Did Rev. Lowery Just Go All “White Devil” On Me?
Like so many others I was in the moment, proud of my country, proud of Barack Obama lost in thoughts of, “Could this really be the beginning of a different era?” Then the Rev. Joseph Lowery took the podium to deliver the benediction and his voice, so full of age and wisdom and the experience of battles fought and lost and won – and today’s backdrop of a huge battle won – and he began:
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou, who has brought us thus far along the way, thou, who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee.
There was history and tone and rhythmn – I was coming under the pastor’s spell – what a great way to end the ceremony of the day.
Then there was a surprise. The pastor got a little more giddy-up going and I think I saw a twinkle in his eye. He sounded downright cool when he said:
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around … when yellow will be mellow … when the red man can get ahead, man; …
He smiled, and I was smiling – “when the red man can get ahead, man;” – and I’m thinking what rhymes with “white?” And the pastor finished:
… and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.
And … my smile faded. My eyebrows arched, I muttered a “Hmphh.” I guess bein’ white, ole Pastor Joe thinks I don’t have any moral sense. And, if I’m not mistaken, I think he just put together a construction that lines up the browns, the blacks and reds and yellows on one side and the unrighteous white man on the other.
On this day of celebrating an American step forward, Joe Lowery seemed to be thinking in the past.
Transcript: Rev. Joseph Lowery Benediction | Obama Inauguration | January 20, 2009
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou, who has brought us thus far along the way, thou, who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee.
Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand true to thee, oh God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we’ve shared this day.