A Letter To A Friend From Afar...

Dear Rev. Dr. Wright,

As an interested party to the plight of the Negro in America, I wanted to bring some relevance and brevity to the conversation that has been taking place regarding your positions on issues such as race, poverty, justice and religion within American society today. I have been watching from afar for some time now and I have been very pleased at your work for the poor and the oppressed. I have seen and heard testament to your work in social justice.

While much has been made about the lack of context in which some of your statements publicized, I write this letter as a soldier in the Army of Jesus Christ to encourage you and reinforce the importance to you of not "giving up the good fight." Jesus said," blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." I'm writing to tell you what evil meant for bad, God meant for good.

Forty years ago this week, I spoke about "the mountain top" experience. I tried to paint a picture of "the promised land." I wanted to bring attention about how long this struggle would go forward. The Lord had shown me the "new heaven and new earth" in America. We have desegregated lunch counters, schools, neighborhoods and places of employment. We have gained the right to vote and have elected black elected officials at the local, county, state and federal levels. And now, there is a very real opportunity for the next President of the United States to be a black man. And all hopes that will happen. But, even though we celebrate in esoteric and aesthetic advances in America, we must not be deluded into thinking that the race for equality and justice is one that is defined by the color the skin of whom occupies the White House. So if the President is already in the White House or is about to be elected from your house or even may be stuck in the outhouse, our approach to injustice invariably remains the same.

But I must inform you that God is not pleased nor is he amused. When I left forty years ago, the "War on Poverty" was pushed aside to continue the funding of the War In Vietnam. The dignity of the poor was viewed as something unimportant to the government of our nation. Inner cities in America went up in flames due to abject insensitivity to the lack of jobs and opportunity for the Negro. And as things continued down a perilous path, I warned the nation of the three ills of our then society Racism, Poverty and Militarism.

Racism is the great divide and the scar of our nation that has never healed. It has now morphed with hatred against Latinos who have come to this country to look for the pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of the American dream. They do the jobs least wanted and receive the least pay for it. Mothers and fathers who are trying to build a better life and foundation for their families are deported while children are left behind because they are born here as United States citizens. Racism has now manifested against Arabs and other nationalities of Islam who are all branded with the title of terrorists just as African slaves were branded by their owners with irons of fire and were determined not to allow them to aspire for freedom physically as well as mentally. They have left to escape genocide and the bloodshed of their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave." Only to hear and see images of cowardice, hatred and government sanctioned torture towards Arabs who have been claimed captive in an unjust war. New displays of the "hangman's" noose, the unhistorical use of the "N" word and the characterization of a black collegiate women's basketball team as "nappy headed ho's," has shown a chronic digress into the cesspool of America's infected wound called hate. Please remind them of what I said. "Men often hate each other, because they fear each other. They fear each other because they do not know each other. They do not know each other because they cannot communicate. They cannot communicate because they are separated."

Poverty, with its roots in bad economic habits and policies have led the Negro to be the largest consumer group in America, while owning less than 1% of all businesses in the nation. Unemployment is still double the rate of whites in this country and unions have been reduced to powerless non-entities that now watch their jobs sent overseas in a global economy. Corporate greed has now excelled at manipulating its own workers at the expense of nations of color with the sole purpose of increasing their companies’ bottom lines. They have cooked the books of their corporate finances to steal the pensions of loyal workers who have toiled in their vineyards for decades and now have nothing to fall back on in their golden years. The nation's wealthy has become more affluent, while at the same time, less people are able to participate it its wealth. People are now the target of highly marketed schemes to eventually take their piece of the American dream. Their homes, while investors on Wall Street are bailed out. Consumer credit card debt is at an all-time high and savings among consumers are at an all-time low. And when we calculate the net worth of the Negro, it is only one tenth, of whites. And if another attack on America happens, will President Bush tell the people again, don't worry, keep shopping? And all of this has happened while one of the greatest natural disaster this nation has ever seen in Hurricane Katrina fades slowly into the wilderness of our minds. Three years after Katrina, tens of thousands of people are still struggling to repair their lives, while our nations government continues to give excuses and entertain their proclivity to militarism, war and imperialism.

And yes, there's still Militarism. As I watch from afar forty years later, I still see war raging across the world. I'm saddened and horrified as America has invaded Iraq, sovereign nation on a lie by this administration on one front and invaded a second nation Afghanistan, with the appetite of revenge to get even. Remind them of what I said about war then and how it’s still relevant today." We must take steps that may establish a new spirit of mutual confidence. Steps capable of breaking the cycle of mistrust, violence and war.’’ As a moral issue and "as a minister of the gospel, I consider war an evil. I must cry out when I see war escalated at any point.’’ I said back then that "as the bombs in Vietnam explode at home—they destroy the dream and possibility for a decent America.’’ Remind them "that lawlessness abroad breeds violence within the United States." When we move to engage in illegal war abroad, we throw away our ability to "raise our voices against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly against the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today. Our own government." The cost of war has a price much more than money. Yes the cost in dollars and cents are reaching nearly $2 trillion. But, our economy at home suffers again as we spend on bombs planes and weapons of human destruction. Why is it America leaves its own without the basic needs of living while playing with expensive toys that inflict pain and suffering? So I ask the question? Are we epeating the same mistake we made in Vietnam? Or have we become so immune to killing and bloodshed that "winning" is the adjective used to describe killing and bloodshed?

America has lost over 4,000 soldiers with another 30,000 wounded. While our government provides figures of our American casualties, they are less willing to tell the full story of the death and carnage of the Iraqi people. Many humanitarian organizations from around the world have given estimates of over 700,000 civilians killed as well as over 150,000 Iraqi militia at the hands of the United States. This illegal war has no winners. It destroys nations and families. It undermines trust and confidence among other civilized nations of the world. Instead of building bridges with our global family, we now have a strike first initiative based on fear and hate mongering. This type of violence has now expanded at home with our own people. Now instead of burning buildings, our children are now killing each other over profits of poisonous illegal drugs. They are killing themselves because in most cases, they have not learned to reason out their conflicts. So violence become the quickest and easiest choice. All while the government pretends to be doing all they can, while in fact turning its back again on people whom they call "citizens." We ask our young people to stop the violence, we plead with them to stop the killing, but how can we expect a different result when the access and appetite for guns and an American reprobate mind is saturated with violence and destruction?

Our black daughters are victims of misogynistic music and entertainment and are having children before their time. Our black young men are dropping out of school at alarming rates and are targets and victims of industrialized incarceration. With our schools closing and under funded, more men are in prison than in colleges and universities, No Child Left Behind has turned into Lock Them Up and Throw Away The Key. Where does it leave the future to those who have been fortunate not to be "caught up in the game" of surviving the traps and snares of this society? Who speaks for their futures? It leaves them little room for hope. It leaves little room for a better tomorrow. At this crossroad, we witness the beginning of the loosening of the grip of those whom look towards you and other like you, to hold on to their joy. Now standing at this crossroad, I would ask you continue what you've started, but with a new invigorated voice and a bolder conviction to speak Truth to Power...

But I know you have plans for retirement...

True retirement can only be given by the God Himself. You and your church family have been blessed. Look at the circumstances that has preceded you. You accepted your call to pastor in 1972. God placed you in a struggling fledgling congregation of around 85 members. And for 36 years, through his grace, love and care you have helped bring nearly 10,000 souls to the Kingdom of God. Trinity United Church of Christ is a national model of black churches in America in developing community relevant ministry such as your ministry on HIV/AIDS. You have educated people of African descent to see themselves as important figures in the Christian faith. Your Ministry In Training curriculum has spawned many new young pastors in your tradition. You have activated a thought process that many black churches fail to do. That is to prepare new young leadership to take the reins of pastor-ship as you transition to less responsibility in your church.

But I would ask you to reconsider your future. This so-called dust-up may not be an accident, but maybe God's way bringing attention to His displeasure towards America's lack of responsibility to the entire human family.

In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus begins his ministry with this announcement: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

Cultural acceptance, social and economic parity and justice for the oppressed and those who share in this society should be aim of this society. Churches, mosques and synagogues whether it be white or black or otherwise cannot continue to evade this responsibility. They cannot say that the poor are in poverty because they won't work, or that they suffer because their own volition. Having come before God as nothing and being received by him into his Kingdom through grace, the Christian should know that he or she has been made righteous or justified so that he or she can join God in this fight for. Therefore, whoever fights for the poor, fights for God; whoever risks his life for the helpless and unwanted, risks his life for God.

So please remind them of what I believed about the unfinished business of America's healing. "It is quite easy for me to think of a God of love mainly because I grew up in a family where love was central and where lovely relationships were ever present. It is quite easy for me to think of the universe as basically friendly mainly because of my uplifting hereditary and environmental circumstances. It is quite easy for me to lean towards optimism than pessimism about human nature mainly because of my childhood experiences. It is impossible to get at the roots of one religious attitudes without taking in account the psychological and historical factors that play upon the individual." In order for America to heal, it must participate and facilitate in its own healing. It must deal with its sordid past and present. It must resolve that it inflicted unjust pain for whatever purpose. But most importantly, America must ask forgiveness for America's past deeds.

So I challenge you not to be discouraged about what politicians may say or writers may write or what misguided people who lust on the blood of their fellow man like malignant cancer feeding on itself. I would ask you to be like David and encourage yourself and continue to encourage others. A sick and self centered America needs your voice. When the comfort level of an unjust society has placed itself into a permanent sedentary position, its chronic and benign diseases slowly denigrates itself into a painful destructive malignancy. They tried to silence the struggle by trying to silence me. But today in order to silence the struggle they are now trying to silence others such as yourself whom come after me as well as the platform, the pulpit in the churches from where we speak. Continue to use your voice against the unjust evils of this world. Continue to speak up for the voiceless and the down trodden. "What America must be told today is that she must be born again, or America may go to hell. The whole structure of American life still needs to be changed."

So in doing this, don’t worry about being called Anti-American or Anti-Patriotic or a demagogue. That’s what they called me. Just make sure that they know that being pro-Black is not a predisposition for being anti-anybody else or anti-human. Tell them that all men, women and children are made in the image of God. Tell them that you are doing God’s will. The enemy already understands that you are "Unashamedly Black." That was determined when you were born. They can't change that. That's their problem to get over. But I want you to show them what true love is. Love of humanity. A Christ-Centered Love. That perfect love. The love of humanity that is patient, The agape love that is kind. Show the world who Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright really is. Show the entire world what the video editors, news editors, pundits and others failed or refused to show about Trinity United Church of Christ. In other words, show the world that you are "Unapologetically Christian."

Finally remind them of the Beatitudes, Remember the beatitudes are eight statements taught by Christ himself. They are concerned with virtue and how a believer in Jesus Christ can achieve that virtue. The Beatitudes are a map of life, a series of directives helping us on our journey to be with God. They also designate the actual condition of people who follow God's guidelines. They are simply stated, but are profound in meaning. They guide. They point. They teach. They show us the values that Christ cares about. These values if followed can not only bring a believer into a state of peace and happiness, but also right into the Kingdom of God after our journey on this earth is over.

In Matthew 5: 3-12 Jesus teaches us:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

And remember, Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Sincerely with God’s peace and blessings,
Your friend.... M.L.

Copyright © 2008 by Algernon H. Penn

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