Emory Beal

Hermitage

Recently there has been a great amount of news coverage of the comments made by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the pastor of the church Barack Obama belonged to for many years in Chicago. Looking back over the history of our nation relative to the black race, I am ashamed that slavery, segregation, and a myriad of discriminatory practices have been imposed on black America over time. This holocaust should never be forgotten.

In Philadelphia Obama gave a brilliant speech regarding race relations. There was a clear message that yes the black community had experienced discrimination and prejudice in a very horrible way; but this reminder of the past and all the transgressions should not hinder change. We must not stifle change.

I look upon the electoral mandate that the American people have given to Obama as a powerful indication that we have moved away from discrimination, prejudice, and racial inequality. The millions of people who have voted for Barack in the primaries, a majority being white, are saying by their vote that they are willing to accept a black man as their president. This black man possibly ascending to the most powerful political position on the face of the earth, is without a doubt very reassuring. It says to me we have taken a step forward and moved beyond the past. This indeed is a moment in history that is unprecedented.

I regret that the Rev. Wright has opened the wounds of the past instead of acknowledging the ray of hope as indicative of the consensus of the American electorate. I pray that all close supporters of Obama and especially African-American leaders will speak up in terms of what seems so very apparent and allow us all to heal by coming together as Americans exemplifying unity. Let us not fall back into the abyss of hatred. May we all have hope that we have ascended, in our inner selves to the recognition of the equality of all races.