Ortiz's Blog

2008-11-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Yin to his Yang

No matter who you voted for in this historical election, it doesn't matter now. What we can now focus on is who is our new leader of the free world. We all know the role of Barack Obama is an integral one, not only because of his presidential duties, but because of what he symbolizes. But what is being left out is what role Joe Biden will play in the future. As we read with Cone, Dr. King and Malcom X symbolized a powerful yin and yang that should have helped to strike down the structures of racism. We also spoke in class about how white and black theologians had to work together, as stated by Cone. That in itself is a yin and yang. So what does Joe Biden play in all of this? Would it have been better if both the president and vice president was black? Or is it even better one is black and one is white? Will this be a powerful yin and yang that everyone is overlooking? As a New York Times article stated on August 23rd, 2008, "To go with a running mate who could reassure voters about gaps in his résumé, rather than to pick someone who could deliver a state or reinforce Mr. Obama’s message of change." For these two men with extremely different backgrounds and credentials to work together, and earn the two highest positions in the world speaks volumes in itself when it comes to racial issues.
In the transcript of Joe Biden's acceptance speech, he describes Barack Obama, "I watched how he touched people, how he inspired them, and I realized he has tapped into the oldest American belief of all: We don't have to accept a situation we cannot bear." Barack Obama didn't accept the situation he could not bear. Martin Luther King did not accept or settle. Malcolm X didn't accept it. Obama and Biden have a chance to build upon the change they have brought. We won't see what kind of president Barack Obama will be, or what kind of vice president Joe Biden will be. But this powerful yin and yang have accomplished a lot so far. Why stop there?

Sources:

1. Cone, James. 1999. Risks of Faith

2. Biden, Joseph. 27 August 2008. Transcript: Joe Biden's Acceptance Speech.

3. Nagourney, Adam and Zeleny, Jeff. 23 August 2008. The New York Times. Obama Chooses

Running Mate.

2008-09-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Taste the Irony of Hope

Hope. We hear this a lot with the presidential election. We hope the next president will help our economy. We hope the next president will help us stay safe. We hope. That's all we can do at this low point of our country's history.
The point I am getting at here is that black theology has more to do with this election more than anything. Jeremiah Wright is contributing to this election and is helping Barack Obama. And he will help Obama until the final vote is cast. The same man who was thought to have hurt Obama is helping him every step of the way. In Chapter 2 of LaRue, we hear and learn about the sermons of Alexander Crummel. LaRue states, "While [Crummel's] thinking on nationalism changed, this thoughts on the power of God to effect positive change remained constant." (pg. 38) Positive change? That sounds familiar. That's because it is. Change we can believe in? That slogan is a direct result of black sermon. From Crummel to Jeremiah Wright. We have discussed this in class a little. But only in the patterns of Obama's voice tone. What other things has black sermon influenced in this campaign? Let's dive further into this. In San Antonio, Texas on March4, 2008, Obama gave a speech in front of hundreds of Texans. At the beginning of his speech, he declared, "Si se puede." It means "Yes you can," another slogan he has made his trademark. The point is that San Antonio is mainly hispanic. I am from there. He appealed to his audience and to their emotions. Isn't that what we have discussed as black sermon in class? Isn't that the heart of black preaching? I, as a McCain supporter and closely follow his campaign, have never even heard him say, "Si".
Black theology is helping Obama, and Rev. Wright is the man who brought it on him. Like I said before, the people attacking Wright have to think twice. He's not hurting Obama, he's helping him. They're just too blind to see it.
Another thing: The origin of Obama's book title, "The Audacity of Hope"? Inspired by a Rev. Wright sermon.

Works Cited:

1. LaRue, Cleophus J. 2000. Chapter 2: The Power Motif in Nineteenth Century

African-American Sermon

2. youtube.com. 04 March 2008. Barack Obama: Speech in San Antonio, TX

3. Obama, Barack. 17 October 2006. The Audacity of Hope.

2008-09-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

Trust in thee?

"This authority, however, does not arise automatically but must be earned by the preacher through earnest and effective preaching as well as through meaningful association with the 'folks' over a period of time."(LaRue, 12) This part of LaRue's writings was particularly interesting to me because of the "Jeremiah Wright" factor. Yes, it is obvious and almost easy to point out the Rev. Wright when discussing black theology, simply because of the limelight that has been unfairly shown upon him. But I couldn't help but wonder about the connection between an authoritative figure and the Reverend.
Jeremiah Wright has been preaching at the Trinity Church since 1972, and has seen it grow to 8,500 members under his leadership, making it the largest of the "otherwise predominantly white," United Church of Christ demonination. (Moyer) In other words, under the criteria of LaRue, Rev. Wright has "earned" the trust and the association with the "folk." That's weird. Where was the media when this church was growing? Were they there to put out the fire and passion of a man who's supposedly unpatriotic? Shouldn't they have seen this coming?
The fact of the matter, and an obvious fact, is that when black theology is put in the limelight and is associated with people in high power (Barack Obama) the public grow in fear due to the misunderstandings of its ideas. Many figures in the mainstream American public are guilty of this.
"...I think you're absolutely wrong about the context. I think Reverend Wright, if you study his history, he is an anti-American guy. And I think that's going to hurt him." (O'Reilly) Those are the words of Bill O'Reilly, host of Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor." But if you really study his history, Rev. Wright has allowed women leaders and homosexuals into his church. Isn't that what America-excuse me, the United States of America is about? But then again, there will always be those people who will misunderstand this theology's ideas. Rev. Wright is an authority figure who has gained trust, therefore he is "creative and thoughtprovoking"(Larue, 12) in his preachings. Thought-provoking indeed.

Works Cited:

1. The Heart of Black Preaching. LaRue, Cleophus J. Copyright 2000

2. Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Moyers, Bill. 25 April 2008. Billy Moyers Journal

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/profile.html

3. Pastors weigh in on Jeremiah Wright Controversy. The O'Reilly Factor. 17 March 2008.

Transcript from Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,339048,00.html