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Obama and Rev. Wright a Bi-Racial Issue
The question, why Presidential Candidate Barrack Obama never left
the church after Rev. Wright’s statements, is not a black
issue, but a bi-racial identity issue.
Growing up bi-racial has its own unique issues that are usually
never discussed. Bi-racial individuals have a problem identifying
"normally" with either race. We are caught in the middle
and find ourselves struggling with who we are and with what race
offers us acceptance.
My background is very similar to that of Barrack Obama. My love
for a man that gave me clarity and hope is very similar to the love
that Senator Obama has towards Rev. Wright. After discovering that
we are black, and that acceptance by white people because our mothers
are white is dispelled, we then had to learn how to be black. After
years of searching for my place, I met a man who inspired me and
taught me how to be a black man. In addition to teaching me how
to be a black man, he also taught me how to be a caring and loving
human being. He stressed the fact that I must be aware of how people
view me and treat me, but how I view and treat them does not require
that I takerace into consideration. The absence of a male black
figure in Senator Obama’s childhood was filled by Reverend
Wright in the same way that the gentleman who entered my life filled
a void for me. I only knew what I would see on the streets and on
television about being a black man. I knew that I didn’t want
to be a thug, and I could not be a professionalathlete because of
my lack of physical talent. I was educated and surrounded by white
people who I knew would accept me only to a certain degree. It was
not because they did not like me as a person. It would only be,
in some cases, just because of my skin color. Where was my place
in America?
My mentor taught me that I would be viewed and treated as a black
man, irrespective of how I viewed myself. However, the defining
of who I am as a person can only be done by me. He taught me not
only how to be a proud black man, but also how to be a compassionate
and understanding human. There were views that he had on issues
with which I did not agree in the least bit. It did not in any way
change how I viewed this man. I loved this man for giving me the
keystone in which I was building my arch in life. This man took
on the role of my father. The things that my father could not teach
me were supplied to me through this man that I know, love and adore.
He answered a question that I had been in search of all my life.
The question that had kept me from being whole my entire life was
now filled by this man. The hole I tried filling with money, sex,
drugs and alcohol was now filled by this gentleman. Neither my mentor
nor Rev. Wright (nor any of us, for that matter) is perfect.
Rev. Wright answered some of these same questions for Sen. Obama.
When reading his book, Dreams from my Father,it was apparent that
Senator Obama struggled with his identity. Sen. Obama acknowledges
that he drank at an early age and experimented with drugs. He made
a good decision not to continue this destructive behavior and turned
his attentiontowards his education. Yet, still, he lacked a black
male in his life to teach him how to be a black man in America and
also a loving caring person at the same time. While Rev. Wright’s
remarks were not wholly accepted and endorsed by Senator Obama,
this difference in perspectives in no way changed Senator Obama's
views about and loyalty to the man that filled an abyss in the senator's
quest to be the best human he can be. There is no college or accomplishments
that could have filled that hole. There is no amount of money or
intellect that he may have possessed that would accomplish what
only another human could. The idea that he could divorce himself
and deny the love and appreciation for Rev. Wrightis not plausible.
We all forgive our fathers for things that happened in our homes.
We forgive for things he may say towards us or our mothers.
Rev. Wright has a place of father, mentor , teacher in the senator's
heart and soul. To have disavowed Rev. Wright would have been an
abomination. I could never leave or separate from the man that gave
me and my life meaning and hope. The idea of hope and love is the
most attractive attribute of Senator Obama. America is in a state
of hopelessness. People have stopped dreaming of better days. This
lack of "Hope and Dreams" of a better tomorrow is what
has transcended ethnicity, age, and socio-economic status in attracting
the masses to the philosophies of Senator Obama. That which attracts
so many of us to Senator Obama is due in no small part due to the
role Rev. Wright has played in the senator's life. The idea of looking
for good in people and understanding is a lost art.
My mentor told me that once I realized that it was not for me to
be understood, but for me to be understanding,
I would then be on my way to being a loving human being. I believe
Senator Obama understands through this
journey of self-identificationthat he is not only a Black man, but
more importantly a caring and compassionate
human being who wants to make a changein people’s lives.
Once we all truly understand the importance of Rev Wright to Senator
Obama’s development as a whole person, we then can understand
and appreciate the ability of a human to respectfully disagree with
another's views, while compassionately appreciating the goodness
of others. I think someone once referred to this phenomenon as tolerance.
Hmmm. What a wonderful feeling it is to know that tolerance and
empathy are more than the stuff of which lofty goalsand sound bites
are made. They are laudible and deeply held virtues of the man I
hope to soon call Mr. President.
*The author, Eugene E. Brooks, is completing his book, Behind the
Cover, which addresses the issues related to being bi-racial in
America. The book chronicles the author's battles with addiction
that lead him from being homeless to graduating from law school
nearly thirteen years ago. See www.halfblackhalfwhite.com for more
details regarding his book. Mr. Brooks can be reached for comments
at eugenebrooks@sbcglobal.net.
About the Author: *The author, Eugene E. Brooks,
is completing his book, Behind the Cover, which addresses
the issues related to being bi-racial in America. The book chronicles
the author's battles with addiction that lead him from being homeless
to graduating from law school nearly thirteen years ago.
See www.halfblackhalfwhite.com
for more details regarding his book. Mr. Brooks can be reached
for comments at eugenebrooks@sbcglobal.net.
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