Sen. Barack Obama accomplished as much as he could to disavow and denounce the inflammatory remarks of his fiery former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Although most editorial editors and TV commentators initially praised the speech for helping to elevate a long-overdue conversation about race in American politics, this speech and attempts by some of his fiercest critics to paint him as the "black candidate" could ultimately cost Obama the presidency.
That's the tragic part of starting a much-needed conversation about race in America.
Race is a difficult topic to approach in American politics because the United States remains a very segregated society. As Obama stated eloquently in his speech, Sunday mornings are some of the most segregated hours in American life. Truth be told, the rest of the week is no better. Blacks, whites, Hispanics and Asians retreat to their largely ethnically homogenous communities after work -- unless you're one of those lucky ones who lives, as I do, in a culturally and ethnically rich community with the ability to cross lines.
Since Obama made his speech, political analysts and pundits have measured the reaction in two ways: They're
conducting surveys to see how Americans would react to both Wright's inflammatory rhetoric and Obama's explanation. Some are also digesting the vitriolic conversations on the 24-hour cable-news shows, the blogosphere and media Web sites to see whether any more nuance could be gleaned through the revelation that Obama might have not gone far enough in disowning his pastor.
Like sex, race spikes up the ratings. (Doubters need only remember two words: Simpson trial.) The media will not go back to celebrity watching or get into the sordid details of our economic woes while this Clinton-Obama drama unfolds with its rich cultural and misogynistic brew. Being one of those talking heads, I have to admit, the incessant conversation about race gave me the worst heartburn since hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
On the fifth anniversary of the exhaustive examination of the war in Iraq, do you know what dominated most cable shows, including the shows I am on weekly? Wrights' controversial sermons. Next year, when the American people are crying out for help, please visit a black church. Those preachers will speak to your pain and give you hope to wait another four long years.
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