Michelle Malkin » About that race-based benediction: “When white will embrace what is right”

About that race-based benediction: “When white will embrace what is right”

By Michelle Malkin • January 20, 2009 01:33 PM

Juan Williams got emotional over Rev. Joseph Lowery’s impassioned benediction, and marveled over the former NAACP head’s personal journey from ’60s civil rights leader to Obama benediction leader.

No question, Rev. Lowery has led a remarkable life.

But the benediction’s eloquence was marred by glib racialism.

Lowery got big cheers when he weaved in a weird prayer rap expressing his hope for a future in which the “brown would stick around,” the “yellow would be mellow,” the “red man would get ahead, man,” and the “white would embrace the right.”

The “white would embrace the right?”

Who wrote that line? Jeremiah Wright? And what would Obama’s grandparents and mother have to say?

Like I said last night: Feel the post-racialism!

***

Allah’s got the vid.

The full paragraph:

“We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right,” Lowery said.

A reader points to this old civil rights chant that adds context to Lowery’s remarks — but makes the jab against whites all the more egregious:

Big Bill Broonzy Black, Brown And White lyrics

This little song that i’m singin’ about,
People you know it’s true
If you’re black and gotta work for a living,
This is what they will say to you,
They says, “if you was white, should be all right,
If you was brown, stick around,
But as you’s black, hmm brother, get back, get back, get back”
I was in a place one night
They was all having fun
They was all buyin’ beer and wine,
But they would not sell me none
They said, “if you was white, should be all right,
If you was brown, stick around,
But if you black, hmm brother, get back, get back, get back”
Me and a man was workin’ side by side
This is what it meant
They was paying him a dollar an hour,
And they was paying me fifty cent
They said, “if you was white, ‘t should be all right,
If you was brown, could stick around,
But as you black, hmm boy, get back, get back, get back”
I went to an employment office,
Got a number ‘n’ i got in line
They called everybody’s number,
But they never did call mine
They said, “if you was white, should be all right,
If you was brown, could stick around,
But as you black, hmm brother, get back, get back, get back”
I hope when sweet victory,
With my plough and hoe
Now i want you to tell me brother,
What you gonna do about the old jim crow?
Now if you was white, should be all right,
If you was brown, could stick around,
But if you black, whoa brother, get back, get back, get back

***
Left-wing blogger dubs Lowery a “rock star.”

Posted in: Barack Obama

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#597924

On January 20th, 2009 at 9:56 pm, greenfairie said:

I told you so, America!
#597948

On January 20th, 2009 at 10:24 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

On January 20th, 2009 at 4:35 pm, Straight_Talk_Luigi said:

I’m more than one race, so where do I fit in?

We are all one race – one human race.
#597949

On January 20th, 2009 at 10:24 pm, right_on said:

Did anyone notice, besides this racist comment, how “black” the inauguration celebration was?

Actually, I didn’t. I’ve practiced being color blind for over forty years, despite the left’s efforts to make me accept diversity.

If today’s inauguration is an indication of modern diversity, then the intended meaning of that word has changed from “differences” to “division.” As long as black racism exists, Obama’s call for us to be a “Nation of One People” will never bear fruit.
#597957

On January 20th, 2009 at 10:35 pm, chapoutier said:

I’m feeling super punchy on hope, so here’s another shout out to all you commenters suffering out there.

There once was a President called O.
Was questioned by a Plumber named Joe.
Joe tried to expose
A wolf in sheep’s clothes.
But McCain was the shepherd they chose.
#597958

On January 20th, 2009 at 10:35 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

Obama and his followers really should order and watch this DVD:

Only One Race.
#597962

On January 20th, 2009 at 10:38 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

On January 20th, 2009 at 10:35 pm, chapoutier said:

Joe tried to expose
A wolf in sheep’s clothes.

You and I actually agree on something?
#597964

On January 20th, 2009 at 10:40 pm, chapoutier said:

LOL, Redpill.

Unintentional, but I will be sure to share whatever residuals I make from the poem.
#597973

On January 20th, 2009 at 10:53 pm, Lowly Knave said:

Michelle- Gateway has the Reverend as the same guy that insulted the president at Coretta Scott King’s funeral. He turned it into a Wellstone memorial.
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2006/02/again-democrats-prove-nothing-is.html
#597979

On January 20th, 2009 at 10:59 pm, TK-421 said:

I’m getting sick of this crap, I’m white and I got it made? Oh I can’t be from a poor family, I can’t be just getting buy and needing to struggle in parts of my life. Heck I’m wrong as I’m white, I’m racist as I’m white.

I am sick of this racial identy BULL CRAP. I have more in common culterally with Asians, Heck my wife is Chinese and I see my self as a member of the human race well before skin color. And what of my Skin color I have mongolian and Native American ancestory thats in my blood line but doesn’t show on my skin. No Mister Lowery IT IS YOU WHO IS THE RACIST, IT IS YOU who deny people are people first, but rather color first, it is people like you who stigmitize whites for stuff done well over 100 hundred years ago AND WHO MANY WHITES DIED TO STOP.

It is people like you who my nephew is stared at and preassured to pick is he white or black, it is people like you who stare at me for having an asian wife. And that along many other things there will be a reconing and what ever god there is may they have mercy on your soul, I for sure never would.
#597989

On January 20th, 2009 at 11:11 pm, CO2 Producer said:

Thanks again, Marie. I’ll try not to let the nice words go to my head too much.

And whoever is writing limericks under chapoutier’s moniker, release the poor soul. Begone, you filthy demon. Several hosts at MSNBC are more worthy of your possession.

Good night, folks.
#597993

On January 20th, 2009 at 11:16 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

On January 20th, 2009 at 4:04 pm, Jet Jaguar said:

As a Christian, who happens to be “white”, I have embraced what is right, the Lord Jesus. When are the leftists going to do the same? And besides, in Christ there is no more red, yellow, black, or white, male, female, Jew, Gentile and all the rest. Why is the left focusing on those labels? Answer: because they aren’t in Christ.

Amen to that!
#598005

On January 20th, 2009 at 11:31 pm, DigitalCameras said:

Thank you for covering this Michelle. As soon as I heard that I couldn’t believe it (well, given Obama’s history and acquaintances, it wasn’t a surprise at all). I was wondering if I was the only one who would catch it, but I’m glad you and other bloggers are highlighting this disgusting comment.
#598037

On January 21st, 2009 at 12:43 am, RetFireman said:

Since the day Jimmy Carter took the Oath of Office back in 1976, and walked the length of the way from the Capital to the White House as a way to “Conserve fuel because of the fuel shortages”, which even I, as a lad of only 8 years old, saw as making absolutely no sense since his car had to follow behind him anyway, saving not one drop of gas, until the Inauguration of George W. Bush a mere four years ago, I have not missed a single Inauguration of a President. I even stayed home from school in 1985 to watch as President Reagan took the oath for the second time a mere 3 months from when I was fortunate enough to stand on the lawn of the California State Capital and listen to him give an incredible speech…the very thing that made me a life-long Conservitive, despite my very, very poor childhood.

That is, until today. I refused to watch a single second of this abomination. I refused to watch the hypocrisy of the expense. I refused to watch the man lie under oath, with his hand on the very Bible that the people he represents and who voted him into office spit on and denounce, who ridicule and insult and mock those who read and do their best to follow the words written therein. I refused to watch a man who has absolutely no business even being on that dias taking that oath to begin with, and feel now more than ever that this entire event will be proven to be illegal from the start.

I have, however, read the reports of what took place today, and can honestly say that I am not surprised in the least by any of it. Whether it was his supporters and those who eagerly, anxiously elected this Socialist booing, mocking, and laughing at Vice President Cheney for being in a wheelchair after injuring himself moving, the way they acted like drunken sophomores at a football game singing to President Bush, once more demonstrating their complete and utter inability to behave in a civil manner, even at this nations most cherished event.

I was not surprised in the least to hear how he was unable to take the Oath of Office without screwing it up and conveniently omitting words which will keep him safe should he be made accountable for that oath. The words he ended up uttering changed the Oath completely. (Watch as that comes up at some point in the future and how he uses it.)

I read his speech and was left wondering just where he has been living for the last few years. Obama’s America is NOT my America. I was not living in the same dismal, horrendous, miserable country he apparently has been living in. That speech did not inspire. It did not leave people with a sense of hope. It did not bring people to love their country, and it most definitely DID NOT bring this country together and work towards bridging gaps between Right and Left, old and young etc. Instead it left the reader as well as the listener scratching their head, wondering what the hell he was talking about.

The “Benediction” was horrendous as well as insulting. It followed a poem that made no sense, and kept with the same 40 year themes that have kept people from moving forward.

It insulted me, my family and my friends. It was an attack. It was offensive. If that is the way that President Barack Hussein Obama feels, how he views the people of this country and how he views religion, then he is no Christian as he claims, but is nothing more than the man Rev. Wright has claimed all along, a man who most certainly sat in that pew for 20 years listening to how Whitey is evil and has done nothing but keep “the brother man down”.

This is “hope”? This is “change”? This is the best that this country has to offer itself as well as the rest of the Free World?

My friends, I am, for the very first time in my life, most certainly disappointed in the people of this country, the greed, avarice and laziness it took to elect this man and the ignorance as well as plain stupidity of those who, while still calling themselves Republican or worse, Conservative, have jumped on the “bandwagon” of this naked emperor.

This should have been a proud day for this nation, the peaceful changing of leaders…an event envied throughout the globe…but instead it was nothing more than a 3 ring circus with Obama as the Ring Master and the MSM as the fools drinig and filling the clown car.
#598042

On January 21st, 2009 at 12:53 am, RabbidSquirrel said:

If today’s inauguration is an indication of modern diversity,

Based on how the black establishment has historically has treated almost every person of color who become successful in politics

I would have to say evey Uncle Tom came out of the woodwork today. Who knew???

(dont judge… ive never read the book and I only indirectly have idea of its meaning. and thats only because blacks call other blacks that name)
#598047

On January 21st, 2009 at 1:11 am, Jet Jaguar said:

On January 21st, 2009 at 12:43 am, RetFireman said:

RT, I completely sympathize… Let’s just hope and pray that the weight of history presses down on Obama to slow his agenda, and that the momentum of our Manifest Destiny will blunt, minimize, and repudiate the plans of Obama and the leftists. We should pray that God would change this man’s heart to do right by the Constitution and the intentions of the Founders. I also pray for the true Sons and Daughters of this Nation to stand watch and be ready to sound the alarm and act if one more inch of our Liberty is claimed by the enemies of our Constitution.

God, please give us the passion to care, the conviction to speak out for Truth, the courage to act, and faith to know that you are in control.
#598070

On January 21st, 2009 at 1:45 am, RetFireman said:

My 17 year old daughter came to me tonight, just after I posted this…though no relation to it…and was genuinely concerned. She is just now learning about the rise of Hitler in Germany, and has, over the last week or so, come to see the parallels. She is not exactly as politically savvy as I would wish, and so I then spent the next half hour showing her several things, such as the Obama youth videos…the one with the small children singing to their leader, followed by avideo of German children doing the same in their classrooms. She even noted that the two songs were very similar in wording, tone and even in the way the tune was carried. I showed her next the Obama youth Militant guys, the ones in the black t-shirts, camo pants, boots etc. This really worried her as well, and especially as she began to relate it to what is being said in her own school.

She asked me if I thought there would eventually be chaos created by all of this.

All I could tell her was, “When you have a President that does not allow dissent, where anyone who questions him, questions his beliefs, questions his ideas, and who does not follow the “Party Line” is called and labeled a “racist”, which stifles any and all dissent and questions since no one wants such a label as well as all that it involves…what do you think?”

She then shook her head and went to bed.

I am not a conspiricy person in the least. I am a person who mocks those types. I have also spent many years laughing at a neighbor I had who has a small arsenal in his home and who is a “fear the govt.” type. However, I have taken to making sure I will never need worry that I am short of ammunition, nor weapons. Can’t explain it. Just a feeling I have been getting for a while now.
#598140

On January 21st, 2009 at 7:51 am, crushliberalism said:

Nothing says “unity” quite like race-baiting on Day One, no?

I guess that affiliation with Rev. Wright wasn’t exactly an anomaly, was it?
#598159

On January 21st, 2009 at 8:25 am, Kevin K. said:

RabbidSquirrel said: (#189)

(Don’t judge… I’ve never read the book and I only indirectly have idea of its meaning. And that’s only because blacks call other blacks that name.)

RobbidSquirrel, it’s a good book. I read it many years ago, so I don’t remember a lot of details. But I do remember that I ended up reading it for the story, not because it was an important book. My recollection is that Uncle Tom was actually pretty noble. His character, I think, has been distorted.
#598164

On January 21st, 2009 at 8:30 am, Kevin K. said:

Minor note: I think chapoutier was indeed filled with “hope” yesterday as he told us a couple of days ago that he would be. Yet, I detect a note of disquiet in his verse. Maybe we have gotten to him?

More significant note: I agree with several of you that there is indeed only one race, the human race. Race baiting and divisions based on skin color should have been over YEARS ago–as Dr. King hoped for. Messrs Lowry, Jackson, Sharpton et al are race baiting shake-down artists who don’t deserve the title “reverened”, except in the very narrow sense that they may have taken the appropriate major in college. (They certainly didn’t learn what any of it meant.)
#598574

On January 21st, 2009 at 3:06 pm, frostrt said:

On January 20th, 2009 at 3:52 pm, fmfnavydoc said:
Why do the Donks/Civil Right people still fight the Civil War? Both sides of my family came over to this country after the war! Does that make me guilty of what their ancestors went through during slavery? And, if I recall, weren’t the Donks a proponent of slavery for years, well before the Civil War???

————————————–

You bring up a few interesting points:

1. Slavery did not begin, and sadly, did not end with the founding of the U.S. But, somehow, in the eyes of men like this, we get all of the blame for our involvement in it and none of the credit for whatever part we played in ending it (as far as outlawing it in this country).

2. How many whites here now are directly descended from someone who owned slaves/faught with the Confederate Army? More of us probably come from people who arrived here long after the Civil War. In any case, we deserve no credit or blame for anything any of our long-ago anscestors may have done.

3. What if someone can prove that someone in their family faught for the Union, that no one in their family ever owned a slave, that their family (going back to my previous point) was not even here yet during the Civil War? They still have to literally pay for the past?

Reparations is a stupid and unfair idea all around.
#600265

On January 23rd, 2009 at 12:44 am, Alan K. Henderson said:

I was willing to give Lowery the benefit of a doubt, to write this off as a Trent Lott moment where he tried to be nice to someone but used words that unintentionally conveyed a very not-nice message – a belief that the dominant culture really hasn’t accepted Dr. King’s dream. But I didn’t realize that he was the same guy who used the occasion of the Coretta Scott King funeral to deliver that political tirade against the President (who was in attendance).
#604447

On January 28th, 2009 at 9:00 am, Jason L. said:

Didn’t a majority of whites help elect Barack Obama? Shouldn’t that be considered a “right act” for ‘whitey’? This pastor’s benediction may turn some of them off…..
#604451

On January 28th, 2009 at 9:03 am, Jason L. said:

On January 20th, 2009 at 3:52 pm, fmfnavydoc said:
Why do the Donks/Civil Right people still fight the Civil War? Both sides of my family came over to this country after the war! Does that make me guilty of what their ancestors went through during slavery? And, if I recall, weren’t the Donks a proponent of slavery for years, well before the Civil War???

————————————–

You bring up a few interesting points:

1. Slavery did not begin, and sadly, did not end with the founding of the U.S. But, somehow, in the eyes of men like this, we get all of the blame for our involvement in it and none of the credit for whatever part we played in ending it (as far as outlawing it in this country).

2. How many whites here now are directly descended from someone who owned slaves/faught with the Confederate Army? More of us probably come from people who arrived here long after the Civil War. In any case, we deserve no credit or blame for anything any of our long-ago anscestors may have done.

3. What if someone can prove that someone in their family faught for the Union, that no one in their family ever owned a slave, that their family (going back to my previous point) was not even here yet during the Civil War? They still have to literally pay for the past?

Reparations is a stupid and unfair idea all around.
—frostrt
_______________________________________

These people, too, forget that blacks in the South — both slave and free — willingly chose to pick up weapons, don the Grey Uniform, and defend the South from the Union Armies. The black man who was going to the front lines in Gone with the Wind — Scarlett O’Hare’s slave? He was an example of thousands….