I got a lot of offline email regarding yesterday’s speech by Senator Barack Obama, and my blog post about it. So I’d like to share some of them with you today while reactions are still fresh.

As part of an interracial family — my husband is African American and I am a New Zealander — I really appreciate being able to share these, what I believe also to be historical moments with our children. It is sad to me in this country that we keep classifying people as part of groups, colors, ethnicities etc. etc. This is a borderless planet and we are all brothers and sisters. In the creation story (which many conservatives believe to be the entire truth) it never talks about an eighth day where God drew lines all over the globe with a marker and classified countries and race is not even mentioned.

Thank you, Claude. I stopped my work to listen to the Obama’s speech when I received your email. I am a white American, sixty-one years old, and tears are pooling in my eyes as I listen. I am so grateful that this man speaks these things. And I am grateful that you made me stop for a moment to listen.

FINALLY the expression that has been missing! Brilliant! His opening regarding the founding fathers fits directly into my latest HBO obsession … John Adams. Catch it if you can.

Brother Johnson:

Thanks for your information, and comment on the Senator Obama remarks of today. I do concur with what you write, and support your writing wholeheartedly.

Interestingly, the media has not said several things including these facts:

1. that the United Church of Christ (UCC) of which Dr. Wright is a part is one of the whitest, largest, oldest, and liberal faiths in the United States,
2. that Oprah Winfrey was a long time member of Trinity United Church of Christ where Dr. Wright is the pastor, and joined the Church almost immediately on moving to Chicago from Baltimore. Oprah is still a financial supporter of the Church,
3. that members are not responsible, and cannot control the comments or thoughts of pastors or other religious leaders, and,
4. what influence, if any, has Dr. Wright had on the personal thinking of Senator Obama.

And I got this email from someone who watched the ESPN film Black Magic, then apparently did a Google search in which they found this review I wrote about it back in October:

Thank you, sir, for your time and dedication to task weaving together Black Magic.

Obviously, it was hard work. But good work too, yes?
You are to be commended.

My name is robert. I am a white man. A sports writer for more than 30 years.

I grew up in the 1950s & 60s in a town with no black people. None. Did not encounter a black kid my age until I was a teen. And so, I was quicker to curiosity than prejudice.

Played high school basketball against black teams. Played with and against black men in military service.

Through my life and career I believed in and spoke up for equal opportunity. Character and passion versus skin color is no contest.

I’ve mentioned these things not to patronize you, but to establish “where I’m coming from.”

Mr. Johnson, while your work Black Magic was intended for a black audience and white liberals, I must tell you I came away feeling sad, frustrated, bit angry, demonized and tempted to rail and old George Carlin line: “I never owned a slave. Stop calling me a cracker (Chris Rock). Get over it!”

For too many white people, I think your piece was unnecessarily inflammatory and divisive at a time in America when men of your skills ought be more visionary. What’s happening NOW in America where we have a fast growing black middle class.

Search out, please, instances of the progress whites and blacks have made together. Bobby Cremins and Ben Jobe, Bobby Love and Chicago community. All the way to Barack Obama’s climb to the pinnacle where Mr. Lincoln once stood.

Indeed, what magic it would be in a new century, a black man (you) doing Ken Burns’ type work from a black man’s POV.

Thank you for your time. And again, thank you for your hard work.

This was my response:

First off, I’m grateful that you would be moved to email me, to express your views. Thank you.

Secondly, I’m flattered that you feel I had something to do with this film. I didn’t. It was created by ESPN. I just reviewed the film on my blog, The Black Fives Blog.

Thirdly, I do have some opinions about it, might address your comments, that I’d like to share with you if that’s O.K.

I wrote them here, on my blog:

http://blackfivesblog.com/?p=355

You may have heard by now that Senator Obama gave a historic speech today. His speech is highlighted in my blog post as well. Along with some comments from me.

If you still feel the same way after reading my blog and watching his speech, then let’s discuss it some more here. But I don’t want to repeat too much of what he said, some of which goes directly to address some of your concerns.

You’ll see.

Either way, I’d like your opinion of the “Perfect Union” speech as well as of my comments.

More speech reaction:

thanks bro
wuz looking for a link and can dig the analysis
you da MAN

Thanks, Claude. Always great to read your work.
What? The Renaissance isn’t just for Italian Americans?
:)
Classic.

I can’t agree enough – he is a very, very rare politician – one who I think can lead this country and bring us back. No blatant political maneuvering, I HOPE that either Hillary’s attack machine or Karl Rove don’t destroy him as they can do to anyone.

That speech was powerful (the little I heard of it) – I hope the rest of the country felt the same inspiration….

My only wish is that rather than just reminding all of us that Rev. Wright is sometimes a “fierce critic of this country”, Senator Obama had condemned specifically some of the loonier stuff Wright has said, like, for instance, the idea that the U.S. Government created the AIDS virus to kill black people. Stuff like that is not merely “fierce criticism”.

My reply:

I agree with you, some of what Wright has said is just nutty … but I think Obama was correct to just avoid all those silly details, which would have just given them even more of a life. The funny thing, though, is that there are many people who actually believe these kinds of “conspiracy theories”. (Just as there are people who actually believe inane stereotypes.) The AIDS thought is related to the syphilis experiments at Tuskegee, which for many years was dismissed as urban legend but turned out to be true after all. (But not, as Wright claimed, via injection …)

So, what was even more important, IMO, is that Obama addressed the fact that people’s anger is real. On both sides. And it ought not be dismissed. We can’t move on without this step. This is why it just basically changed the paradigm. It’s almost like, does one want to move forward, that’s the question now.

Reply to my reply:

I should have acknowledged that today’s speech was very powerful, very well done. I’ve never gotten the “Obama thing” but now I see what people are impressed with…

BUT…. as you say, there are “people who believe these crazy things” so it’s even more important for a guy like Obama to say “No, the government did not create the AIDS virus.” And while he’s at it, he could remind people that the evil of the Tuskegee experiment was the deliberate withholding of treatment. That’s bad enough, but not as bad as deliberately INJECTING people with the syphilis virus.

Until voices of authority (like his) start openly condemning this crap, it will continue to live on and feed anger and hatred.

Thanks for the link to Obama’s speech. Incredible. It’s nice to see him address race and get after it. After voting for him for the Senate while I was in Chicago it is nice to be able to vote for him on the “grand stage.” This really has the opportunity to be monumental for all people!

I tried to squeeze some time to the Obama live and thought his presentation what phenomenal. HE GETS IT! And, thank God that he does. Now if the Dem Party can cut thru the crap to get down to the business at hand instead of he said/she said. I’m beginning to think this man is the new “prophet.”

THEY ARE WASTING VALUABLE TIME HASHING OUT THE INSIGNIFICANT WHILE OUR SHIP IS SINKING!!!!

Maybe I should get some lunch…lol

I only had time to catch a few pieces of his speech but what I heard struck the perfect pitch. The first time someone has talked, on a national scale, about race relations and explained it from both a black and white perspective. Can’t wait to see the whole thing tonight.

My wife and I listened to a good portion of Obama’s book, Dreams of My Father. There was no way the author and Rev. Wright shared the same philosophy on some of the more inflammatory issues but it clearly did hurt Obama. Hopefully this speech can repair that damage, and maybe even illuminate some new converts.

Well said Claude. I nervously watched the speech and was relieved within minutes to see that he did something wonderful for everyone. He moved the needle in areas far beyond this election. Now I nervously wait to see if the media will sour the moment. I don’t think they can and I hope it does become a new benchmark for us beyond this election.

It’s really amazing. He found a way to say what NEEDED to be said in a way that embraces everyone’s plight and allows them to see them as not alien to one another…just different shades of the same problem. He found a way to express the REALITY of race in America and how it has socialized us without complaining. He showed incredible strength of character by not abandoning his friend when most would have. He embraced his freinds “imperfection” and used it for good. And much more. I think it’s something that can be reflected on for much time to come.

I am so glad you sent this note and the YouTube entry! I am listening to
the brilliant speech now and am glad I took “time out” for this important
moment!

I’ll be sure to check out your blog following the speech!

Claude, I watched that speech while Obama was giving it and instantly
realized I was watching a high point in American history. It was
brave, frank, inspirational, nuanced, insightful — all these things.

BRAVO! You are the man! – For using this opportunity to push Barack Obama’s message to the minions who may have missed the first opportunity to watch it; the message out that he MAY BE – the candidate for change! A very good use of your blog! I believe that you may inevitably be responsible for him being elected as the next President. He gave an excellent speech! I liked it.

Of course, I also see your subliminal endorsement of CNN even though the speech was shown on Fox and other major networks as well.

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