Jeremiah Wright

• Born: 22 September 1941
• Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Best Known As: Estranged former pastor of Barack Obama

Jeremiah Wright was pastor and spiritual advisor to Barack Obama until the two became estranged during the 2008 presidential campaign over Wright's controversial sermons and public remarks. The media frenzy that contributed to the rift came after Wright had already retired as pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's tough South Side, where he had served since 1972 and where Obama had embraced Christianity as a young community organizer in 1988. A scholarly, fiery, gifted African American preacher, Wright was not afraid over the years to criticize U.S. culture and government. In March 2008, a month after his retirement, a handful of video clips featuring strident excerpts from his sermons found their way into television campaign coverage and were aired repeatedly. In one, Wright said America deserved God's damnation for its hostility toward its own poor and toward other nations. Obama at first defended Wright's "prophetic" voice and Trinity's impressive record of community service under his leadership. But the candidate eventually distanced himself from the pastor, most forcefully after Wright's feisty April 2008 performance under questioning at the National Press Club. Obama resigned his Trinity membership in June 2008, and was elected president that November. Wright's title at Trinity is "pastor emeritus."

Wright served in the U.S. Marines (1961-63), finished U.S. Navy corpsman's school in 1963, and was a cardiopulmonary technician at the U.S. Navy Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland (1963-67), where he served on a medical team attending to President Lyndon Johnson... He studied at Virginia Union University (1959-61) and, after military service, at Howard University (1967-1969), where he earned B.A. and M.A. degrees. He earned another master's degree at the University of Chicago Divinity School (1975) and a D.Min. at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio (1990)... Born and raised Baptist, he was first licensed to preach while a freshman in college and later received standing as an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ... His five children are a daughter, Jamila, with his wife, the Rev. Ramah Reed Wright; two adult daughters, Janet and Jeri, from a previous marriage (Wright and his first wife, Janet, divorced in 1978); and two adult step-children, Nikol and Nathan, from Ramah's first marriage (she and Delmer Reed divorced in 1983).

minister (clergy)

Personal Information

Born on September 22, 1941, in Philadelphia, PA; son of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Sr. and Dr. Mary Henderson Wright; married Ramah Reed; children: Janet Marie, Jeri Lynne, Nikol, Nathan, Jamila
Education: Virginia Union University, 1959-61; Howard University, BA, 1968, MA, 1969; University of Chicago School of Divinity, MA, 1975; United Theological Seminary, DMin, Black Sacred music, 1990.
Religion: United Church of Christ.
Military/Wartime Service: U.S. Marine Corps, private first class, 1961-63; U.S. Navy, hospital corpsman third class, 1964-67.
Memberships:
Selected: Ministers for Racial and Social Justice, United Church of Christ, 1972-; Black Theology Project, Board of Directors, 1975-95; Evangelical Health Systems, Board of Directors, 1986-89; Chicago Theological Seminary, Board of Trustees, 1999-2000; Virginia Union University, Board of Trustees, 2001-.

Career

Zion Church, interim pastor, 1968-69; Beth Eden Church, assistant pastor, 1969-1971; American Association of Theological Schools, researcher, 1970-72; Trinity United Church of Christ, pastor 1972-. Chicago Center for Black Religious Studies, executive director, 1974-75; Chicago Cluster of Theological Schools, lecturer, 1975-77; United Theological Seminary, professor, 1991-97; Chicago Theological Seminary, professor, 1998; Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, professor, 1999.

Life's Work

Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. is one of the most widely acclaimed black preachers in the United States. Combining social concern, spiritual growth, and political activism, Wright, who preaches in a black traditional style, brings a message of hope, redemption, and renewal. In 1972 he became pastor of a small United Church of Christ congregation in the inner city of Chicago. After over 30 years in the pulpit, his congregation has grown to 10,000 and is the largest United Church of Christ congregation in the United States.

Wright was born on September 22, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Sr. and Dr. Mary Henderson Wright. His parents were his earliest influences, instilling in him a deep religious faith and a strong, positive image of his African-American culture. His father, who served as the pastor of Grace Baptist Church for 62 years was one of the first African Americans to receive a degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, earning a master of sacred theology degree in 1949. Wright was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia.

In 1959 Wright enrolled at Virginia Union University, in Richmond, where he remained until 1961. That year he left school to join the military. He served in the Second Marine Division of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1961 to 1963, achieving the rank of private first class. In 1963 he graduated as valedictorian from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, and from 1964 to 1967, he served as a cardio pulmonary technician at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. During 1965 and 1966, he was awarded with three Presidential Commendations from President Lyndon B. Johnson.

After his discharge from the military, Wright continued his education. He enrolled at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1967, and was awarded a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a master's degree in 1969. He then entered the University of Chicago Divinity School, receiving a master of arts degree in 1975. He ended his formal education in 1990 when he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in black sacred music from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

While continuing his studies, Wright also began making forays into a career in the ministry. Between 1968 and 1971 he served short-term stints first as interim pastor and then as an associate pastor. From 1970 to 1972 he was a researcher for the American Association of Theological Schools. He was also a columnist for Chicago's Independent Bulletin during 1972. Then, on March 1, 1972, 31-year-old Wright was hired as the pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, a position he continues to hold.

When Wright joined the staff of Trinity United Church of Christ as senior pastor, the inner city church boasted just 87 active members, most of whom came from the neighborhood surrounding the church. Wright embraced his new congregation and took up the phrase coined by his predecessor Rev. Dr. Reuben Sheares, "Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian." Within months the church had adopted the phrase as its motto and vision. Under Wright's leadership, fueled by his passion, and motivated by his preaching, the congregation began to grow by leaps and bounds. By 2004 there were over 10,000 members, with people coming from across the metro area. The congregation, which proudly notes its diverse socio-economic mix, dedicated a new 2,700 worship center in 1997.

According to Wright, the Christian call extends in two directions: upward to God and outward to the community. As a result, Wright takes seriously the need to reach out to others, especially Chicago's inner-city residents. Trinity has 70 ministry programs, 22 of which target youth. Half of the programs target the community, including adult education, literacy, computer, child care, and education for unemployed or low-income families. For Wright, religion, social outreach, and political activism go hand in hand. He vocally opposed the U.S. involvement in Iraq beginning in 2003 and has tackled such previously taboo issues such as AIDS from the pulpit.

As Wright's reputation grew as a powerful and dynamic preacher in the black sermonic tradition who incorporated music, politics, and social issues into his sermons, he became a sought-after lecturer and preacher. In 1993 he was named second on Ebony's list of the top black preachers in North America. Once admitting that he had considered a career as a seminary professor, Wright satisfied his desire to teach by accepting invitations to lecture and teach at numerous universities and seminaries. He first stepped in front of a classroom in 1974 as an adjunct professor at Chicago Theological Seminary. In 1975 he was an adjunct professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and from 1976 to 1992 he served as an adjunct professor for the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education. He has also taught courses at United Theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago.

Wright has authored several books, including Africans Who Shaped Our Faith, Good News! Sermons of Hope for Today's Families, and What Makes You So Strong? Sermons of Joy and Strength from Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. According to Cleophus J. LaRue in The Heart of Black Preaching, in his title sermon of What Makes You So Strong, Wright "demonstrates the power of the mighty sovereign at work in the lives of black people in twentieth century America. This sermon focuses on the root of black strength and survivability. Wright makes it clear throughout the sermon that the source of all strength, and especially black strength, is none other than the Spirit of God." As in his preaching, in his writing Wright focuses on the dual issues of corporate concern and spiritual sustenance. His latest publication, What Can Happen When We Pray: A Daily Devotional, was published in 2002.

In recognition of his contributions, Wright has been awarded seven honorary doctoral degrees. He has also served on a number of boards and commissions, including serving on the board of trustees for Virginia Union University and Chicago Theological Seminary. He continues to be a highly sought after preacher, teacher, and lecturer.

Awards

Selected: Howard University, Dean's List, 1968; The Fund for Theological Education, Rockefeller Fellowship, 1970-75; three Presidential Commendations from L.B. Johnson, 1965-66.

Works

Selected works

• What Makes You So Strong? Sermons of Joy and Strength from Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. (ed. by Jini Kilgore Ross), Judson Press, 1993.
• Good News! Sermons of Hope for Today's Families (ed. by Jini Kilgore Ross), Judson Press, 1995.
• (With Colleen Birchett) Africans Who Shaped Our Faith, Urban Ministries, 1995.
• From One Brother to Another: Voices of African American Men (ed. by William J. Key and Robert Johnson-Smith II), Judson Press, 1996.
• (With Frank Madison Reid III and Colleen Birchett) When Black Men Stand Up for God : Reflections on the Million Man March, African American Images, 1996.
• Great Preachers: Jeremiah Wright (VHS recording), Odyssey Productions, 1998.
• Let Your Will Be Done (sound recording, with the Trinity United Church of Christ Sanctuary Choir), 2001.
• What Can Happen When We Pray: A Daily Devotional, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 2002.

Further Reading

Books

• LaRue, Cleophus J., The Heart of Black Preaching, John Knox Press, 2000.
• Sadler, Kim Martin, ed. Atonement: The Million Man March, The Pilgrim Press, 1996.
• Who's Who Among African Americans, 16th ed., Gale Group, 2003.

• The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, MI), June 22, 2002, p. B4.

• "Jeremiah Wright's Good News: God Triumph Overcomes Seas of Troubles," The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, www.ltsp.edu/news/2002-2003/0303power_wright.htm (April 6, 2004).
• "Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr." The HistoryMakers: ReligionMakers, www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=331&category=religionMakers (April 6, 2004).
• "Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.," Corinthian Baptist Church (Philadelphia, PA), www.corinthianbaptistchurch.org/jeremiah_a_wright_jr.htm (April 26, 2004).
• "Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.," Trinity United Church of Christ, www.tucc.org/pastor.htm (April 6, 2004).
• "Seven Last Words," Faith Community of Saint Sabina, www.saintsabina.org/spotlight/wright2004.htm (April 6, 2004).

— Kari Bethel

Jeremiah Wright
White House Prayer Breakfast, 1998
Born	Jeremiah Alvesta Wright, Jr. September 22, 1941 (1941-09-22) (age 67) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jeremiah Alvesta Wright, Jr. (born September 22, 1941) is Pastor Emeritus and the former Pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC), a megachurch in Chicago with around 8,500 members.^[1] In early 2008, Wright retired after 36 years as the Senior Pastor of his congregation and no longer has daily responsibilities at the church.^[2][3] Following retirement, Wright's beliefs and manner of preaching were scrutinized when segments from his sermons were publicized in connection with the presidential campaign of Barack Obama.^[4] Obama addressed the issues raised by the Wright controversy in his speech entitled "A More Perfect Union".^[5] To explain more fully his actual positions on these issues, Wright gave a speech before the NAACP on April 27, 2008, in which he stressed that he was not "divisive", but "descriptive", and that the black church experience, like black culture, was "different" but not "deficient".^[6] Wright voted for Obama in the 2008 election, despite the controversy.^[7]

His wife is Ramah Reed Wright, and he has four daughters, Janet Marie Moore, Jeri Lynne Wright, Nikol D. Reed and Jamila Nandi Wright, and one son, Nathan D. Reed.^[8]

Contents 1 Early years 2 Education and military service 3 Career as minister 4 Political controversy 5 Honors 6 Works 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

Early years

Wright was born and raised in a racially mixed section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania called Germantown, where he spent most of his days.^[9] His parents are Jeremiah Wright, Sr. (1909-2001), a Baptist minister who pastored Grace Baptist Church in Germantown, Philadelphia, from 1938 to 1980,^[10] and Mary Elizabeth Henderson Wright, a school teacher who was the first black person to teach an academic subject at Roosevelt Junior High. She went on to be the first black person to teach at Germantown High and Girls High, where she became the school's first black vice principal.

Wright graduated from the Central High School of Philadelphia in 1959, among the best schools in the area at the time.^[9] At the time, the school was around 90 percent white.^[11] The 211th class yearbook described Wright as a respected member of the class. "Always ready with a kind word, Jerry is one of the most congenial members of the 211,” the yearbook said. “His record in Central is a model for lower class [younger] members to emulate."^[9]

Education and military service

Jeremiah Wright (second from right, behind I.V. pole), in 1966, as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. He is tending to President Lyndon Johnson, standing behind him is Bill Moyers.^[12] (A letter of thanks on behalf of the President is superimposed on photo).

From 1959 to 1961, Wright attended Virginia Union University,^[2] in Richmond. In 1961 Wright left college and joined the United States Marine Corps and became part of the 2nd Marine Division attaining the rank of private first class. In 1963, after two years of service, Wright joined the United States Navy and entered the Corpsman School at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.^[8][13] Wright was then trained as a cardiopulmonary technician at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Wright was assigned as part of the medical team charged with care of President Lyndon B. Johnson (see photo of Wright caring for Johnson after his 1966 surgery). Before leaving the position in 1967, the White House Physician, Vice Admiral Burkley, personally wrote Wright a letter of thanks on behalf of the United States President.^[14][15][16]

In 1967 Wright enrolled at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a master’s degree in English in 1969. He also earned a master's degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School.^[8] Wright holds a Doctor of Ministry degree (1990) from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where he studied under Samuel DeWitt Proctor, a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr.^[17]

Career as minister

Jeremiah Wright (center left), in 1998, greeting President Bill Clinton during a prayer breakfast at the White House.

Wright became pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago on March 1, 1972; it had some 250 members on its rolls, but only about 90 or so were actually attending worship by that time.^[18] By March 2008 Trinity United Church of Christ had become the largest church in the mostly white^[19] United Church of Christ denomination. The President and General Minister of the United Church of Christ, John H. Thomas, has stated: “It is critical that all of us express our gratitude and support to this remarkable congregation, to Jeremiah A. Wright for his leadership over 36 years.”^[20] Thomas, who is a member of the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Cleveland, has also preached^[21] and worshipped at Trinity United Church of Christ (most recently on March 2, 2008).^[20]

Trinity and Wright were profiled by correspondent Roger Wilkins in Sherry Jones's documentary "Keeping the Faith" broadcast as the June 16, 1987 episode of the PBS series Frontline with Judy Woodruff.^[22] In 1995, Wright was asked to deliver a prayer during an afternoon session of speeches at the Million Man March in Washington, D.C.^[23]

Wright, who began the "Ministers in Training" ("M.I.T.") program at Trinity United Church of Christ, has been a national leader in promoting theological education and the preparation of seminarians for the African-American church.^[24] The church's mission statement is based upon systematized Black liberation theology that started with the works of James Hal Cone.^[25][26]

Wright has been a professor at Chicago Theological Seminary, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and other educational institutions. Wright has served on the Board of Trustees of Virginia Union University, Chicago Theological Seminary and City Colleges of Chicago. He has also served on the Board Directors of Evangelical Health Systems, the Black Theology Project, the Center for New Horizons and the Malcolm X School of Nursing, and on boards and committees of other religious and civic organizations.^[8]

Political controversy

Main article: Jeremiah Wright controversy

The Jeremiah Wright controversy gained national attention in March 2008 when ABC News, after reviewing dozens of Wright's sermons,^[27] excerpted parts which were subject to intense media scrutiny.^[28][29] Wright is the former pastor of the President of the United States Barack Obama.^[30] Obama denounced the statements in question, but after critics continued to press the issue of his relationship with Wright he gave a speech titled "A More Perfect Union", in which he sought to place Dr. Wright's comments in a historical and sociological context. In the speech, Obama again denounced Wright's remarks, but did not disown him as a person. The controversy began to fade, but was renewed in late April when Wright made a series of media appearances, including an interview on Bill Moyers Journal, a speech at the NAACP and a speech at the National Press Club.^[31] After the last of these, Obama spoke more forcefully against his former pastor, saying that he was "outraged" and "saddened" by his behavior, and in May he resigned his membership in the church.^[32]

On June 9, 2009, in an interview with the Daily Press of Newport News, Wright indicated that he hadn't had contact with Obama up to that point because "Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he'll talk to me in five years when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when he's out of office." Wright also suggested that Obama did not send a delegation to the Durban Review Conference in Geneva, a conference "that had devolved into an anti-Jewish free-for-all" according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency,^[33] because of Jewish pressure saying: "[T]he Jewish vote, the A-I-P-A-C vote, that’s controlling him, that would not let him send representation to the Darfur Review Conference, that’s talking this craziness on this trip, cause they’re Zionists, they would not let him talk to someone who calls a spade what it is."^[7] Writing for The Atlantic, Ta-Nehisi Coates characterized Wright's remarks as "crude conspiratorial antisemitism."^[34] On June 11, 2009, Wright amended his remarks during an interview with Mark Thompson on his radio program, Make it Plain. “Let me say like Hillary, I misspoke. Let me just say: Zionists... I’m not talking about all Jews, all people of the Jewish faith, I’m talking about Zionists."^[35]

Wright wrote on his Facebook page apologizing for his remarks on June 12. He wrote, "I mis-spoke and I sincerely meant no harm or ill-will to the American Jewish community or the Obama administration... I have great respect for the Jewish faith and the foundational (and central) part of our Judeo-Christian tradition."^[36] "In other words," another Atlantic writer, Jeffrey Goldberg, summarized, "[H]e regrets speaking plainly instead of deploying a euphemism."^[37] The Anti Defamation League released a statement condemning Wright's remarks as "inflammatory and false. The notions of Jewish control of the White House in Reverend Wright's statement express classic anti-Semitism in its most vile form."^[38]

Honors

Wright has received a Rockefeller Fellowship and seven honorary doctorate degrees, including from Colgate University, Lincoln University, PA,Valparaiso University, United Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary.^[8] Wright was named one of Ebony magazine's top 15 preachers.^[15] He was also awarded the first Carver Medal by Simpson College in January 2008, to recognize Wright as "an outstanding individual whose life exemplifies the commitment and vision of the service of George Washington Carver".^[39][40] On May 1, 2008, Northwestern University withdrew its invitation for him to receive an honorary doctorate in light of the controversy over his recent remarks.^[41]

Works

• Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., "Music as Cultural Expression in Black Church Theology and Worship," Journal of Black Sacred Music 3, 1 (1) (Spring 1989).
• Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr. and Jini Kilgore Ross, What Makes You So Strong?: Sermons of Joy and Strength from Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Judson Press, November 1993, ISBN 978-0817011987
• Jawanza Kunjufu and Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr., Adam! Where Are You?: Why Most Black Men Don't Go to Church, African American Images, June 1997, ISBN 978-0913543436 (also African American Images, 1994, ISBN B000T6LXPQ)
• Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr. and Colleen Birchett, Africans Who Shaped Our Faith (Student Guide), Urban Ministries, Inc., May 1995, ISBN 978-0940955295
• Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr. and Jini Kilgore Ross, Good News!: Sermons of Hope for Today's Families, Judson Press, December 1995, ISBN 978-0817012366
• William J. Key, Robert Johnson Smith, Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. and Robert Johnson-Smith, From One Brother to Another: Voices of African American Men, Judson Press, October 1996, ISBN 978-0817012502
• Frank Madison Reid, III, Jeremiah Wright Jr. and Colleen Birchett, When Black Men Stand Up for God: Reflections on the Million Man March, African American Images, December 1997, ISBN 978-0913543481
• Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr., What Can Happen When We Pray: A Daily Devotional, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, June 2002, ISBN 978-0806634067
• Wright, Jeremiah A. Jr., From One Brother To Another, Volume 2: Voices of African American Men , Judson Press, January 2003, ISBN 978-0817013622
• Wright, Jeremiah A, Jr. (2004), "Doing black theology in the black church", p 13-23, 213-214. In Linda E. Thomas (Ed.), Living Stones in the Household of God: The Legacy and Future of Black Theology, Minneapolis: Fortress. ISBN 0-8006-3627-9
• Wright, Jeremiah. "Here I am, send me". In Awakened to a calling: reflections on the vocation of ministry, Ann M. Svennungsen and Melissa Wiginton (Eds.), Nashville: Abingdon Press, c2005. ISBN 0687053900
• Wright, Jeremiah. "In the Lord's house, on the Lord's day". In Awakened to a calling: reflections on the vocation of ministry, Ann M. Svennungsen and Melissa Wiginton (Eds.), Nashville: Abingdon Press, c2005. ISBN 0687053900
• Iva E. Carruthers (Editor), Frederick D. Haynes III (Editor), Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. (Editor), Blow the Trumpet in Zion!: Global Vision and Action for the 21st Century Black Church, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, January 2005, ISBN 978-0800637125
• Ernest R. Flores and Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., Tempted to Leave the Cross: Renewing the Call to Discipleship, Judson Press, November 2007, ISBN 978-0817015244

Wright has written several books and is featured on Wynton Marsalis's album The Majesty of the Blues, where he recites a spoken word piece written by Stanley Crouch, and on the Odyssey Channel series Great Preachers.^[42][43]

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

United States Navy portal

References

1. ^ Church official site
2. ^ ^{a b} Pastor Trinity United Church of Christ
3. ^ Ramirez, Margaret (2008-02-11). "Barack Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., preaches last sermon at Trinity United Church of Christ". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-wright_11feb11,1,4431179.story. Retrieved on 2008-03-22. 
4. ^ Banks, Adelle (2008-03-22). "Obama Finds Pulpit in Center of Racial Divide". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/21/AR2008032102683.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-22. 
5. ^ Barack Obama (2008-03-18). "Text of Obama's speech: A More Perfect Union". Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/18/text-of-obamas-speech-a-more-perfect-union/?mod=googlenews_wsj. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
6. ^ "Obama's ex-pastor gives fiery speech to NAACP". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/27/obama.wright.ap/index.html. Retrieved on 2008-04-28. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Squires, David (June 10, 2009). "Rev. Jeremiah Wright says "Jews" are keeping him from President Obama". The Daily Press. http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_wright_0610jun10,0,7603283.story. Retrieved on June 10, 2009. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Dr. Jeremiah A Wright Jr.". Corinthian Baptist Church. http://www.corinthianbaptistchurch.org/jeremiah_a_wright_jr.htm. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} "Obama's Rev. Wright Mythology". Newsmax. http://www.newsmax.com/kessler/obama_wright_pastor/2008/04/13/87617.html. 
10. ^ Gabrielle Brochard and John DeVecchi (2006). "Biographical Essays". http://www.tcnj.edu/~brochar2/Rev.%20Dr.%20Jeremiah%20Wright.htm. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 
11. ^ Wright, Jeremiah A. (1989). The pilgrimage of a pastor: The autobiography of Jeremiah A. Wright, Sr. Aaron Press, ASIN B0006F1LD4
12. ^ Bill Moyers Journa . Transcripts | PBS
13. ^ Factor military duty into criticism - Lyndon B. Johnson, Dick Cheney, The White House - chicagotribune.com
14. ^ Korb, Lawrence and Ian Moss. "Factor military duty into criticism". Available online. Archived.
15. ^ ^{a b} "Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Biography". The History Makers. 2002-01-11. http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=331&category=religionMaker. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. 
16. ^ "The Biography of the Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.". Charter Day 2004 Distinguished Alumni Biographies. Howard University. 2004-03-04. http://www.howard.edu/charterday/2004/dabios.htm#wright. Retrieved on 2008-04-04. 
17. ^ Emily Udell, "Keeping the Faith", In These Times, February 8, 2005. Available online. Archived.
18. ^ Yearbooks of the United Church of Christ, 1971-72
19. ^ Gorski, Eric (2008-03-18). "Message of Obama Pastor Forged in Civil Rights Movement". Atlanta-Journal Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/18/wright_0319.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 
20. ^ ^{a b} Guess, J. Bennet (2008-03-14). "Chicago's Trinity UCC Is "Great Gift to Wider Church Family". United Church of Christ. http://www.ucc.org/news/chicagos-trinity-ucc-is.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 
21. ^ "White People Welcome at Trinity United Church of Christ". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anpI-BKp5cg. Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 
22. ^ Jones, Sherry (producer & director), Wilkins, Roger (correspondent), Woodruff, Judy (anchor). (June 16, 1987). FRONTLINE: reports: Keeping the Faith. Alexandria, Va.: PBS Video. OCLC 18127027. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/programs/info/514.html. , OCLC 21357978, OCLC 18126496, OCLC 42508237
    Ruth, Daniel (June 16, 1987). "Chicago minister exalts `Faith'" (paid archive). Chicago Sun-Times: p. 50. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Chicago%20minister%20exalts)%20AND%20date(6/16/1987%20to%206/16/1987)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=6/16/1987%20to%206/16/1987)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Chicago%20minister%20exalts)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no. 
    McBride, James (June 16, 1987). "On leaving the ghetto" (paid archive). The Washington Post: p. F3. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73827376.html?dids=73827376:73827376&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. 
    "'Sunday morning worship America's most segregated hour'". Post-Tribune: p. 4. June 21, 1987. 
23. ^ Official Program. Washington, D.C.: Million Man March. 1995-10-16. 
24. ^ "Donor Profiles". The Fund for Theological Education. http://www.thefund.org/giving/donor_profiles.phtml?donorID=2. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. 
25. ^ Talev, Margaret (2008-03-20). "Obama's church pushes controversial doctrines". The McClatchy Company. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/31079.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-28. 
26. ^ Wright, Jeremiah (2007-03-01). "Talking Points". Trinity United Church of Christ website. http://www.tucc.org/talking_points.htm. Retrieved on 2008-03-31. 
27. ^ Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11 Brian Ross and Rehab el-Buri, ABC News, March 13, 2008
28. ^ Dilanian, Ken (2008-03-18). "Defenders say Wright has love, righteous anger for USA". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-03-18-obamawright_N.htm. Retrieved on 2008-04-02. 
29. ^ Adubato, Steve (March 21, 2008). "Obama's reaction to Wright too little, too late". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23745283/. 
30. ^ Johnson, Alex (2008-03-14). "Obama Strongly Denounces his ex-Pastor". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24371827/. Retrieved on 2008-04-28. 
31. ^ "Listening to Rev. Wright" OnPoint, 29 April 2008.
32. ^ Michael Powell (2008-06-01). "Following Months of Criticism, Obama Quits His Church". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/us/politics/01obama.html?bl&ex=1212552000&en=4f275b18627314ec&ei=5087%0A. Retrieved on 2008-06-02. 
33. ^ "Wright: ‘Them Jews’ keeping him from Obama". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. June 10, 2009. http://jta.org/news/article/2009/06/10/1005793/wright-them-jews-keep-him-away-from-obama. Retrieved on June 13, 2009. 
34. ^ Ta-Nehisi Coates (June 11, 2009). "Jeremiah Wright". The Atlantic. http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/06/jeremiah_wright.php. Retrieved on June 11, 2009. 
35. ^ Jake Tapper (June 11, 2009). "Rev. Wright: I Meant to Say “Zionists” Are Keeping Me from Talking to President Obama -- Not Jews". ABC News: Political Punch. http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/06/rev-wright-i-meant-to-say-zionists-are-keeping-me-from-talking-to-president-obama-not-jews.html. Retrieved on June 11, 2009. 
36. ^ Sweet, Lynn (June 12, 2009). "Wright Apologizes for 'Them Jews' as Museum Reopens". Politics Daily. http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/12/wright-apologizes-for-them-jews-as%20museum-re/. Retrieved on June 12, 2009. 
37. ^ "Rev. Wright Clarifies". Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic. June 11, 2009. http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/06/rev_wright_clarifies.php. Retrieved on June 11, 2009. 
38. ^ "ADL Expresses Outrage At Reverend Wright's Hateful And Inflammatory Comments". Anti Defamation League. June 11, 2009. http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/5548_12.htm. Retrieved on June 12, 2009. 
39. ^ Jeremiah Wright receives Simpson’s first Carver Medal
40. ^ Schettler, Emily (2008-03-27). "Medal Recipient's Recent Comments Stir Controversy". The Simpsonian. http://www.thesimpsonian.com/news/2008/03/27/News/Medal.Recipients.Recent.Comments.Stir.Controversy-3284507.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-04-26. 
41. ^ Goldman, Julianna (2008-05-01). "Rev. Wright's honorary degree canceled by Northwestern". Yahoo! News. http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080501/pl_bloomberg/axcinkuxnrh8;_ylt=ArcygdlqO6nnXI8sq38YWUis0NUE. Retrieved on 2008-05-05. 
42. ^ The Majesty Of The Blues - Track list
43. ^ Great Preachers: Jeremiah Wright (1998)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jeremiah Wright

• Biography at Answers.com
• Wright's blog at RH Reality Check
• Illinois legislature resolution congratulating Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. on his retirement
• Von Hoene Jr., William A. "Rev. Wright in a different light". Chicago Tribune, 26 March 2008.
• Bill Moyers Journal - "Reverend Jeremiah Wright" PBS, April 25, 2008, interview
• Jeremiah Wright's Service to 3 Presidents Photographs and Newspaper Articles

Sermons

• Wright sermons at the official channel of Trinity United Church of Christ on YouTube
• Audio of complete sermon by Wright from which the soundbite on 9/11 was excerpted.
• Audio of complete sermon by Wright from which soundbite "God damn America" was excerpted.
• The Audacity to Hope sermon from which the title of Barack Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope, is derived.
• Transcript Of A Jeremiah Wright Sermon given on January 27, 2008 Archived.
• Full video of Wright's 28 April 2008 speech on the Black church at the National Press club. Requires RealPlayer or Real Alternative

Persondata
NAME	Wright, Jeremiah
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Clergymember and United States Marine
DATE OF BIRTH	September 22, 1941
PLACE OF BIRTH	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH

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