REV. DR. JEREMIAH WRIGHT SETS RECORD STRAIGHT AT NAACP FIGHT FOR FREEDOM DINNER
Metro Detroit Media Revise Their Reporting Of Reverend Wright To Reflect A More Accurate Image Of The Pastor And The African American Church



By Talitha Johnson
Writer/Reporter
Tell Us Detroit



It was no secret that the NAACP invited Barak Obama’s former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright to speak at its 53rd Annual Freedom Fund Dinner. In fact, the banquet was sold-out with more than 11, 000 attendees at Detroit’s Cobo Hall Convention Center.

In a late-afternoon press conference, Detroit President of the NAACP, Rev. Wendell Anthony, clarified why he extended the invitation to Rev. Wright at such a critical time. Rev. Anthony stated, “When my own church would not support me in my ministry, Jeremiah Wright mentored me… It [the dinner] created an opportunity for us to set the record straight.”

"People do not know the African American church… We must not allow anyone to dictate what can come from the African American pulpit,” Anthony added.

As Wright took the stage he shared his view of the history of the black church and the NAACP. He said it was “seemingly joined at the hip” in its early years.

Wright referenced Republican Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who stated Wright was “one of the most divisive people I ever heard.” Patterson made the comment at a previous business leaders’ forum.

“I am not the most divisive, I am descriptive,” Wright rebutted.

“I am not here for political reasons, I am not a politician, [and] I am not running for the oval office. I have been running for Jesus for a long, long time, and I am not done running yet,” Wright declared.

The likes of Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick,  Congressman John Conyers, Senator Debbie Stabanow, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, former and current Detroit Mayors, Dennis Archer and Kwame Kilpatrick, and many others took the podium to express gratitude to the NAACP and shared new developments underway.

“As God would have it, we are now living in the most revolutionary times,” said Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. “This is the only city [in America] where African Americans can decide where $7 billion are being spent.”

"A change is going to come, but we’ve got a long way to go to achieve a victory to get to the promised land. As long as racism exists, attacks on affirmative action exists, unacceptable high school dropout rates exist, health care and incarceration disparities exist, we will not rest until we have justice and equality for all," Gov. Jennifer Granholm said. Granholm announced her efforts to eliminate insurance redlining in the state of Michigan.

It was CNN’s correspondent, Soledad O’Brien who subtly snatched the audience’s attention as she discussed her upcoming documentary, Black in America.

“As a journalist we have to be fair, honest and accurate; because there is so much at stake,” said O’Brien. “Race in this country… it can no longer be the elephant in the room that one does not want to talk about.”

“This [isn’t] about Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain; this is about the African American church,” said Rev. Wendell Anthony.

The focus point of Wright’s rapid fire style delivery affirmed his belief that people are ready to “Change the way we see others who are different.”

“In the past we were taught to see others who were different as being deficient,” said Wright.

He gave several examples of the difference among various cultures and sub-cultures throughout America, as he reminded the audience, “One is not normal and the other abnormal.”

The audience erupted in laughter as he illustrated the difference among black and white American's musical styles. Attempting to reiterate the two cultures pronounced differences leaving neither to be deficient.

Wright included other religious sects in his speech, Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Atheist communities and several others, as he often addressed the Muslim sheikhs in Arabic throughout his speech.

“Many of us are committed to change how we treat each other. We are also committed to change how we mistreat each other,” he stated.

“I come from a religious tradition where we shout in the sanctuary and marched on the picket lines. Where we give God the glory and the devil the blues,” Wright revealed.

“He is a preacher of the social gospel. He is an enlightened man, he is a blessed man, we all can benefit from these type of messages,” said Hester Wheeler, executive director of the NAACP.

In addition to a headlining keynote speaker, awards were given to the following recipients: Focus Hope co-founder, Eleanor M. Josaitis was awarded the Freedom and Justice Award; Charlie Gilliam also received the Freedom and Justice Award; Dennis W. Archer received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Before the Martin Luther King marching band marched to China to play in the Olympics, the band played music throughout the evening.

More than politicians and clergy attended; from Hollywood actors Hill Harper, Morris Chestnut and Anthony Anderson were in attendance; as well as actress Vivica A. Fox.

The Detroit Branch NAACP is the organization’s largest branch. It holds monthly general membership meetings, which are free and open to the public. For more information please call 313-871-2087 or visit www.detroitnaacp.org