Obama vs. Wright: Two Differing Paths to Upliftment

by The Rev. Raj Wiseman 3 May, 2008

With the Obama/ Wright drama now approaching smack-down it behoves us to take stock of what’s really going on with the inner dynamic concerning how these two have chosen to relate to life. Clearly they are both about upliftment, albeit two rather different versions of that goal, and more importantly, how to get there.

In the simplest possible terms, we have a contrast of overtly masculine and feminine values, forms, and methodologies. Rev. Wright, is exactly that –all about being right, at whatever the cost (read: utterly masculine). Everything we now know about this man is thoroughly patriarchal –his self-centeredness, need to exert control, combativeness, oneupsmanship and tribalism. His vision of upliftment is merely projected narcissism –yes he wants to raise his immediate community, and blacks in particular, but it is done so through utterly dualistic means and views. In classic us vs. them mentality he preaches black pride almost as a means unto itself yoked to fundamentalist Christian ‘virtues’. This will lead to the very same conflict of absolutes whether espoused by white supremacists, rapture evangelicals, Hindu fundamentalists, or Islamic terrorists. At issue then, is the masculine contraction –a strong (and all too often hyperstrong) self-sense with all its attendant dark ramifications then hyped to ultimacy over and above all else. Jettisoned is the relationality that is the earmark of a mature perception of the underlying oneness of life with its attendant compassion.

Contrast this with Mr. Obama’s path and views. Himself an interracial hybred, and not genuinely nigroid as Mr. Wright, Obama went not to war but to law school; Jeremiah into the ministry, Barak into politics. Yet their diverse perspectives could be as much about essential being than the influences of experience. His basically open, relational, and more feminine disposition notwithstanding, Barak appears more and more to have chosen his relationship to Trinity Church for the size and social position of its congregation than for the resonance of its messages to his inner being. Granted, Rev. Wright can indeed boast about service to his flock and the renovation to many lives sparked by his inner fire. But this appears to turn on the divisive methods of patriarchal tribalism, pitting underclass blacks against all comers as a motivational fulcrum, venting emotional polarization as a virtue to be embraced by unscrupulous followers. This path does have an uplifting intent, but it is extremely narrow in width and breadth. And while it includes a view of something lofty, unto the divine, its line of sight is dangerously tight, allowing, nay almost necessitating, stories and narrative that are not factual, but romantic and magical.

This is where Wright and Obama part ways. The senator’s intentions may not be as overtly spiritually focused as the pastors, but he is definitely dedicated to upliftment of the broader populace through inclusion. In fact, his exposure to the divisive rantings of the Rev. probably helped him realize his personal sense of definition by contrast, although this might seem contradictory at first. Inviting the pastor to bless his life, career and family may have been largely motivated by his interest in acceptance and heightened value within their large church than by a wholesale gulping down of Jeremiah’s bitter brew.

In an earlier article I wrote, “… [Obama] may in fact be a herald of the New, dawning in the realm of secular politics. Keeping in mind that emergence is utterly dependent upon its context for meaning and value, Barak may be a veritable child of the horizon … culturally new and complex, successfully integrating and navigating diverse cultural modalities, brimming with the hope of the possible. But only when the poison of divisiveness is left behind. This accounts for his authentic message of unity and progressive moderation –although such a position does indeed seem rather ‘liberal’ to the entrenched agenda of the old patriarchal ego”.

Now look at the reaction of Mr. Wright to Obama’s parting with his agenda. Not at all surprising given the loyalty element indigenous to the masculine ego. The pastor is quite ready to steamroll Barak and his presidential bid over a breach of faith in him and his message. Yet there is one extremely telling aspect of this that I fine quite revealing.

No doubt the Rev. regards his particular approach to upliftment a panacea for the ills of Black America. I’m curious how successful this is considering the appalling statistics of young black men in jail. On the other hand, how inspiring would it be to have Barak Obama elected the first black President of the United States? How far could black leaders and councilors of all stripes press the case that minorities do indeed have a renewed possibility here in the 21st century, thus inciting not small accomplishments of upliftment on the backs of their racial enemies, but an upliftment of the kind envisioned by the senator – a shared enthusiasm and a renewed hope in the audacity of the positive side of humanity, if given an example and an opportunity that’s real.
And one last caveat. I would be willing to give more credence to the integrity of the pastors’ issues if it were not for this –his recent building of a multi-million dollar mansion in a wealthy upper class neighborhood, utterly coddled in and by the very folk he regularly condemns as principally responsible for black decadence.
Sir, kindly do us all a good favor, and (W)right exit.

Rev. Wiseman is a specialist in comparative religion and transpersonal psychology, and is in residence at this teaching center Trin-Star, located in Lakewood, Co. ( www.trin-star.com)
You can blog on this and many other insightful articles by Rev. Wiseman at the above website under ‘newsletters’.