Obama's Speech: Race on the High Road ("A More Perfect Union")

Thanks, but no thanks, to Barack Obama’s pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who pushed the race issue to the front of the campaign stage by his remarks critical of white America. Obama now had to define himself clearly on this question. Political operatives all had advice, but typically were only counting votes in the usual statistical sense. It seemed that Obama had three choices of how to respond. 1) He could put his numerous white supporters at ease by castigating Rev. Wright’s ill-considered remarks, but to the dismay of the black community (a smaller number). 2) He could emphasize that the quotes were presented out of context and could recast the words in softer tones while affirming the discontents of the African-American community--an approach that would likely be unconvincing to either side. Or 3) he could dance around the issue, calling the sermon quotes unfortunate, and hope the flap dissipates on its own. This last option would be the safest, not winning many, but losing the fewest.

Rejecting standard political wisdom, though, Obama stepped out of the rut of usual argumentation on the race question to follow “another path.” He disavowed the apparently white racist words of his pastor, but he declined to disassociate himself from the black community. He expressed continued respect for his friend and spiritual mentor --a politically “unwise” thing to do. But he embraced the cause of his fellow African-Americans in their longing for equal and fair treatment. He voiced his understanding of how blacks could be angry about being the brunt of white racist actions, but at the same time rejected any semblance of reaction-in-kind. He modeled an even keel not often found in race contentions. Maybe it takes a man with a black father and a white mother, as is Obama’s heritage, to be able to put the race question in balance and to serve as a nurse for both the sick and the threatened.

The marvel is that a politician would have the fortitude to decline to follow the expedient route of pandering to the group who has the most votes. Instead, he took a risky, more courageous stance. He acknowledged the sordid history of racism in America without apologizing for the indignation of a black preacher, yet refused to approve of the apparently racists response-in-kind of Rev. Wright’s words. He risked losing everybody’s vote by this tactic. But it was the right thing to do. When was the last time we have seen a politician act this way? As David Gergen (CNN analyst) put it, it is refreshing to hear a candidate speak to us voters as if we are adults.

With both white and black parentage, but as only a small child during the black activist movements of the 1960’s, Obama is genetically disposed, and historically positioned, to show the way to an end of racial division, of whatever color, that has hobbled the American democratic promise from its first planting in the New World. If he himself does not remove the roadblock for black Americans, by being elected President, he at least will be a traffic sign pointing to the freeway onramp.

Whatever the voters decide in the remaining primaries and November election, Obama’s sense of democracy’s promise will assure his speech a place in American history. Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream about racial unity. Reverend Wright’s words were a lingering echo of the more embattled 1960’s. Obama’s speech is a calm invitation to merge the streams of traffic in our national life. His message of hope is for all Americans, a new concept the older Rev. Wright couldn’t own.

Obama’s oration received rave reviews from all sides, but, interestingly, I had to go to the internet to hear it. Unlike the looped replays of Wright’s excerpts, constantly run on the TV network shows, Obama’s speech took intentionality to get to. If the public responds to this new kind of “political wisdom,” it will have to be without the help of the news media.

The path the Illinois Senator outlined needed certain oratorical skills and charismatic vision to chart, qualities rarely found among politicians. The path he chose was the high road, a road most political operatives thought would lead him to a train wreck, but which if negotiated skillfully can leave an audience gasping in wonder.

If you were able to listen to the whole speech, you may have noticed an eerie silence from the audience, until Obama lifted his finger for a moment off the damp race wound and spoke of other pressing national problems. At this point applause, for the first time, interrupted him, as if the audience was responding with palpable emotional release. It reminds me of the odd momentary dead quiet reported at the end of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. It has been awhile since we have seen a political animal who had the instinct and the pluck to travel a visionary route through a confusion of voices. He traded anger for healing passion--a blend of Patrick Henry and Martin Luther King ,Jr. The 1770’s have arrived at the 21st century.

(Just a side note, don’t mistake this quality of courage and oratorical skill with the ostrich stubbornness that our otherwise Chief Articulator has styled as leadership.)

Now if Hillary Clinton will give us a “high road” speech showing a woman’s understanding of how to nurture international relationships, live practically within our means, and cooperate with our environment, and if John McCain could give us a “high road” speech on how to “win” without “killing” our enemies (along with ourselves), then I will have a heaven of a problem choosing for whom to vote ! !

Doug Good