The Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s strident comments revealed the dichotomous nature of African American patriotism: it is hard to love and trust a country that has intentionally inflicted so much pain on people of color. Man black people feel like it is hard to love a country that doesn’t always love Us.

Wright’s comments reveal the despair and boiling frustration of Black people who love this country, but don’t always love its polity, nationally or globally. Wright is not the first black person to suggest that 9/11 was divine retribution. He was speaking in a black church, a place we all thought was far from the scrutiny and analysis of CNN, and he felt no need to explain himself in an audience of people that looked like him and understood his intent. Looks like he was mistaken—he gets to bare the indignity of having his soundbites dragged before The Man for a ‘fair and balanced’ accounting.

The talk about Black patriotism—or lack thereof—is a barbershop or church pew-type of conversation, best reserved for places where you don’t find white people. Often the talk about America gets loud and angry. To be honest, it’s not the kind of talk ready for prime time. Many of us have been subject to racism and discrimination, sanctioned and not so, and our perspective of the America dream differs from other people in this country, for good or ill. It’s just the way it is. A lot of black people, even those who sign up for military service, are uneasy patriots. And I don’t know that we owe anyone an explanation for that.  Black people are entitled to the dignity of free thought . . . right?

*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express
the views of TV One.  TV One does not take responsibility for their content.

(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One.  TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)