Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 2:57pm

Racism at the Inauguration?

I greatly appreciated Pastor Rick Warren’s invocation | Video:

… Help us, oh God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race, or religion, or blood, but to our commitment to freedom, and justice for all.

When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us.

And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes — even when we differ. …

On the other hand, is it making too much to note that Rev. Joseph Lowery’s Benediction (Video), in its general indictment (even perhaps in jest) of the white man, closed somewhat on a sour note — as well as contrasting with Obama’s message of racial unity?

With your hands of power and your heart of love, help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nations shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid, when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around. … when yellow will be mellow. … when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.

* * *

UPDATE

Well Michael, I see I struck a nerve. So permit me to elaborate on my initial impressions of Lowery’s benediction.

I think it was the juxtaposition of that rhyme and the “when white will embrace what is right” — with the fact that the newly-renovated White House is proclaiming a “national day of renewal and reconciliation” and we just finished celebrating a prophetic voice who dreamed of a time when his children “will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

At this time it seemed, well, inappropriate to put the spectre of race (“brown”, “yellow”, “red” or “white”) front-and-center, during the inauguration of a President who — in his own words — possesses “a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people – that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice is we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.”

Or to echo our new President’s own criticism:

The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made; as if this country – a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old — is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past. But what we know — what we have seen – is that America can change. That is true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope – the audacity to hope – for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

In light of the moment, Lowrey’s recitation of such a rhyme seemed precisely that: static, as if no progress had been made.

I am also reminded that this is the same Joseph Lowrey who, two years ago, exploited the funeral and “celebration” of Coretta Scott King, turning it into a partisan scolding of President Bush.

On the other hand, perhaps I was mistaken, and this was Lowery’s way of simply celebrating the fact of Obama’s presidency? — In which case I stand corrected.

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daledog
daledog
Tuesday, January 20, AD 2009 9:27pm

I heard this on the radio and it felt like someone kicked me in the stomach. Yet another reminder that a lot of folks don’t want racism or the perception of it to end. It is too much of a useful tool to be wielded against white people.

DarwinCatholic
Tuesday, January 20, AD 2009 9:38pm

when yellow will be mellow.

Wha…?!?

Dude, I’m not remotely Asian and I find that pretty offensive. Whether they’re being compared to one of the vilest soft drinks in the world, or blamed for doing shocking things like doing well in school, working hard and staying married — it’s pretty appalling either way.

Perhaps just as well I was busy all day and simply read Obama’s address and skipped all the TV and radio coverage.

Mark DeFrancisis
Mark DeFrancisis
Tuesday, January 20, AD 2009 9:45pm

Nothing like a bunch of bitter white men sitting around looking for a derogatory angle on the day…

Andrew
Tuesday, January 20, AD 2009 10:24pm

Did everyone forget that Obama is biracial? Good for us, we’re colorblind enough to elect a man of color. I grant him that many people see “black” when they see a biracial person, and I will have to prepare my adoped sons for this reality. But, also remember that Obama grew up in two cultures, and let’s reflect on which side of his family did “what was right”. Hint: it was not his black Muslim father who abandoned him as an infant, left the continent, and took up new wives…

To his credit, I have not heard Obama himself dwelling on these racial issues. He seems perfectly comfortable with both cultures and willing to “move on” (ahem) with his life. But he has associated with people that seem to still be really hung up on it. Was this really the best they could get for the big historical inuaguration day?

Matt
Matt
Tuesday, January 20, AD 2009 10:45pm

Why is the left so angry still? They got their man elected… Nothing but nastiness from most lefties on this blog… Everyone else is being quite respectful towards the new president despite our differences, something the left never offered to George Bush FROM DAY ONE. Why?

Matt

Mark DeFrancisis
Mark DeFrancisis
Tuesday, January 20, AD 2009 10:46pm

The prayer ends with: “Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.”

It should be pretty simple.

BTW, Lowery was shot with fire hoses , bitten and beaten in his time.

Too bad for some he has these memories of his own and others inhumane treatment in America’s history, due to his color and hi shunger for justice’s sake…

I know, all should have been colorblind, including Afican Americans, since the end of the Civil War. Nothing to get hung up over…really…

Mark DeFrancisis
Mark DeFrancisis
Tuesday, January 20, AD 2009 10:47pm

Matt,

Could it be that he has not the elected president in 2000?

Michael Iafrate
Michael Iafrate
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 12:27am

What the hell is “racist” about Lowery’s benediction? You have not made the case, Blosser.

Donald R. McClarey
Admin
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 5:34am

Of course Lowery’s benediction was racist. Those who argue otherwise are simply in denial of what he said. Imagine if a white pastor had chanted similar doggerel in a prayer where blacks were asked to do what is right.

He is also a hard core leftist of long standing.

http://www.theird.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=884&srcid=884
Here is a quote from him about abortion:

“We need to be discerning about the major issues. Abortion — that’s a minor issue. I’m all for life, but I’m also for freedom of choice. We can’t be the judge of what a woman does with her body. We have too many distractions.”

DarwinCatholic
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 7:48am

BTW, Lowery was shot with fire hoses , bitten and beaten in his time.

Too bad for some he has these memories of his own and others inhumane treatment in America’s history, due to his color and hi shunger for justice’s sake…

True, and he should be respected for that as one who fought the good fight. But the fact that someone has suffered great injustice does not necessarily mean that he is free of unpleasant traits. Indeed, it’s one of the tragedies of sin that those who are sinned against often twisted by the cruelty which is inflicted upon them.

I’m pretty sure, Mark, that you wouldn’t make the claim that because Jews suffered in the holocaust, they couldn’t possibly be racist in their actions towards any other group. By the same token, the fact that Rev. Lowery suffered during the civil rights movement does not mean that his rhyming skin color litney wasn’t racist.

Frankly, I don’t even care about the “when the white man will embrace what is right” slap — that kind of thing is pretty much contentless ritual for those who make their livings of race this day and it doesn’t offend me. But the use of:

when brown can stick around. … when yellow will be mellow. … when the red man can get ahead, man;

All of which lines drew laughs from the audience, strikes me as a needless invocation of racial stereotypes for no good purpose.

Do I think it’s a big deal? No. But so long as we’re talking about it, I think it’s a pretty poor thing to trot out at a historic event, and an example of how many of those who talk the most about race don’t really have any interest in moving on from it.

Mark DeFrancisis
Mark DeFrancisis
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 7:52am

“Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.”

Gerard E.
Gerard E.
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 7:57am

Rev. Lowery has history of occasionally veering off the road into a ditch. Maybe from all those years of being hosed and bitten by German Shepherds. Or maybe he’s just grumpy. Speaking of which- didn’t Joe and Jill look positively smashing? Now Joe can be sent on ‘fact-finding missions’ while Jill can read to grade school kids. Which is as much as we’ll get from those two for at least the next four years.

Mark DeFrancisis
Mark DeFrancisis
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:01am

Look up the literaty device called “signifying”, used by African Americans in their history.

This will explain much about Lowery’s remarks. also, notice his tone.

I think Gates wrote an essay on the topic.

Cminor
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:13am

Darwin,
This kind of stereotyping’s been around for an awfully long time. Check out this little bit of possibly relevant historical trivia mi marido had stashed in the back of his mind.

S.B.
S.B.
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:31am

Actually, Lowery’s rhyme was based on an old blues song by Big Bill Bloozy: “Black, Brown, and White.” See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZLw5ahxm-Q
Of course, the song was missing the part about yellow people being “mellow.”

Donald R. McClarey
Admin
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:31am

Thank you Cminor! I thought I had heard what he said before and now I know why. My parents had that album and I listened to it a few times decades ago.

S.B.
S.B.
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:48am

I made this comment, but it fell into a black hole: Lowery’s rhyme (absent the “mellow yellow” and “red get ahead” parts) came from an older source: A 1951 blues song called “Black, Brown and White” by Big Bill Broonzy. Google it and you’ll find it on Youtube.

John Henry
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 9:17am

I guess I have four thoughts:

1) This is not a big deal.

2) The remarks were racially divisive.

3) The remarks were more excusable (and maybe entirely excusable) based on the age and life experiences of the speaker. He was in his mid-40’s before schools were really desegregated in the South.

4) There is nothing wrong with noticing they were racially divisive in a blog post; but, once noted, there are better things to talk about going forward.

Matt
Matt
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 9:31am

I guess we can excuse Rev. Lowrey for clouded judgment… however, don’t think for a moment that every word of every speech wasn’t vetted by President Obama and/or his staff.

This has been his “modus operandi” from the beginning, he is all things to all people.

trackback
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 1:48pm

[…] other news, some have some pretty asinine analysis, calling Lowery racist. […]

Largebill
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 2:48pm

So the excuses made for this character is (1) he’s old, (2) he was mistreated decades ago, (3) the crap at the end of his prayer was from an old song, etc.

Here are the answers

(1) If he is too old to give a simple blessing at the end of a ceremony without being offensive then choose someone else.
(2) If he is too bitter about the past to be cheerful about the present then get someone else.
(3) Who cares what the origin of the doggerel was?

Bottom line those who chose this guy knew about his issues and certainly saw advance copies of his material. His behavior at the funeral for Mrs. King should have been enough to convince people he was not an appropriate choice.

Eric Brown
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 4:37pm

Thank you John Henry.

Tito Edwards
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 4:47pm

John Henry,

I agree with all your points except # 3.

As an “alleged” Christian, Rev. Lowery apparently hasn’t found peace of the loving embrace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Hence why is he still bitter?

I don’t recall St. Thomas More ‘complaining’ about anti-Catholic prejudices when he was about to be executed. Rev. Lowery was saying the BENEDICTION for the first president of ‘color’ in the United States of America.

So I give no excuse for Rev. Lowery’s bitterness one iota. Christopher has an excellent point to show the lack of Christian forgiveness in Rev. Lowery’s ‘benediction’. Rev. Lowery is just as bad as Jeremiah Wright, the difference is he isn’t as profane as Mr. Wright.

Bigotry knows no color, it works both ways.

Eric Brown
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 4:48pm

By the way, this is a little presumptive of me to say, but Mark and Michael, why is that I’m African American and not making a big deal about this and the two of you are? I’m not saying there is nothing of concern here, but that this blog is being attacked as “racist” and “nationalistic” and the like is really difficult considering I write on this blog…nor does is it really indicative as to why you visit here so often if it’s really that terrible.

Additionally, if people cease to exercise the virtue of charity when they speak to you, perhaps it would not hurt — though it is admittedly very difficult — to exercise the virtue anyway and ask to return the debate to the issue at hand instead of ad hominem attacks. This just as much goes to anyone that has made such statements toward the both of you. I don’t believe in double standards. But let’s not make them and don’t live up to them. It really bothers me the way that lately there has not been much Christian charity while we’re all claiming God and righteousness to be on our side. Just a thought.

cminor
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 4:52pm

S.B.,
Thanx for the link. I had a feeling that that bit of doggerel had roots older than Frye’s Nixon impersonations but wasn’t sure there was an extant record. BTW, I’ve found to my embarassment that comments with links don’t always post right away here, but do eventually post.

Tito Edwards
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 4:53pm

OK, maybe the comparison to Wright was a bit much. I’ll take that one back.

Personally, I don’t feel offended by the benediction since I wasn’t that interested to begin with. If anything what may concern me is the lack of a vetting process that Obama’s handlers have for allowing something like that comment to pass by.

S.B.
S.B.
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 5:08pm

Eric — Michael I. fancies that he speaks for all African Americans, nay, all people of color in the world. How he knows so much about them, coming from almost all-white West Virginia and going to school in Canada, is something of a mystery, although not as mysterious as the notion that all “brown” people (as Michael calls them) think alike in the first place. Thus, if anyone says anything that Michael disagrees with and it has anything to do with a non-white person, Michael jumps up and yells about racism.

He did this on a Vox Nova comment thread in a much more egregious way: He had said that Third World capitalist factories should be replaced by worker-built communal factories. I made the obvious rejoinder that if worker-built factories were all that realistic, we should be seeing more of such factories already, and that the fact that such factories are rare is a sign that Third World people tend to lack the capital and training to just set up a new factory (just as I’d have no idea how to do so, let alone the funds). Michael said that this was a “racist” comment, for reasons that only he could imagine (he certainly couldn’t explain himself or offer any attempt at an argument).

Matt McDonald
Matt McDonald
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 5:31pm

Tito,

If anything what may concern me is the lack of a vetting process that Obama’s handlers have for allowing something like that comment to pass by.

No question that Obama’s handlers vetted and approved this text. This is a nod to one of his constituencies that may have felt left out of his speech, part of his approach of being all things to all people.

SB,

incivility is the typical behavior over at that blog. As we speak they’re copying posts from here and discussing them without the respect of a link.

God Bless,

Matt

Michael J. Iafrate
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 6:12pm

Eric – I would be interested in hearing your thoughts regarding Christopher Blosser’s suggestion that Lowery’s benediction (taking into consideration his and John Henry’s attempt at damage control) *may have been* “racist.”

Michael I. fancies that he speaks for all African Americans, nay, all people of color in the world. How he knows so much about them, coming from almost all-white West Virginia and going to school in Canada, is something of a mystery…

1) I don’t speak for African Americans. But I certainly will voice my opinion and stand up for black preachers from the charge of “racism” in cases like these.

2) West Virginia is pretty white. My experience there has given me a lot to reflect on when it comes to racism. I often know racism when I see it. West Virginia certainly isn’t all white. Unsure about your reference to Canada. I live in one of the most diverse cities on the planet.

hus, if anyone says anything that Michael disagrees with and it has anything to do with a non-white person, Michael jumps up and yells about racism.

He did this on a Vox Nova comment thread in a much more egregious way: He had said that Third World capitalist factories should be replaced by worker-built communal factories. I made the obvious rejoinder that if worker-built factories were all that realistic, we should be seeing more of such factories already, and that the fact that such factories are rare is a sign that Third World people tend to lack the capital and training to just set up a new factory (just as I’d have no idea how to do so, let alone the funds). Michael said that this was a “racist” comment, for reasons that only he could imagine (he certainly couldn’t explain himself or offer any attempt at an argument).

S.B. clearly has his own dream-land revisionist reconstructions of our past “conversations.” I refuse to spend the time “explaining myself” in light of what he claims that I said.

Jeff Miller
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 7:26pm

Post-racial – yeah right.

I thought the yellow part was the worst. Does he want all Asians to be singing Donavan’s “They call me mellow yellow.”

Pres Obama laughing during it was pretty sad also.

Tito Edwards
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 7:49pm

Hey Jeff, why don’t you put up your jester hat for the WordPress thumbnails?!

Just being selfish so the A.C. “Recent Comments” column looks more colorful.

S.B.
S.B.
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 7:54pm

You couldn’t even pretend to explain yourself at the time either . . . . so it goes with you: irascible and inflammatory language without any capacity or ability to come up with an explanation.

Matt McDonald
Matt McDonald
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 7:56pm

I refuse to spend the time “explaining myself” in….

broken record from this guy.

Michael J. Iafrate
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:05pm

I’m perfectly willing to concede that

1) the remarks themselves were racially divisive and ill-timed (in the context of the inauguration itself as well as the celebration of Martin Luther King).

The remarks were not divisive, but drew attention to already existing division. They were not “ill-timed.” What better context than the inauguration and the wake of MLK Day than to remind ourselves of how far we have to go? Why is that threatening to you? Why does it threaten you to acknowledge that racism still plagues the united states? Why is it EVER “inappropriate” to talk about it? That is the language of racism and colonization: to tell persons to talk only at “appropriate” times.

2) enlightened as to the historical origins of the lyrics and given the fact that Rev. Lowery himself hails from the era of segregation, he may not have a racist intent in making the statement.

News flash! American Catholic blogger believes Rev. Lowery might now have had “racist intent” in his benediction! What a relief.

That said, being a working man, I haven’t found time to speak to 800 Canadians about the inauguration and benediction,

Perhaps you missed it when I said I was at work and that was how I was able to talk to so many Canadians about the inauguration.

…and am a bit clueless as to the precise meaning of the “yellow/mellow” line. Perhaps you can clarify that for me?

I explained it over at VN. Doesn’t take many brain cells to figure it out.

You couldn’t even pretend to explain yourself at the time either . . . . so it goes with you: irascible and inflammatory language without any capacity or ability to come up with an explanation

Well, sorry, but it’s tough to keep up with you. I have trouble explaining “myself” when your version of our conversation keeps changing to suit your present needs.

S.B.
S.B.
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:06pm

Anyone who’s not convinced that Michael I. is lying about our past exchange can check here and here. Sound like “racist” comments to anyone?

S.B.
S.B.
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:08pm

I have trouble explaining “myself” when your version of our conversation keeps changing to suit your present needs.

Liar.

DarwinCatholic
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:22pm

Michael & Stuart,

I don’t think we need to start dredging through past fights on the thread. I know from personal experience that past insults continue to rankle, but carrying paper only makes these things worse.

Donald R. McClarey
Admin
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:31pm

“but carrying paper only makes these things worse.”

Amen!

Michael J. Iafrate
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:38pm

[ED: Actually, I was serious that the paper carrying had to stop. Getting one last dig in, even if in the form of saying you don’t like carrying paper, doesn’t work.]

DarwinCatholic
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 8:39pm

The remarks were not divisive, but drew attention to already existing division. They were not “ill-timed.” What better context than the inauguration and the wake of MLK Day than to remind ourselves of how far we have to go? Why is that threatening to you? Why does it threaten you to acknowledge that racism still plagues the united states?

I can understand how you thought of the prayer as simply “reminding ourselves of how far we have to go”, perhaps enhanced by the fact that you seem to especially appreciate a “prophetic voice” approach which involves denouncing people rudely in order to shock them into reforming themselves.

However, I think it’s important that you understand that for many (especially for many in their 20s and 30s) this kind of harping about the “the black man” and “the brown man” and “the yellow man” and “the red man” is not a discussion of the status quo as they know it, but a harping back to a past they don’t even remember.

One may certainly understand that Lowery had no racist intent, while at the same time recognizing that in this day and age making jokes about “the yellow man” and “the red man” is totally unacceptable in polite society, and for most younger people who mostly know people who are half-this and half-that, the whole racial bucketing method implicit in that rhyme itself seems racist.

Tito Edwards
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 9:02pm

Christopher B.,

I don’t think the title of your posting is misguided or wrong. That “?” says it all, questioning if there was or not.

My two cents worth.

Michael J. Iafrate
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 9:02pm

One may certainly understand that Lowery had no racist intent, while at the same time recognizing that in this day and age making jokes about “the yellow man” and “the red man” is totally unacceptable in polite society, and for most younger people who mostly know people who are half-this and half-that, the whole racial bucketing method implicit in that rhyme itself seems racist.

Well, you seem to have a different reason for opposing his prayer. Christopher was personally offended that [gasp!] he “insult” white people.

However, I think it’s important that you understand that for many (especially for many in their 20s and 30s) this kind of harping about the “the black man” and “the brown man” and “the yellow man” and “the red man” is not a discussion of the status quo as they know it, but a harping back to a past they don’t even remember.

If they think it’s a matter of the past, then they are blind.

DarwinCatholic
Wednesday, January 21, AD 2009 10:02pm

If they think it’s a matter of the past, then they are blind.

Racism as a whole is not a matter of the past, but I think that if you think people are constantly going around calling Asians “yellow” and American Indians “red”, then I think you either are wrong or move in far more nasty circles than I do.

While there are still racial problems in our country, using racial stereotypes and slurs has become nearly totally unacceptable in all parts of society that I’ve run into — including even the West Virginia call center I worked in a number of years ago. And those stereotypes that remain are generally ones which (mostly regrettably to my mind) have become acceptable to the extent that some people with media voices are proud of them.

In that sense: Yes, talking about “the red man” and “the red man” does sound like a throwback to a age most of us have quite happily left behind.

Michael J. Iafrate
Thursday, January 22, AD 2009 12:23am

In that sense: Yes, talking about “the red man” and “the red man” does sound like a throwback to a age most of us have quite happily left behind.

Blosser blogged about the offense he took to the “general indictment…of the white man,” not about his concern about the use of terms like “yellow” and “red man.”

Neither of you seem to get the obvious point that words mean different things depending on who is using them.

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