I need to be upfront. I am quite cynical about American politics and how it impacts on the Caribbean. Historically, nothing has ever changed for the "backyard" (the Caribbean and the Americas) of the USA whatever the government. Democrat or Republican – the significant qualifier remains American. It is this that determines the rest – not even the gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or colour will make a difference for the immediate neighbours of the USA.I do follow, however, the political developments with keen interest as I think that the USA is as diverse and complicated as the Bible. And, I am especially interested in the chances of a Black man as the President hopefull of the Democrats or in whether the American public is now inclined towards “dynasties” (from Bush to Clinton).
One short commentary caught my attention: it was a piece in The Economist (January26th,2008) entitled “Holy Moly: Barack Obama’s Church”. Given that for the “holy” Christian American voters, Church going is significant, one would think that the fact that Obama has been a regular Church goer to Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago) for over the last twenty years where he nurtured his faith and his identity would bring numerous affirmations. After all, no one really complained about Reagan, Bush Sr & Bush Jr or Clinton and their church attendance/membership. In fact their faith nurturing and journeys are given prominence in speeches and biographies.
It would seem, however, that Obama has been attending the wrong church, that is, a segregationist Church. His church is mainly Black and is pastored by Dr Jeremiah Wright Jr. a Black pastor and a Black theologian. Not surprisingly, White Conservative Americans are critical of the Church’s motto, “unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian” with the church suddenly labelled segregationist and possibly racist. The critique from this group and from public news pundits is that the theology is “racially exclusive”. One even suggested that if you replace “white” with “Black” he couldn’t imagine what outrage would result!
Even an idiot walking around on Sundays at 11am in the USA could tell that this is the most segregated hour in American life. So where and how did this evolve from? That should be the query of the pundits! Besides, what kind of churches do the Clintons’, Bushs’ and former Presidents attend? Are they not White churches? Are Blacks, Hispanics and Haitians welcomed there? Yes, they may not claim to be or have any need to state that they are racially exclusive – for White as a category was and remains the normative. Yet, White Churches were and are predominantly exclusive not matter how much they pretend to be otherwise.
At least, what happens at Trinity United Church of Christ (and through the minister) is an honest acknowledgement of the starting point for worship and theological articulation: the community’s experiences as Black people (free but yet to be equal) in the USA. In my view, this is worship and theology with integrity. Racially exclusive worship and theology on the other hand, is one that pretends to be inclusive, operates as normative, universalises the “other” and cannot even recognize its own “whiteness”!
