Wright: I'm 'descriptive,' not 'divisive'
DETROIT -- The Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., the outspoken former pastor of Barack Obama, told an audience of nearly 10,000 on Sunday that despite what his critics say, he is "descriptive," not "divisive" when he speaks about racial injustices.
"I describe the conditions in this country," Wright said during the Detroit NAACP's 53rd annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.
"I'm not here for political reasons. I'm not a politician. I know that fact will surprise many of you because many in the corporate-owned media made it seemed like I am running for the Oval Office. I am not running for the Oval Office. I've been running for Jesus a long, long time and I'm not tired yet."
Receiving a lengthy and loud standing ovation, Wright was following in the footsteps of Obama, President Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton with his address to the event, a $150-a-plate fundraiser billed as the largest sit-down dinner in America.
Obama distanced himself from Wright after publicity over the minister's sharp criticism of America's racial history and government policies.
The Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said at a press conference before the dinner he was excited to invite the "hottest brother in America right now."
"It just presented an opportunity for us to be able to set the record straight outside of any political consideration," Anthony said.
"Our nation is at a crossroads. Within our nation there are things we don't want to acknowledge. We have a hard time with the truth."
Wright is stepping down as pastor of the 6,000-member Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
In Dallas on Sunday morning, Wright gave a 45-minute sermon that included a reference to his "public crucifixion" for past comments from the pulpit, The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site.
Wright also received a standing ovation from the 4,000 worshippers at Friendship-West Baptist Church. He wove a gospel message with commentary about social justice, telling congregants to lean on God while standing up for themselves.
Wright became an issue in the presidential race in March after the circulation of videos of old sermons in which he accused the U.S. government of racism and accused it of flooding black neighborhoods with drugs.
In a sermon days after the Sept. 11 attacks, Wright said "America's chickens are coming home to roost" after it dropped atomic bombs on Japan and "supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans."
The videos, circulated widely on television and the Internet, knocked Obama's presidential campaign off-stride. The Illinois Democrat distanced himself from the comments of Wright, whom he has known for 20 years.
U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, said in remarks before Wright took the stage that he spoke with Obama about Sunday's event. "He wanted to come so badly," Conyers said.
The event drew many local and national clergy members and dignitaries, including Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and several members of the state's congressional delegation. Hollywood actors attending the dinner -- Vivica A. Fox, Anthony Anderson, Hill Harper and Morris Chestnut -- received large applause when they were introduced.
In an interview aired Friday on PBS, Wright said publicizing portions of old sermons was unfair and "made me the target of hatred."
Anthony said the local NAACP extended a hand to Wright to allow him a fair hearing acknowledging his 40-plus years in the ministry.
"I'm a clergyman. I'm a pastor," Anthony said. "It's about speaking truth to power. We must not allow anyone to dictate what can come from the pulpit of the African-American church -- any church."
Wright is scheduled to speak today at the National Press Club in Washington.