Rev Wright finally speaks at Northwestern

November 7, 2008

Once the coast was clear and barry became the president-elect, Rev Wright headlined Northwestern's first "State of the Black Union Address" after an invitation by 'For Members Only', NU's black student alliance in part to make up for the retraction of Wright's honorary degree. Ironic who delivered it and who didn't. I wonder who was capturing live video for barry and what he and Wright said to each other when they met up this week. Would've loved to hear that. Ayers also made an appearance. Father Pfleger was most certainly there somewhere.

It was closed to the media but was reported on by the Daily Northwestern's NATHALIE TADENA (with Christina Chaey). Approximately 900 people attended, some from Wright's church who waited to fill the empty seats. Wright gave a 90 minute long speech: "Redeeming and Reclaiming our Community" including a Q & A. It was set up by Zachary Parker, Coordinator of Form Members Only, who reportedly developed a relationship with Wright after Wright was denied an honorary Doctorate of Sacred Theology in June because it would provide a distraction to commencement ceremonies. Parker's comments preceded Wright's.

Per TADENA:

Although the discussion focused on issues still present in the black community, the event was "an educational experience for the entire university," Parker said.

"From black to white to everyone in between, it was very important for these topics to be presented in an uplifting way," he said.

A little insight gained from the September 30th announcement (NorthbyNorthwestern's ALEX CAMPBELL & CHELSEA FINGER) of Wright's upcoming speech in the comment section. Not everyone was welcome. (emphasis added)

Parker: "This will be a GREAT event. All are welcome and everyone is encouraged to attend having an open mind....This will go down in history."

More from TADENA:

[Wright encouraged students to] "pursue a global perspective and acknowledge their culture in Northwestern's first State of the Black Union address Friday night."

"Please don't worry - I am not going to preach tonight," Wright said early in the For Members Only "State of the Black Union" keynote address, adding that he could differentiate between a sermon and an academic speech. "You can all exhale."

[He spoke about] the black liberation movement of the 1960s and historically black colleges and universities as part of his theme, "Redeeming and Reclaiming Our Community."

"There's a rupture in generational consciousness and generational understanding," Wright said. "We need to first teach our students, our children to teach their own stories and stop depending on others to tell their own stories."

His speech...drew laughter from a diverse audience in Cahn when Wright compared styles of worship from black and white churches and said that he had to pass examinations on classic literature "from Beowulf to Virginia Woolf" before he could study the black oral tradition.

"Take everything you learn in here back home to those who gave you birth," Wright said.

The retired Trinity United Church of Christ pastor spoke only briefly about the most famous former member of his congregation, President-elect Barack Obama, calling Obama's election "awesomely inspiring and history-making" and saying that he had supported Obama throughout the campaign, although the Illinois senator severed ties with Wright before the election.

"My family's getting lynched in the process," Wright said. "Never in the history of this country has there been a demonization of a person like I've been demonized."

Non-accidental choice of words. Never in the history of this country? An ego as large as barry's. It was his own words right out of his own raging mouth. Seems he reprised his Press Club presentation - Beowulf instead of Beethoven. Why must he ridicule white America to get his message across? Why not focus on the good in the black community? Why always the need to stress the division? How are non-blacks to bridge the divide when the black community chooses to keep the division alive? If the FMO really and truly wanted to get their message across, how better to do that than let members of the press in? Doesn't begin to pass the sniff test. Will videos and text be available, including the Q & A? If not, the message is clear.

Comments: Daily Northwestern's editorial, Ayers', event sponsor, For Members Only's, Zachary Parker and President, College Republicans, James D'Angelou. Background here, here, and here.

Ayers and Wright both spoke at Northwestern

November 10, 2008

I find it impossible to believe that Ayers met Wright for the first time on Nov 7th. They have the same ideas and they both know Father Pfleger, as well as Barry. Ayers was invited to speak for obvious reasons. Recall Parker's comment: "This will go down in history." For what? From the Daily Northwestern's NATHALIE TADENA. Not sure where we would have gotten any info if not for her. Bernadine Dohrn, Ayers' wife, is a professor at Northwestern Law School.

TADENA: Ayers, who now teaches at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said he met Wright for the first time Friday. "He has fought his whole life for justice, and I've just admired him," Ayers said.

In inviting Wright to speak on campus, FMO coordinator Zachary Parker said he hoped to "de-mystify stereotypes" surrounding Wright and his controversial remarks. He said inviting Ayers was "only fitting" because the media treated the two figures similarly.

After Friday night's event, Ayers had harsh words for the administration. He said Bienen made a "critical, critical decision" in uninviting Wright from commencement.

"What possible reason could they have except pressure by alumni, pressure by others?" Ayers said. "It's freedom of speech, freedom of thought. Without that, academics is dead."

He said he felt a "huge connection" to Wright.

"Both Rev. Wright and I were brought up as cartoon characters in this campaign because of disinformation and dishonest news," Ayers said. "I did not suffer as much as he did, but we both got out of it with a certain amount of dignity."

And Obama made it out with the presidency by distancing himself from them. How much did Barry respect freedom of speech of his compatriots? How can a man who is unrepentant about being a domestic terrorist use the word "dignity"?

When are people going to get past the issue of race as concerns Wright's statements? Yes, he raged at "White America" and at Obama's opponent who "ain't never been called a nigger" and he ridiculed Obama endorser "Colon Powell" and friend of one of the murdered girls in the Birmingham bombing "Con-damnesia Rice". But he preaches Black Liberation Theology from a black Nationalist Afro-centric church that rejects the United States flag for the Pan-African flag. What else would he be promoting at his "Unashamedly Black" Church? Imagine Senator McCain belonging to an "Unashamedly White" church for twenty years.

The Double Standard.

It was Wright's raging against the government, who created HIV/AIDS as a means of black genocide. (HIV/AIDS originated in Africa from eating/touching infected chimpanzees.) And his unbelievably disgusting comments on the Sunday after 9/11 that the government was responsible for the murder of 2973 innocent American citizens and foreign nationals that is the true evil in his rage. What he chooses to believe about Europeans and Africans is up to him. What a former marine says about his country is another matter, as is his connection to president-elect Obama. And the fact that people still believe Obama had no knowledge of Wright's beliefs never read his book: "Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream", which was based on Wright's speech about "white man's greed".

Wright's speech was "Redeeming and Reclaiming our Community"

Zachary Parker: Wright's speech a "huge success"

November 10, 2008

Comments by For Members Only's, Zachary Parker about Rev Wright's speech.

"State of the Black Union" was a huge success. Our goals were to provide the NU community with an educational event, providing key perspectives of the black community here at Northwestern.

...FMO stands in solidarity with Rev. Wright because of what he has meant and done for our community....the message that we were attempting to send by our invitation was simply that we as a community support Rev. Wright as a pillar and hero in our community.

Some have to get away from the idea that difference infers deficiency or that one's perspective on life, existence and reality represents that of everyone."

"Some"?

A different view of Wright's speech

November 10, 2008
Editorial in the Daily Northwestern re: Wright's speech

Presented with an opportunity to promote discussions of race, For Members Only's "State of the Black Union" on Friday failed to capitalize on it.

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, chosen as the keynote speaker, provided the star factor to attract attention to issues of race and diversity on campus. Wright delivered an insightful and often humorous speech Friday night in front of Cahn Auditorium.

The two student leaders who preceded him, however, chose to repeat divisive and tired attacks. Both Mark Crain and Zachary Parker, the past and present coordinators of FMO, ripped the university for only enrolling 81 black students in this year's freshman class.

"Let me not exaggerate and make this seem like a crisis for the university, because frankly it's only a crisis if you care," Crain said. He didn't mention repeated public statements by University President Henry Bienen and other administrators calling the low black enrollment a serious problem.

Parker talked about "racially insensitive financial aid packages that are awarded to students of color." He offered no specifics, neglecting to mention programs like QuestBridge and NU Ambassadors that target minority students.

We have previously called the university's low black student enrollment a disappointment. It is a complex issue that requires serious thought and cooperation between students and administrators.

Parker later said, "Now, I introduce to you all a new vibrant, politically conscious FMO that will no longer stand alone while our community disintegrates around us."

As NU's black student alliance, FMO should do just that. We hope it will work with other student groups to bring racial issues to the forefront in an open dialogue.

It would be nice to read/view the speech. I keep going back to Parker's comments: "This will go down in history."

View of Wright's upcoming visit to Northwestern

November 7, 2008

A view of Wright's visit by the President, College Republicans, JAMES D'ANGELO:

I believe there could be many additional lectures that the vast majority of NU students would learn something from. Here are the first five that come to mind:

1) The Causes of 9/11: "America's chickens are coming home to roost" -Jeremiah Wright, 9/16/2001

2) AIDS in America: "The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color" -Jeremiah Wright, 9/16/2001

3) America and Israel: "We supported Zionism shamelessly while ignoring the Palestinians" -Jeremiah Wright, 1/15/2006

4) America's Exceptionalism: "Not God Bless America, God Damn America." -Jeremiah Wright, 4/13/03

5) Race Relations in America: "'U.S. of KKK-Azzzzz' -Jeremiah Wright, 9/16/2001

He's proven to FMO he can 'Redeem and Reclaim our Community' with these unifying and inspiring quotations.

Wright to speak at Northwestern afterall

October 1, 2008

Rev Wright to speak at Northwestern three days after the election. No word if he will ever get that honorary degree once promised him. He will be hosted by "For Members Only", a black alliance group on the campus. When the whole retraction went down, Zachary Parker from FMO was vocal in his disapproval. What else could Northwestern do? The graduating class would have been distracted by all the press and who knows what Wright would have come up with to entertain them. The main event was the graduation - not the bestowing of the honorary degree. I'm sure he'll get it next year.

In the article Parker believes the controversy surrounding Wright will still be an issue and in the comments below the article he writes: "This will go down in history." I sincerely doubt that. Unless Wright makes an appearance before Barry wins the election it will be an asterisk - no matter what he says in his speech. The timing is not at all curious either. Wright will be in town anyway for barry's victory party.

From NorthbyNorthwestern's ALEX CAMPBELL & CHELSEA FINGER

[Wright] will deliver the keynote speech at FMO's State of the Black Union, which puts forth the slogan "Redeeming and Reclaiming our Community."

"We are making the statement that the black community at Northwestern still supports and defends Jeremiah Wright regardless of the university's actions towards him," Parker said.

Northwestern's Vice President for University Relations Al Cubbage said that the university would not interfere with FMO's choice of speaker.

"NU organizations are allowed to invite anyone they want, and the university supports this opportunity that they are providing," Cubbage said. "I don't think anybody perceived the event as going against the university."

"Humbled and honored," Wright responded to FMO's invitation.

Now we wait and see if Wright can contain himself long enough to let his disciple become the first African American president of the USA.

Wright controversy continues at Northwestern

Zachary Parker, Coordinator of For Members Only, the Black Student Alliance is protesting and attempting to get Wright's honorary degree reinstated. Never gona happen and there is one person on the planet that will be very happy it doesn't: barry. The last thing he needs is Wright popping back up again. It took him long enough to distance himself as it was. And it took Wright's mentioning that barry gave the speech out of political expedience. The pastor knows his congregant.

May 11, 2008
Open letter from Zachary Parker to Northwestern University President Henry Bienen

FMO's Reinstatement petition

UPDATE: September 30, 2008
NorthByNorthwesterns' Alex Campbell and Chelsea Finger

Bienen wrote, "It is not Dr. Wright's views per se or the controversial nature of them that led us to rescind his invitation for an honorary degree. Rather, we want Commencement to be a focus on graduating students and their parents and families and we do not want Commencement overwhelmed by controversy."

UPDATE: November 10
Wright & Ayers spoke at FMO sponsored event. Still no honorary degree. Wright behaved himself long enough for Barry to be elcted 44th President of the United States.

Wright: No honorary degree from Northwestern

May 1, 2008

Because of Wright's comments and because of the distraction the media would bring, Wright will not be receiving the Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Theology degree at Northwestern. He brought it on himself and forced Northwestern's hand. I'm sure it will only be temporary.

Official statement:Alan K. Cubbage, Northwestern University, Vice President for University Relations

Dr. Wright was quoted as saying that his invitation to receive an honorary degree was withdrawn by Northwestern President Henry Bienen because Dr. Wright "wasn't patriotic enough." If Dr. Wright was quoted accurately, that statement is not true. In his conversation and correspondence with Dr. Wright in March, President Bienen never characterized Dr. Wright's views or made a judgment about them. The letter said, "In light of the controversy surrounding statements made by you that have recently been publicized, the celebratory character of Northwestern's commencement would be affected by our conferring of this honorary degree.

UPDATE (11-10-08) Both Wright & Ayers spoke at Northwestern (11-7)