I love my President. I listened intently to his most recent
and thoughtful eulogy.
After listening, I texted several of my close ministry colleagues and
contemplated my thoughts, weighed my emotions and considered how to respond (if
at all). Through my (cyber) dialogue with them (which will continue in the days
to come), I have come to applaud and appreciate how POTUS drew upon the best
and most redemptive ideas, tropes and
themes of the African American Religious experience. The Black Churches
attributes of faith, hope, love and justice came shining through. President Obama was careful and thoughtful to
highlight what the Black Church has persevered through and has come to mean to
the faithful and to our communities writ large. Mr. President became “Mr.
Preacher” (as we call those in the Black Church who become associated with the
ability to inform and inspire from the pulpit platform). Bishop Barack stood squarely in the African
American preaching tradition as he called the names of the nine victims who were murder at “Mother Emanuel,” honored the family, and
lifted up the life, love, and legacy of the late Rev. Clementa Pinckney.
I also understand the ubiquitous platform whereby the
President stood. He is, after all, the leader of the American empire. To that
end, there were also a few things that drew my concern and attention. POTUS did
not speak directly about how the cultural production of white supremacy has
created an environment whereby even those raised in a “post-racial society” can
carry out racial terrorism. Furthermore, the President explicitly stated,
"[THE KILLER] DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS BEING USED BY GOD." I cringed.
As a public speaker who veers from my printed manuscript, I
understand extemporaneous impulses and the dangers (and benefits) thereof. I'm
not sure if POTUS prepared this statement or merely just, "went with
it." Nevertheless, this statement coupled with a few others bordered on
theological shortsightedness and misrepresentation. The “Reverend President” and
Theologian-In-Chief ought to have, like all of us who attempt to articulate
divine insight through human instruments, room to err. I grant him that. POTUS also can, like all of us, be subject to
loving critiques (like the one I’m attempting to offer here).
The evoking of “grace” as a theme was present throughout the
eulogy and rang true to the tenets of the Black Church historically. The grace
we have extended and encountered is nothing short of “Amazing” (as was the
movement led by POTUS to invite the congregation to celebrate in song as he
led “in tune”). We love it and live it. And yes, the President called out very
relevant topics of mass incarceration, poverty (a word many of his critics tried
to condemn him for not saying), America’s “original sin” (racism), and the
inadequacies of our current social structure.
Yet, the type of grace POTUS asked us to extend (which is indeed part of
the Gospel mandate) has the potential to border on cheap. Bill Maher asked, “Should we forgive them so quickly?” Maher went on to suggest that right wingers
like Fox News may use the Charleston Massacre as a means of condemning any
(black) victims who don’t forgive “like the good people of Charleston did.” Is there space in the Presidential rhetoric
of tragedy to affirm black rage? Can
black folks both sincerely forgive and be sincerely angry? It is not a far reach to surmise that POTUS
requested that Black victims employ grace to a violent white supremacist in
ways POTUS himself is reluctant or unwilling to extend to Islamic Jihadists
like ISIS. Again, he is the leader of
the American Empire. I get it!
I also get our conflicting and complex relationship with
civil religion. For instance, many of
those who bought POTUS’s eulogy wholesale as the sermonic second coming, spent
the same morning condemning the SCOTUS ruling on Marriage Equality that POTUS has been championing for a few
years now. I can understand (and to some
degree appreciate) the support and critique from both sides of the congregational
aisle. What I hope we can all glean from
this is the need for us to pay close attention to the ways in which rhetorical
theology – the association with and appropriation of
religious rhetoric as a means of theological, political and/or social affirmation
and persuasion – and our political
leader’s religious sensibilities can do us harm or good. It is ultimately up to us to study and show
ourselves approved.
-Rev. Earle J. Fisher
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