[S1 ,OBAMA WAS PUT 9 A DEF5SIVE POSITION E>LI] ?IS YE> BY WEBSITE & BLOG PO/+S ( C]TA9 /ATEM5TS BY ,REV4 ,J]EMIAH ,A4 ,WRI<T1 N[RETIR$ PA/OR ( ,TR9ITY ,UNIT$ ,*UR* ( ,*RI/ 9 ,*ICAGO1 :]E ,OBAMA WAS A P>I%ION]4 ,! BOND BETWE5 ,OBAMA & ,WRI<T 9 ! PA/ WAS CLOSE3 ,WRI<T P]=M$ ,OBAMA'S M>RIAGE1 *RI/5$ HIS TWO *ILDR51 & WAS A G5]AL 9SPIRATION2 ! TITLE ( ,OBAMA'S SECOND BOOK1 ,! ,AUDACITY ( ,HOPE1 CAME FROM ONE ( ,WRI<T'S S]MONS4 ,WRI<T IS A FOLL[] ( 0,BLACK ,LIB]ATION0 OR 0,BLACK ,P[]0 !OLOGY1 :I* IS ASSOCIAT$ ) SU* GIANTS 9 REC5T ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN !OLOGY AS ,JAMES ,H4 ,CONE1 AU?OR ( ,A ,BLACK ,!OLOGY ( ,LIB]ATION 7#a#i#g71 & ,GAYRAUD ,S4 ,WILMORE1 A HI/ORIAN ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN RELIGION4 ,WRI<T HIMSELF IS A SOLIDLY E/ABLI%$ ,*RI/IAN WRIT]1 :OSE WORKS 9CLUDE S]MON COLLECTIONS & CONTRIBUTIONS TO AN?OLOGIES4 ,HIS S]MONS HAVE BE5 REPR9T$ & ANALYZ$ 9 SU* /UDIES AS ,! ,HE>T ( ,BLACK ,PREA*+1 BY ,CLEOPHUS ,J4 ,LA,RUE 7,WE/M9/] ,JOHN ,KNOX ,PRESS1 #b74 ,9 SUM1 HE IS NOT SOME HICK :O WALK$ \T ( ! WOODS1 AS :ITE & SOME ,BLACK M$IA OP9ION PORTRAY$ HIM4 ,AS = ! S\NDBITE EXC]PTS FROM HIS S]MONS FLOAT+ >\ND ! 9T]NET1 !Y >E PAT*$ TOGE!R TO PRES5T ,WRI<T 9 ! MO/ 09FLAMMATORY0 WAY POSSIBLE4 ,EV5 SO1 !IR IDEAS >E COMMON 9 SOME ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN & O!R DISCUSSION3 ! ,U4,S4 HAS OP]AT$ AS AN OPPRESSOR NATION2 ! #ba ATTACKS1 ?\< WICK$1 W]E 9 P>T PAYBACK = ,U4,S4 0/ATE T]RORISM02 IT IS POSSIBLE 7AT ANY RATE NOT UN?9KABLE7 ?AT ! ,U4,S4 CREAT$ ! ,A,I,D,S VIRUS 9 SOME K9D ( EXP]IM5T ?AT W5T WRONG4 ,ALL !SE IDEAS >E 9 COMMON CIRCULATION1 AS PEOPLE :O FOLL[ SU* DISCUSSIONS KN[4 ,! USE ( !SE EXC]PTS TO EMB>RASS ,OBAMA ?US 7#a7 WAS A DEM& ?AT HE REPUDIATE IDEAS ?AT CIRCULATE EV]Y DAY AS P>T ( ! POLITICAL DEBATES AMONG ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS 7& O!RS72 & 7#b7 EXPLOIT$ AN ALMO/ TOTAL IGNORANCE AMONG ! ,U4,S4 MAJORITY ( :AT !SE DEBATES >E SAY+4 

,OBAMA'S FIR/ RESPONSE TO ?IS PRESSURE1 9 A SPEE* ON RACE 9 ,PHILADELPHIA ,M>* #a#h1 WAS = MY MONEY ! HI< PO9T ( HIS CAMPAIGN4 ,IT WAS ALMO/ AS IF ! RACE SPOKE ?R\< ,OBAMA TO TELL ! NATION ?+S ?AT ,OBAMA HAD NEV] SAID BE=E & ?AT ! NATION NE$S DESP]ATELY TO KN[4 ,:ILE ,OBAMA DID REPUDIATE ,REV4 ,WRI<T'S IDEAS1 9 A NONSPECIFIC WAY1 HE /OPP$ %ORT ( REPUDIAT+ ,WRI<T HIMSELF4 ,9/EAD1 HIS SPEE* DEVELOP$ FIVE IDEAS1 ALL ( :I* GR[ \T ( A LONG ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN BACKGR\ND BUT HAVE SELDOM BE5 VOIC$ TO ! NATION AT L>GE4 ,FIR/1 ,OBAMA >GU$ ?AT ! ,CON/ITUTION ADOPT$ 9 ,PHILADELPHIA 9 #a<g WAS FLAW$ BUT 9H]5TLY DEMOCRATIC1 S9CE IT 0HAD AT ITS V]Y CORE ! IDEAL ( EQUAL CITIZ5%IP UND] ! LAW40 ,H]E HE EMBRAC$ ! LONG TRADITION MO/ ASSOCIAT$ ) ,FR$]ICK ,D\GLASS ?AT 09T]PRET$ AS IT \<T TO BE1 ! ,CON/ITUTION IS A ,G,L,O,R,I,\,S ,L,I,B,],T,Y ,D,O,C,U,M,5,T0 7,D\GLASS1 0,:AT TO ! ,SLAVE ,IS ! ,F\R? ( ,JULY8074 ,?IS VIEW LIES BEH9D ! POLITICAL /ANCE ( TRY+ TO =CE RECOGNITION ( ASSUM$LY 9H]5T CON/ITUTIONAL RI<TS1 :I* HAS BE5 ! MAJOR ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN /RATEGY = *ANGE S9CE ,D\GLASS'S TIME4 ,SECONDLY1 FROM ! SAME HI/ORY ,OBAMA DREW ! CONCLUSION ?AT ! /RUGGLE TO P]FECT ! ,CON/ITUTION HAS OCCURR$ & /ILL CONT9UES OV] ! LONG SPAN ( HI/ORICAL TIME1 ! 0TWO HUNDR$ & TW5TY-ONE YE>S0 S9CE ,PHILADELPHIA ?AT ! C&IDATE TWICE M5TION$1 A 0LONG M>*0 OCCUPY+ 0SUCCESSIVE G5]ATIONS40 ,?IRDLY & C5TRALLY1 ,OBAMA VOIC$ A C5TURIES-LONG1 ALWAYS DISPUT$1 MAJORITY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN VIEW ?AT ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES IS RE=MABLE3 ,REV4 ,WRI<T'S MI/AKE 0IS NOT ?AT HE SPOKE AB\T RACISM 9 \R SOCIETY4 ,IT'S ?AT HE SPOKE AS IF \R SOCIETY WAS /ATIC2 AS IF NO PROGRESS HAS BE5 MADE2 AS IF ?IS C\NTRY .<444.> IS /ILL IRREVOCABLY B\ND TO A TRAGIC PA/10 :]EAS 0:AT WE KN[--:AT WE HAVE SE5--IS ?AT ,AM]ICA CAN *ANGE40 ,F\R?LY1 ! C&IDATE LAID \T1 ?\< NONSPECIFICALLY1 A P]SPECTIVE ( A*IEV+ SUB/ANTIVE BRO!RHOOD1 A 0MORE P]FECT UNION10 TO USE HIS [N PLAY ON ! ,CON/ITUTION'S PREAMBLE--A 0MORE JU/1 MORE EQUAL1 MORE FREE1 MORE C>+ & MORE PROSP]\S ,AM]ICA40 ,& F9ALLY1 ,OBAMA SPOKE ) REAL ELOQU5CE AB\T ! LIFE ( HIS !N *UR* & ! ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN *UR* 9 G5]AL3  
  

0,LIKE O!R BLACK *UR*ES1 ,TR9ITY'S S]VICES >E FULL ( RAUC\S LAU<T] & SOMETIMES BAWDY HUMOR4 ,!Y >E FULL ( DANC+1 CLAPP+1 SCREAM+ & %\T+ ?AT MAY SEEM J>R+ TO ! UNTRA9$ E>4 ,! *UR* CONTA9S 9 FULL ! K9DNESS & CRUELTY1 ! FI]CE 9TELLIG5CE & ! %OCK+ IGNORANCE1 ! /RUGGLES & SUCCESSES1 ! LOVE & YES1 ! BITT]NESS & BIAS ?AT MAKE UP ! BLACK EXP]I5CE 9 ,AM]ICA40  
  

,?IS SPEE* HAD A SIMPLICITY1 S]I\SNESS1 & HI/ORICAL-CULTURAL BREAD? ?AT LIFT$ IT F> ABOVE MO/ ,U4,S4 POLITICAL RHETORIC4 

,BUT BY ! SAME TOK51 ! SPEE* ONLY HALF ACCOMPLI%$ :AT IS NECESS>Y 9 ! ,U4,S4 POLITICAL SY/EM = A C&IDATE TO BE VIABLE & ACCEPTABLE 9 A PRESID5TIAL ELECTION4 ,IT ONLY HALF EMBRAC$ ! FALSEHOODS 79 ?IS CASE AB\T RACE7 ON :I* ,U4,S4 POLITICS >E BAS$1 & IT ONLY HALF SEP>AT$ ! C&IDATE FROM ! ACTUAL CONT9U+ LIFE ( ! ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN COMMUNITY BY SUB/ITUT+ A SYMBOLIC RELATION%IP 7AN ,OBAMA VICTORY AS EMBLEMATIC ( ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN ADVANCE & NONRACIAL POLITICS7 9 PLACE ( REAL ONGO+ DIALOGUE ?AT W\LD BR+ ?IS COMMUNITY TOGE!R ) ! L>G] ,U4,S4 POPULATION4 ,! EPISODE ?AT FOLL[$1 ( ,REV4 ,WRI<T'S SPEE* AT ! ,NATIONAL ,PRESS ,CLUB 7,APRIL #b#h7 WAS 9 MY VIEW NO MATT] ( P]SONAL PSY*OLOGY 7,WRI<T FELT SPURN$ BY HIS ONE-TIME PROTEGE2 ,OBAMA NE$$ TO ,O$IPALLY REPUDIATE HIS SYMBOLIC FA!R7 BUT RESULT$ FROM ! FACT ?AT ,OBAMA'S ADDRESS1 EV5 IF ,OBAMA DIDN'T 9T5D IT TO1 DID 9 FACT LEAVE ! WAY OP5 = CONT9U$ DIALOGUE ) ! SUB/ANTIAL TR5D 9 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN OP9ION ?AT ,REV4 ,WRI<T REPRES5TS4 ,WRI<T'S REM>KS ON ,APRIL #bh W]E !OLOGICALLY BROAD-GAUG$1 /RESS+ ! REALITY ( RACE DISCRIM9ATION & A 0!OLOGY ( RECONCILIATION0 AMONG BO? ,BLACK & :ITE ,AM]ICANS2 ,WRI<T FIELD$ ! B>B$ QUE/IONS ?AT FOLL[$ IT1 BUT KEPT ! FOCUS ON HI/ORIC TRADITIONS ( ! ,BLACK *UR* & PROPHETIC !OLOGY4 7,I 9CLUDE BRIEF EXC]PTS 9 A SIDEB> TO ?IS >TICLE47 ,WRI<T1 !N1 DID NOT COME ACROSS AS A HATEMONG]4 ,BUT FROM ! /&PO9T ( ! ,U4,S4 POLITICAL SY/EM AS A :OLE & ( ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY AS A FILT] = C&IDATE VIABILITY1 A C&IDATE :O IS 9 EV5 AN IMPLICIT DIALOGUE ) ,BLACK ,LIB]ATION !OLOGY IS AN OBVI\S IMPOSSIBILITY4 ,OBAMA MADE A SECOND BREAK1 ) ,WRI<T'S IDEAS1 ,WRI<T AS A P]SON1 & ,TR9ITY ,*UR*4 

,F9ALLY1 9 A HOMILY 9 A ,S\? ,SIDE ,*ICAGO *UR* ON ,FA!R'S ,DAY1 A WEEK AFT] CL9*+ ! NOM9ATION1 ,OBAMA MADE HIS FIR/ EXT5D$ SPEE* TO AN ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN AUDI5CE AS 0PRESUMPTIVE NOM9EE40 ,POLITICALLY1 !RE WAS A NE$ = ,OBAMA TO REAFFIRM HIS TIES TO ! COMMUNITY & TO DO SO 9 A WAY ?AT W\LD CONFIRM ! CONSI/5CY ( HIS POLITICS ) ?OSE ( ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY MA9/REAM4 ,HIS SPEE* CONC]N$ ! NE$ = ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN FA!RS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY = !IR FAMILIES2 TO CEASE BE+1 9 MANY CASES1 ABS5TEE1 OCCASIONAL1 OR UN9VOLV$ P>5TS1 &1 AS ,OBAMA PUT IT1 0RECOGNIZE ?AT RESPONSIBILITY DOESN'T JU/ 5D AT CONCEPTION40 ,)\T 9 ANY WAY D[NPLAY+ ! IMPORTANCE ( ?IS QUE/ION1 IT IS ALSO ! SAFE/ POSSIBLE ISSUE DEAL+ DIRECTLY ) ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN LIFE ?AT ,OBAMA MI<T HAVE *OS51 ONE ?AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN MOD]ATES & CONS]VATIVES LIKE ,BILL ,COSBY & ,%ELBY ,/EELE HAVE MADE !IR [N4 ,! ,BLACK FA!RHOOD ISSUE1 H[EV] IMPORTANT1 KEEPS ! FOCUS ( PROBLEMS & *ANGE = ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS )9 ! COMMUNITY ITSELF4 ,FOCUS+ ON ?IS ISSUE ASS]TS1 BY IMPLICATION1 ?AT ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES AS A :OLE DOES NOT NE$ TO *ANGE1 RE=M ITSELF1 OR 9ITIATE ANY POLICIES 9 ORD] TO A*IEVE RACIAL PROGRESS1 NOR DO :ITES NE$ TO *ANGE !IR ATTITUDES1 BEHAVIOR1 OR EV5 AW>5ESS = ?IS TO HAPP54 ,9 T]MS ( OV]ALL POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY1 ?IS SPEE* CON/ITUTES AN ANSW] TO ,REV4 ,WRI<T'S 0!OLOGY ( RECONCILIATION10 ) ITS 9SI/5CE ?AT BO? :ITES & ,BLACKS NE$ TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOLV+ ! C\NTRY'S RACIAL DIVISION4 ,9 ! N>R[] POLITICAL S5SE1 ( ELECTORAL CALCULATION1 ,OBAMA'S MESSAGE1 ,I ?9K1 WAS AIM$ NOT AT ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN VOT]S NOR EV5 AT ! :ITE WORK+ CLASS VOT]S ?AT ,S54 ,HILL>Y ,CL9TON HAD TRI$ ) SOME SUCCESS TO MAKE AFRAID ( ,OBAMA1 BUT RA!R AT ?OSE LIB]AL POLITICAL ELITES & M$IA OP9ION MAK]S :O MI<T /ILL BE UNSURE ( ,OBAMA'S COMMITM5T TO SOCIAL /ABILITY4 ,?AT IS1 ,OBAMA'S SPEE* WAS ANO!R /EP 9 ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY VETT+ & FILTRATION PROCESS ?AT DET]M9ES ?AT A C&IDATE MU/ DEMON/RATE COMMITM5T TO MA9TA9+ ! ,U4,S4 SY/EM 9 ORD] TO BE SE5 AS VIABLE4 

,! FIR/ CONCLUSION ,I W\LD DRAW FROM !SE EV5TS IS ?AT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE = ANY PRESID5TIAL C&IDATE TO BE NOM9AT$ :ILE TELL+ ! TRU? AB\T ! IDEAS & \TLOOK ( ! ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN PEOPLE4 ,?IS IS :AT ,OBAMA DID ON ,M>* #a#h1 AT LEA/ 9 P>T1 BUT HE WAS SUBSEQU5TLY =C$ TO CONT9UE 0REPOSITION+0 HIMSELF & HAS NOT REPEAT$ ! EMPHASES ( ?AT SPEE*4 ,?IS FACT1 IF IT IS ONE1 IS ONLY A P>TICUL> EXAMPLE ( ! G5]AL PO9T ?AT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE NOM9AT$ :ILE TELL+ ! TRU? AB\T ANY ASPECT ( ,U4,S4 LIFE4 ,BUT ?IS EXAMPLE IS P>TICUL>LY /RIK+ GIV5 ! C&IDATE'S ID5TITY AS AN ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN1 EV5 TAK+ 9TO ACC\NT ?AT UP UNTIL N[ IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE = ANY ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN TO BE NOM9AT$ AT ALL4 ,SECONDLY1 ,I W\LD DRAW ! CONCLUSION ?AT ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY AS AN 9/ITUTION IS A KEY ME*ANISM BY :I* ?IS FILTRATION OR PURIFICATION ( ,U4,S4 POLITICS--FROM ! SOCIAL1 RACIAL1 & ECONOMIC ELITES' PO9T ( VIEW--IS C>RI$ \T2 & ?IS IS ! MAJOR REASON :Y ,I DON'T VOTE4 

,ONE CAN MAKE SEV]AL OBJECTIONS TO :AT ,I'VE SAID4 ,FIR/1 ,I'VE DISCUSS$ ONLY ONE ISSUE1 ?\< A CRUCIAL ONE4 ,TRUE4 ,BUT A LOOK AT ,OBAMA'S /&S ON O!R ISSUES W\LDN'T LEAD TO DIFF]5T CONCLUSIONS4 ,:ILE ,OBAMA OPPOSES ! ,IRAQ W>--TODAY2 :AT HE W\LD DO 9 (FICE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY--SO DOES A L>GE SEGM5T ( ! ,U4,S4 =EIGN POLICY E/ABLI%M5T4 ,OBAMA DOESN'T DIFF] FROM ?IS E/ABLI%M5T 9 ANY NOTICEABLE WAY1 & NO MORE ?AN O!RS DOES HE CRITICIZE OR EV5 DISCUSS ITS ASSUMPTION ?AT ! ,U4,S4 HAS ! RI<T TO DOM9ATE ! :OLE WORLD1 :I* HE FULLY %>ES4 ,HE MADE ?IS ESPECIALLY CLE> 9 A ,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES ,OP ,$ PIECE ,JULY #a#d--9 O!R WORDS A /ATEM5T TO ! OP9ION ELITE ,I HAVE BE5 DISCUSS+--?AT PROPOS$ S5D+ #b NEW COMBAT BRIGADES1 AB\T #a1 TROOPS1 TO ,AF<ANI/AN4 

,ON DOME/IC POLICY ,OBAMA DIFF]S /RIK+LY LITTLE FROM ,S54 ,CL9TON & O!R ,DEMOCRATS4 ,! ONE >EA 9 :I* HE DID SEEM TANGIBLY DIFF]5T WAS 9 0TRANSC5D+0 ! RACE ISSUE4 ,! DEVELOPM5TS ,I'VE TRAC$ MEAN HE IS N[ 9 A POSITION ( HAV+ 7SO F>7 TRANSC5D$ ?IS ISSUE 9 T]MS ( ELECTORAL APPEAL1 :ILE NOT TAK+ ON ! OBLIGATION TO ACTUALLY DO ANY?+ AB\T ! ISSUE4 ,?AT IS :AT MAKES ! FILTRATION PROCESS SO IMPORTANT1 = ?IS PROCESS REVEALS BO? ?AT ANY C&IDATE'S ABILITY TO PUBLICLY DISCUSS ,U4,S4 RACIAL ASSUMPTIONS IS EXTREMELY LIMIT$1 & ALSO ?AT ! %IFT 9 VOT]S' ATTITUDES ?AT ALL[$ ,OBAMA TO W9 ! NOM9ATION IS1 :ILE REAL1 ALSO QUITE LIMIT$4 

7,H[ LIMIT$ CAN BE SE5 9 ! RELATIVELY M9OR FLAP OV] ,MI*ELLE ,OBAMA'S COMM5T 9 ,FEBRU>Y1 0,= ! FIR/ TIME 9 MY ADULT LIFETIME1 ,I'M REALLY PR\D ( MY C\NTRY40 ,MRS4 ,OBAMA SUCCE$$ 9 DEFUZ+ ?IS ONE BY SAY+ %E MEANT ! ,U4,S4 GOV]NM5T4 ,BUT H[ ABSURD1 REALLY1 = ANYONE TO BL9K AT SU* A COMM5T BY AN ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN2 :AT ABYSMAL IGNORANCE PEOPLE'S SURPRISE--IF NOT FEIGN$--%[S AB\T ! CULTURAL LIFE & ?\<T PROCESSES ( O!R ,AM]ICANS2 & :AT N>R[ LIMITS ! 9CID5T REVEALS = POLITICAL ACCEPTABILITY 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES47 

,ONE MI<T ALSO OBJECT ?AT ,OBAMA'S ,FA!R'S ,DAY SPEE* IS NOT A RESULT ( COMPROMISE OR BACK+ AWAY FROM CONTROV]SY BUT IS ! REAL ,OBAMA2 ALL ALONG1 HE WAS MOD]ATE & POLITICALLY NONCONFRONTATIONAL4 ,AGA9 TRUE4 ,BUT HIS TRAJECTORY HAS REQUIR$ SOME RE9V5T+ ( HIMSELF3 QUIETLY DROPP+ E>LI] PRO,PALE/9IAN POSITIONS :5 /EPP+ UP FROM ,ILL9OIS ,S5ATE TO ,U4,S4 ,S5ATE 7,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES ,MAY #a#a72 KEEP+ ,MUSLIM SUPPORT]S \T ( VIEW 9 ?IS CAMPAIGN 7,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES ,JUNE #b#d74 ,9 MY VIEW ,OBAMA'S S9C]ITY OR LACK ( S9C]ITY 9 !SE %IFTS & HIS OV]ALL POLITICS DOESN'T AFFECT MY OV]ALL >GUM5T ?AT ! 9CID5TS ,I'VE DISCUSS$ %[ ! LIMITS TO DISCUSSION ( A MAJOR ,U4,S4 ISSUE )9 A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN1 & ALSO %[ ! PROCESS BY :I* ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY TRIMS ! C&IDATE TO FIT ! POLITICAL SY/EM4 

,F9ALLY1 !RE WILL BE ?OSE :O >GUE ?AT ,OBAMA WILL TRULY C>RY \T TRANS=M+ POLICIES1 AT LEA/ ON DOME/IC ISSUES1 :5 & IF HE IS ELECT$4 ,!RE'S BE5 A /RONG SURGE ( :AT CAN ONLY BE CALL$ FAI? & TRU/ 9 ,OBAMA1 ESPECIALLY AMONG ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICANS & Y\NG]1 MORE LIB]AL :ITE ,AM]ICANS :O >E SICK ( BO? ! RACIAL DIVIDES ?AT ,OBAMA CROSSES & ! DEAD-CONS]VATIVE1 REPRESSIVE1 & VILELY DI%ONE/ POLITICS ( ! ,BU% YE>S4 ,?US A NEW RELEASE1 0,BLACK ,PRESID5T10 BY ! ,NEW ,YORK RAPP] ,NAS ANN\NCES1 0,I'M ?9K+ ,I CAN TRU/ ?IS BRO!R40 ,HOPES ( ?IS K9D >E ESS5TIALLY FAI?-BAS$2 !RE IS NO WAY TO PROVE !M RI<T OR WRONG EXCEPT BY WAIT+4 

,I ?9K !RE >E PL5TY ( REASONS 9 PA/ HI/ORY NOT TO HOLD SU* HOPES4 ,:5 ,OBAMA WAS RECALIBRAT+ HIS VIEWS ON ,PALE/9E1 9 #b#d1 HE TOLD ONE ,>AB-,AM]ICAN SUPPORT]1 ACCORD+ TO ! SUPPORT]'S RECOLLECTION1 0,I'M SORRY ,I HAV5'T SAID MORE AB\T ,PALE/9E RI<T N[1 BUT WE >E 9 A T\< PRIM>Y RACE4 ,I'M HOP+ ?AT :5 ?+S CALM D[N ,I CAN BE MORE UPFRONT0 7,TIMES ,MAY #a#a74 ,IT DIDN'T HAPP51 ( C\RSE4 7,! ,OBAMA CAMPAIGN CALLS ! REPORT 9ACCURATE47 ,I MYSELF CAN RECALL DISCUSS+ ESS5TIALLY ! SAME PO9T ) FRI5DS ! DAY AFT] ,BILL ,CL9TON'S NOM9ATION 9 #a#i#i#b4 ,:5 ,I M5TION$ ! TEPIDNESS ( ,CL9TON'S POSITIONS1 MY FRI5DS ASSUR$ ME ?AT ,CL9TON HAD TO MAKE COMPROMISES 9 ORD] TO GET ELECT$ BUT W\LD IMPLEM5T A SOCIAL *ANGE AG5DA ONCE 9 (FICE4 ,I >GU$ ?AT HIS COMPROMISES W\LD LIMIT HIS FUTURE OPTIONS & W]E !RE=E HIS REAL POSITIONS1 BUT MY FRI5DS DIDN'T ACCEPT ! PO9T & ,I 5D$ BY SAY+ WE %\LD COME BACK TO ! DISCUSSION 9 #b YE>S4 7,?AT DIDN'T HAPP54 ,O!R ?AN ! FAIL$ HEAL? C>E PLAN--COMPROMIS$ TO DEA? BY ,HILL>Y ,CL9TON--! ONLY MAJOR DOME/IC 0RE=M0 ( ,CL9TON'S ADM9I/RATION WAS ! ABOLITION ( WELF>E1 A CONS]VATIVE 9ITIATIVE ?AT ,CL9TON EMBRAC$ = HIS [N REASONS47 ,BASICALLY1 ,I HAVE ?IS SAME CONV]SATION EV]Y PRESID5TIAL ELECTION YE>3 !RE SEEMS NO SITUATION 9 :I* HOPEFUL PEOPLE CAN'T BELIEVE :AT ! ,DEMOCRATIC NOM9EE SAYS1 & EV5 MU* MORE ?AN :AT S_/HE SAYS4 ,9 MY EYES1 AT LEA/1 IT IS UNLIKELY ?AT A C&IDATE :O HAS FIT HIS CAMPAIGN )9 C]TA9 LIMITS BECAUSE ( ! POLITICAL PRESSURES ( AN ELECTION 7HAS *OPP$ (F HIS FEET1 AS 9 ! LEG5D ( ! ,PROCRU/EAN B$7 WILL BE FRE] ONCE ! CAMPAIGN IS OV] 7WILL BE ABLE TO REATTA* HIS FEET74 ,I CANNOT PROVE ?IS1 BUT 9 MY VIEW1 ! ,DEMOCRATIC ,P>TY'S ABILITY TO P]SUADE PEOPLE ( ESS5TIALLY ! SAME HOPES ( TRUE RE=M EV]Y F\R YE>S1 REG>DLESS ( :O ITS NOM9EE MI<T BE1 IS ONE SIGN ( ! P>TY'S ILLUSION-G5]AT+ ROLE 9 ,U4,S4 POLITICS4 

,REV4 ,J]EMIAH ,A4 ,WRI<T'S ,REM>KS1 ,APRIL #b#h1 #bh 

,I 9CLUDE !SE EXC]PTS FROM ,REV4 ,WRI<T'S APPE>ANCE AT ! ,NATIONAL ,PRESS ,CLUB 9 ,WA%+TON BECAUSE HIS VIEWS >E NOT AS WELL KN[N AS ,OBAMA'S & BECAUSE1 9 MY OP9ION1 IT IS WOR? KN[+ SOME?+ AB\T ! W+ 9 ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN !OLOGY ?AT HE REPRES5TS4 ,AFT] ,REV4 ,WRI<T'S REM>KS ,I 9CLUDE A FEW ( ! QUE/IONS ?AT W]E SUBMITT$ 9 WRIT+ & READ \T BY ! *AIR1 ,DONNA ,LE9W& ( ,U,S,A ,TODAY4 

,R,E,V4 ,W,R,I,<,T3 ,OV] ! NEXT FEW DAYS1 PROM95T S*OL>S ( ! ,AFRICAN-,AM]ICAN RELIGI\S TRADITION FROM SEV]AL DIFF]5T DISCIPL9ES--!OLOGIANS1 *UR* HI/ORIANS1 E?ICI/S1 PR(ESSORS ( ,HEBREW BIBLE1 HOMILETICS1 H]M5EUTICS & HI/ORIANS ( RELIGIONS--?OSE S*OL>S WILL JO9 9 ) SOCIOLOGI/S1 POLITICAL ANALY/S1 LOCAL *UR* PA/ORS & D5OM9ATIONAL (FICIALS TO EXAM9E ! ,AFRICAN-,AM]ICAN RELIGI\S EXP]I5CE & ITS HI/ORICAL1 !OLOGICAL & POLITICAL CONTEXT4 ,! WORK%OPS1 ! PANEL DISCUSSIONS & ! SYMPOSIA WILL GO 9TO MU* MORE 9TRICATE DETAIL AB\T ?IS UNKN[N PH5OM5ON ( ! BLACK *UR*--7LAU<T]7--?AN ,I HAVE TIME TO GO 9TO 9 ! FEW MOM5TS ?AT WE HAVE TO %>E TOGE!R4 

,& ,I W\LD 9VITE Y\ TO SP5D ! NEXT TWO DAYS GETT+ TO KN[ JU/ A LITTLE BIT AB\T A RELIGI\S TRADITION ?AT IS AS OLD AS &1 9 SOME 9/ANCES1 OLD] ?AN ?IS C\NTRY4 ,& ?IS IS A C\NTRY :I* H\SES ITS RELIGI\S TRADITION ?AT WE ALL LOVE & A C\NTRY ?AT SOME ( US HAVE S]V$4 ,IT IS A TRADITION ?AT IS 9 SOME WAYS LIKE ,RALPH ,ELLISON'S 0,! ,9VISIBLE ,MAN40 ,IT HAS BE5 RI<T H]E 9 \R MID/ & ON \R %ORES S9CE ! #a#fS1 BUT IT WAS1 HAS BE5 &1 9 F> TOO MANY 9/ANCES1 /ILL IS 9VISIBLE TO ! DOM9ANT CULTURE 9 T]MS ( ITS RI* HI/ORY1 ITS 9CR$IBLE LEGACY & ITS MULTIPLE MEAN+S4 .<444.> ,& MAYBE N[ WE CAN BEG9 TO TAKE /EPS TO MOVE ! BLACK RELIGI\S TRADITION FROM ! /ATUS ( 9VISIBLE TO ! /ATUS ( 9VALUABLE1 NOT JU/ = SOME BLACK PEOPLE 9 ?IS C\NTRY1 BUT = ALL ! PEOPLE 9 ?IS C\NTRY4 

,MAYBE ?IS DIALOGUE ON RACE--AN HONE/ DIALOGUE ?AT DOES NOT 5GAGE 9 D5IAL OR SUP]FICIAL PLATITUDES--MAYBE ?IS DIALOGUE ON RACE CAN MOVE ! PEOPLE ( FAI? 9 ?IS C\NTRY FROM V>I\S /AGES ( ALI5ATION & M>G9ALIZATION TO ! EXCIT+ POSSIBILITY ( RECONCILIATION4 ,?AT IS MY HOPE AS ,I OP5 UP ?IS TWO-DAY SYMPOSIUM1 & ,I OP5 IT AS A PA/OR & A PR(ESSOR :O COMES FROM A LONG TRADITION ( :AT ,I CALL 0! PROPHETIC !OLOGY ( ! BLACK *UR*40 

,N[1 9 ! #a#i#fS1 ! T]M 0LIB]ATION !OLOGY0 BEGAN TO GA9 CURR5CY ) ! WRIT+S & ! TEA*+S ( PREA*]S1 PA/ORS1 PRIE/S & PR(ESSORS FROM ,LAT9 ,AM]ICA4 ,!IR !OLOGY WAS DONE FROM ! UND]SIDE4 ,!IR VIEWPO9T WAS NOT FROM ! TOP D[N OR FROM A SET ( TEA*+S :I* UND]GIRD$ IMP]IALISM4 ,!IR VIEWPO9TS1 RA!R1 W]E FROM ! BOTTOM UP1 ! ?\<TS & UND]/&+S ( ,GOD1 ! FAI?1 RELIGION & ! BIBLE FROM ?OSE :OSE LIVES W]E GR\ND UND]1 MANGL$ & DE/ROY$ BY ! RUL+ CLASSES OR ! OPPRESSORS4 ,LIB]ATION !OLOGY />T$ 9 & />T$ FROM A DIFF]5T PLACE4 ,IT />T$ FROM ! VANTAGE PO9T ( ! OPPRESS$4 

,9 ! LATE #a#i#fS1 :5 ,DR4 ,JAMES ,CONE'S P[]FUL BOOKS BUR/ ONTO ! SC5E1 ! T]M 0BLACK LIB]ATION !OLOGY0 BEGAN TO BE US$4 ,I DO NOT 9 ANY WAY DISAGREE ) ,DR4 ,CONE1 NOR DO ,I 9 ANY WAY DIM9I% ! 9IMITABLE & 9COMP>ABLE CONTRIBUTION ?AT HE HAS MADE & ?AT HE CONT9UES TO MAKE TO ! FIELD ( !OLOGY4 ,JIM1 9CID5TALLY1 IS A P]SONAL FRI5D ( M9E4 

,I CALL \R FAI? TRADITION1 H[EV]1 0! PROPHETIC TRADITION ( ! BLACK *UR*10 BECAUSE ,I TAKE ITS ORIG9S BACK PA/ ,JIM ,CONE1 PA/ ! S]MONS & SONGS ( ,AFRICANS 9 BONDAGE 9 ! TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE4 ,I TAKE IT BACK PA/ ! PROBLEM ( WE/]N IDEOLOGY & NOTIONS ( :ITE SUPREMACY4 ,I TAKE & TRACE ! !OLOGY ( ! BLACK *UR* BACK TO ! PROPHETS 9 ! ,HEBREW BIBLE & TO ITS LA/ PROPHET1 9 MY TRADITION1 ! ONE WE CALL ,JESUS ( ,NAZ>E?4 

,! PROPHETIC TRADITION ( ! BLACK *UR* HAS ITS ROOTS 9 ,ISAIAH1 ! #f#a/ *APT]1 :]E ,GOD SAYS ! PROPHET IS TO PREA* ! GOSPEL TO ! POOR & TO SET AT LIB]TY ?OSE :O >E HELD CAPTIVE4 ,LIB]AT+ ! CAPTIVES ALSO LIB]ATES ?OSE :O >E HOLD+ !M CAPTIVE4 ,IT FREES ! CAPTIVE & IT FREES ! CAPTORS4 ,IT FREES ! OPPRESS$ & IT FREES ! OPPRESSORS4 ,! PROPHETIC !OLOGY ( ! BLACK *UR* DUR+ ! DAYS ( *ATTEL SLAV]Y WAS A !OLOGY ( LIB]ATION4 ,IT WAS PREA*$ TO SET FREE ?OSE :O W]E HELD 9 BONDAGE1 SPIRITUALLY1 PSY*OLOGICALLY & SOMETIMES PHYSICALLY1 & IT WAS PRACTIC$ TO SET ! SLAVEHOLD]S FREE FROM ! NOTION ?AT !Y C\LD DEF9E O!R HUMAN BE+S OR CONF9E A S\L SET FREE BY ! P[] ( ! GOSPEL4 .<444.> 

,! PROPHETIC !OLOGY ( ! BLACK *UR* IS A !OLOGY ( LIB]ATION4 ,IT IS A !OLOGY ( TRANS=MATION4 

,& IT IS ULTIMATELY A !OLOGY ( RECONCILIATION4 ,! ,APO/LE ,PAUL SAID1 0,BE YE RECONCIL$ ONE TO ANO!R1 EV5 AS ,GOD WAS 9 ,*RI/ RECONCIL+ ! WORLD TO ,GOD'S SELF40 

,GOD DOES NOT DESIRE = US1 AS *ILDR5 ( ,GOD1 TO BE AT W> ) EA* O!R1 TO SEE EA* O!R AS SUP]IOR OR 9F]IOR1 TO HATE EA* O!R1 ABUSE EA* O!R1 MISUSE EA* O!R1 DEF9E EA* O!R OR PUT EA* O!R D[N4 

,A,U,D,I,5,C,E ,M,E,M,B,]3 ,YES4 

,R,E,V4 ,W,R,I,<,T3 ,GOD WANTS US RECONCIL$ ONE TO ANO!R1 & ?AT ?IRD PR9CIPLE 9 ! PROPHETIC !OLOGY ( ! BLACK *UR* IS ALSO & HAS ALWAYS BE5 AT ! HE>T ( ! BLACK *UR* EXP]I5CE 9 ,NOR? ,AM]ICA4 .<444.> ,RECONCILIATION1 ! YE>S HAVE TAU<T ME1 IS :]E ! H>DE/ WORK IS F\ND = ?OSE ( US 9 ! ,*RI/IAN FAI?1 H[EV]1 BECAUSE IT MEANS SOME CRITICAL ?9K+ & SOME REEXAM9ATION ( FAULTY ASSUMPTIONS4 .<444.> ,IF ,I SEE ,GOD AS MALE2 IF ,I SEE ,GOD AS :ITE MALE2 IF ,I SEE ,GOD AS SUP]IOR1 AS ,GOD OV] US & NOT ,IMMANUEL1 :I* MEANS ,GOD ) US2 IF ,I SEE ,GOD AS MEAN1 V5GEFUL1 AU?ORIT>IAN1 SEXI/ OR MISOGYNI/1 !N ,I SEE HUMANS ?R\< ?AT L5S4 .<444.> .<,:5 SOMEONE SEES ,GOD ?IS WAY1 !N.> ,H[ WE >E SEE+ ,GOD1 \R !OLOGY1 IS NOT ! SAME4 ,& :AT WE BO? MEAN :5 WE SAY1 ,I AM A ,*RI/IAN1 IS NOT ! SAME ?+4 ,! PROPHETIC !OLOGY ( ! BLACK *UR* HAS ALWAYS SE5 & /ILL SEES ALL ( ,GOD'S *ILDR5 AS SI/]S & BRO!RS1 EQUALS :O NE$ RECONCILIATION1 :O NE$ TO BE RECONCIL$ AS EQUALS1 9 ORD] = US TO WALK TOGE!R 9TO ! FUTURE :I* ,GOD HAS PREP>$ = US4 

,RECONCILIATION DOES NOT MEAN ?AT BLACKS BECOME :ITES OR :ITES BECOME BLACKS OR ,HISPANICS BECOME ,ASIAN OR ?AT ,ASIANS BECOME ,EUROPEANS4 ,RECONCILIATION MEANS WE EMBRACE \R 9DIVIDUAL RI* HI/ORIES1 ALL ( !M4 ,WE RETA9 :O WE >E1 AS P]SONS ( DIFF]5T CULTURES1 :ILE ACKN[L$G+ ?AT ?OSE ( O!R CULTURES >E NOT SUP]IOR OR 9F]IOR TO US2 !Y >E JU/ DIFF]5T FROM US4 .<444.> 

,Q,U,E,/,I,O,N,S3 ,M,S4 ,L,E,9,W,&3 ,Y\ HAVE SAID ?AT ! M$IA HAVE TAK5 Y\ \T ( CONTEXT4 ,CAN Y\ EXPLA9 :AT Y\ MEAN 9 A S]MON %ORTLY AFT] #i_/#a#a :5 Y\ SAID ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES HAD BR\<T ! T]RORI/ ATTACKS ON ITSELF1 QUOTE1 0,AM]ICA'S *ICK5S >E COM+ HOME TO ROO/08 

,R,E,V4 ,W,R,I,<,T3 ,HAVE Y\ HE>D ! :OLE S]MON8 7,LAU<T]1 APPLAUSE47 ,HAVE Y\ HE>D ! :OLE S]MON8 

,M,S4 ,L,E,9,W,&3 ,I--MO/--7*UCKLES7-- 

,R,E,V4 ,W,R,I,<,T3 ,NO1 NO1 ! :OLE S]MON4 ,?AT'S--YES OR NO4 ,NO1 Y\ HAV5'T HE>D ! :OLE S]MON8 ,?AT NULLIFIES ?AT QUE/ION4 

,WELL1 LET ME TRY TO RESPOND 9 A NON-BOMBA/IC WAY4 7,APPLAUSE47 ,IF Y\ HE>D ! :OLE S]MON1 FIR/ ( ALL1 Y\ HE>D ?AT ,I WAS QUOT+ ! AMBASSADOR FROM ,IRAQ4 ,?AT'S NUMB] ONE4 ,BUT NUMB] TWO1 TO QUOTE ! ,BIBLE1 0,BE NOT DECEIV$2 ,GOD IS NOT MOCK$1 = :ATSOEV] Y\ S[ ?AT Y\ ALSO %ALL0-- 

,A,U,D,I,5,C,E ,M,E,M,B,],S3 0,REAP40 

,R,E,V4 ,W,R,I,<,T3 ,JESUS SAID1 0,DO UNTO O!RS AS Y\ W\LD HAVE !M DO UNTO Y\40 ,Y\ CANNOT DO T]RORISM ON O!R PEOPLE & EXPECT IT NEV] TO COME BACK ON Y\4 ,?OSE >E BIBLICAL PR9CIPLES1 NOT ,J]EMIAH ,WRI<T BOMBA/IC DIVISIVE PR9CIPLES4 7,APPLAUSE47 

.<444.> ,M,S4 ,L,E,9,W,&3 ,9 LI<T ( Y\R--9 LI<T ( Y\R WIDELY QUOT$ COMM5T DAMN+ ,AM]ICA1 DO Y\ ?9K Y\ [E ! ,AM]ICAN PEOPLE AN APOLOGY8 

,A,U,D,I,5,C,E ,M,E,M,B,]3 ,NO6 

,M,S4 ,L,E,9,W,&3 ,IF NOT1 DO Y\ ?9K ?AT ,AM]ICA IS /ILL DAMN$ 9 ! EYES ( ,GOD8 

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