I consider the man who made this speech to be racist.
My whole family has never been prejudiced but if many more blacks keep hitting on those of us who never did one thing that would be racist then they will turn many white people into racists.
They should all think about it. Martin Luther King had class enough not to mouth off about people of other color and I supported him all the way.

The right rev. Lowery had not been demeaning all races, then he would not have had anything to say.

If white had not illuminated the way, then the dark words of rev. Lowery would have not seen the light of day.

Now let us all say Amen.

I am so tired of the reverse descrimiantion that is so common place in our country today. When can we stop being a country of different colors and just be Americans? Reverend Lowery needs to work to that end and stop making everything race driven. Doesn't seem like God had anything to do with his speach because it sure doesn't seem like a prayer.

I could not be more appalled by this so-called "benediction." The racism is blatant; the blame is endemic. While I do not hold Mr. Obama responsible for the content of this message, I do hold him responsible for yet again showing poor taste in his associations. If this is Mr. Obama's idea of coming together, the next four years are going to be difficult in more ways than one!

Thank you Reverend. Your remarks were deeply felt and appreciated. Please know that Americans of all races, creeds etc. join in this prayer wholeheartedly.

The ending was inspiring

His ending comments were inappropriate and racial slurs against asians and whites. Why should Asian people become "mellow"? Are they uptight? And haven't whites already "enbraced what is right"? Didn't they elect Obama? Why is it that the black, brown and red were about overcoming inequity and the yellow and white comments were slamming those races?

I thought Dr. King's dream was about when we wouldn't see color anymore - and this yahoo is pointing it out and reverting us back 40 years!!!

Way to go, reverend.

As a white, I was offended by the end of this. How about when white will embrace them all tight, (that rhymes right?) Will embrace what is right??????? We have been for many, many, years!!!!!!

"nd when white will embrace what is right"

STILL LIVING IN 1960

How sad that even now, when President Obama seeks to extend the hand of friendship to all, there are still those who must take any opportunity, even a benediction, to declare that all are good and worthy of God's love except those who are white. And the rest say, Amen!

Is there a finer example of racism or hatred against a particular race than in this speech? Is there a finer example of designating one race as scapegoat for all the ills of society? Deprived of love of neighbor, on the basis of race, where have such attitudes, accepted as political dogma, led in the past? The Final Solution.

May God have mercy on all.

What a graceful ending to a perfectly inspiring day!

Let's see if we all understand this correctly.

White men don't embrace right? I thought it was the majority (white) population who voted for BHO.

Blacks are asked to go to the back? Did I miss something? I thought BHO is black.

Yellow will be Mellow (the asians will stop rioting and mugging) right.

Brown can hang around (open borders, no more deportations)

What the hell is wrong with this guy??!!!

The first paragraph of Rev. Lowery's benediction is a quote from civil rights leader and author James Weldon Johnson. It's from his famous song Lift Every Voice And Sing, written in 1900 for a celebration of President Lincoln's birthday and was, I believe, originally entitled National Hymn. In time the song became the African American national anthem and is found in church hymnals throughout the US. I offer these details to remember the past and honor the history. James Weldon Johnson is considered a father of the Harlem Renaissance and his original manuscripts are found at the James Weldon Johnson Collection of Negro Arts & Letters at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Okay, you totally misunderstood Dr. Lowery's ending remark about the various colors of skin because you don't know the history of those references. During legal segregation times and as integration was gradually accepted, dark-skinned African Americans with prominent "Negroid" features (black) were not as readily accepted in certain instances as were brown-skinned (brown) or light-skinned (yellow) African Americans whose features indicated Caucasion blood in their recent lineage. This was very painful for those who were overlooked, no matter how talented or gifted, by those who looked more "white." This hierarchal selection sometimes meant the difference in whether or not you were hired in a certain position (or hired at all!), accepted in a certain community, and so on, and so on, and so on. As for the red man, Native Americans' presence seemed to pose the greatest threat to the powerful. Dr. Lowery was not and is not a racist. He simply asked for God's help in moving this nation beyond such abominable behavior.

To those who find this beautiful prayer racist: take a minute to reflect and to jump back from your conclusions. The last lines are a reflection of our immediate past, of what still continues today - even if mitigated since the 60s - and of what we are now, finally, moving to overcome. It's not blame; it's a prayer. It's also a recognition of the above.

And as a sidenote: I find that the people who most often begin a sentence with "I've never been prejudiced" or "we've never been racist", followed by "BUT...", are either obfuscating their true sentiment or looking for a way to excuse the trash that's about to spill out from their mouth.

This is absolutely not racist. As a white person, I know I continue to benefit from white priveledge, the powerful legacy of slavery of black folks, internment of Japanese folks, the genocide of Indian Americans, and the oppression of many other groups.
Any white person that doesn't recognize the benefits of their whiteness will miss the point Rev. Lowery poignantly - even humorously -addresses in this benediction. May we all be blessed by Rev. Lowery's words to see the ways in which we are priveledged in this world.

Yet what he says is the truth, and he didn't write all of those racial slurs at the end out of the top of his head; they've all been said and done before.

Boy, talking about putting guilt on us white people. It is ALWAYS the blacks that scream, "you are racial when it is them. I'm afraid that this preacher is just a bit off in the upper part of his head. I'm not prejudice!! I hate everybody!!

First of all, thanks for the link to the complete text of Rev. Lowery's magnificient benediction.

I'm surprised by the negative sentiment expressed here, for I saw the benediction as very gracious, and I took it in the spirit in which it was intended-- love, inclusion, and tolerance.

If there is a God, I think she smiled at Rev. Lowerey's benediction.

They can't let go of the race racket;it's been too lucrative for them over the past 40 years.Pluto in Capricorn will put an end to all this nonsense.

My, my, racism never seems to exist when the libs or dems do it. Note this. This is an indication of what we will see over the next four years.
A woman I know saw a black man walking down the street wearing a sweatshirt upon which was written, "It's our country now". Interesting to see what attitudes such as this and Rev. Lowery's will bring us.

this was not a rascist speech he was speaking from the past not the present

I was horrified at what Pastor Lowery said at the end of his prayer. My english/irish family fought against their own color in the Revolution, again on the side of the north during the Civil War and fought in every war since. Lowery apparently has forgotten it was WHITES that fought the Civil War to free slaves. We get no credit for that. My Greatgrandfather was 14 at the time, newly arrived from Ireland and lost his father to typhus on the ship over so a recent half orphan and yet, knowing his slavery in Ireland to the English, he fought to set blacks free. How dare this ignorant pastor give that racist ending to his prayer. And my Greatgrandmother worked as a maid to feed her five children. They did jobs even blacks would not do and they all made it and excelled in America without government aid I might add. We collectively deserve an apology, for all those old white men who lost it all to give us the freest country on earth. Shame on you Lowery.

And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.

Can't believe he could say that and then follow it with racism and division. I was always taught that when you pray for things like that, God doesn't always just go poof it's gone....he gives you oppertunities to face to make those right choices. Obviously he failed at his first oppertunity......

I don't blame Obama but he needs to screen his people a bit better if he really intends to bring people together. Racism against blacks was real and true, but it wasn't till whites didn't tolerate it from themselves or their own that changes happened. Fix it completely, no....and it's obvious it's not an afflixion saved just for whites to face. It's one thing to say and another to stand by and watch it happen and do nothing or say nothing to admonish it. It's not change when it's not OK for me to do it, but it's fine if you do. These people need to start looking in the mirror instead of outside if they want to find who the real racists and exclusionists are now.

There's times I don't believe equality and rights are the issues at all.....it's who's turn is it to use the club to get even. Who cares if it's the person doing wrong, just so someone gets it. Who gets special rights and favors and what group looses theirs to make it so....and what new word can we use to do the same thing and have it sound so much better. What's the difference between blacks not allowed and save that seat for a black person...no other race allowed. We voted for you so we demand you put more hispanics in....not best person for the job...holding a job on the basis of race alone. That's racism friends. You can color it demographics or hide behind equality and quotas and any other word you want.....but it's taking oppertunities from one group and handing it to another based on race, gender or anything else and not who's the best person for the job or who has earned it. It's a diverse community if it's majority hispanic, but it's not diverse if it's majority white. It's fine if a black manager favors more black employees but it's racism if a white employer does. I swear it's like the last 150 years never happened....just new people carrying the club.

And here we go again.....

Da right Reverend Lowery belong on da sidewalk in da bowery. Da man be a racist and his speeches be baseless. His favorite president be Obama and his favorite terrorist be Osama. He make out he be prayin when he really am worshippin Husse-in.

I've never heard such racist remarks at a major political event. The laughter of the croud and most notably the smiles of our new president at Rev. Lowery's last words were sickening and points to the serious racism that exists in the black community. Whites don't have exclusive rights to racism. Today is proof of that.

Are these people kidding? His whole ending of his speech was a throwback to the civil rights movement - Lowery was a leader along with MLK....and for the person who doesn't understand about black not being asked to "get back"...maybe you should go back in history and check out someone named Rosa Parks.

In African-American culture, the ending Reverend Lowery gave to his benediction was referential and meaningful to African-Americans. He expressed a thought process that began in slavery, as Africans were taught to be slaves, and to seek value in skin color, texture of hair and shade of eye color. Immortalized in song and literature, the phrases he used are instantly familiar to Black people of the Boomer Generation, and caused the chuckles you may have heard when he spoke them.

Something else that some readers may not be aware of is that Rev. Joseph Lowery was a soldier in Dr. King's movement, and lived through the ignorance and prejudice we know only through history books. In that reference, he was speaking to those who regard President Obama as "other" and not fit to serve, due to his ethnicity. If you do not fit the statement, don't take offense. You do a disservice to yourself.

It would never have occurred to me to consider this blessed benediction racist. All of us, whatever race, who experienced the civil rights movement recognized and thrilled to the references. It was a beautiful benediction, full of humor and of love towards all God's creatures.

He was just reversing an old saying....

"If you’re white, you’re alright
If you’re brown, stick around
If you’re yellow, you’re mellow
But if you’re black, get back"

I think Rev. Lowery's speech was a completely beautiful, honest, and wonderful sentiment. 99.9% of it was filled with wishes for the future that I personally hope to see come true.

I am white and did not think for a minute that his speech was offensive. I'm actually surprised that others did. He offered a jokingly mild criticism of white people and when one looks at the history of atrocities that have been dealt by white people it is way more than justified. As white people our role in ending racism involves being humble at times - admitting the mistakes of the past which still resonate harshly in communities of color today.

We can't, as white people, cop out and say that racism was only in the past.

1.) Because there are many examples of its existance today both in systemic and episodic forms - the vividly racist atrocities in Jena, Louisiana; Oscar Grant's murder; Amadou Diallo; and the thinly veiled racism of whites who actually think Obama is a secret terrorist or that he "only got the job cause he is black!"

This is just off the top of my head!

2.) Because the legacy of racism does not just exist in the past. The emotions and fears and traumas people of color experienced through racism shape their view of their world and themselves (as do feelings and traumas effect anyone). This world view influences their children and their children's children. It doesn't go away that easily. It's a systemic issue - one that carries false messages to people of color about their own worth which are embedded in the very make-up of society. It is their role to envision themselves outside of these negative images and overcome in their perceptions of themselves and it is the role of white people to help them up and to admit that they get the priveledge of comfort and acceptance in society at large that people of color do not have. What does that mean? For white kids there are many more examples of successful white people, spaces where white people are welcomed without a suspicious eye, and where white people are expected to "do well" and "be good" before people even get to know them.

If people the age of Lowery can, in one lifetime, endure segregation, lynchings, the Civil Rights struggle, and even American laws telling them that they are worth less than white people then I think it's fair for white people to be able to take a little light criticism every once in a while.

People on this blog keep saying that he "made it about race". First off, it was the inauguration of the FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT and race was mentioned by many people ALL DAY. Secondly, If you're not white in America than race is ALWAYS an issue because you know that you are perceived in terms of your race by the larger society (that's white people!). We white people are the only ones who get to forget ourselves as racialized people sometimes. Whitness is still by annd large considered the American norm. Close your eyes... if someone were to describe someone to you without telling you their race would you picture them to be white?

If you're white - think about how conscious (for good or bad) you are of your whiteness when you're in a room full of non-white people. The one white person in the audience at the Apollo. Now imagine that that room was America.

This racial landscape is clearly changing with the more diverse we become in this country, but it's where we've been and we haven't left yet.

If you're white and you're doing your best to live your life without racism and bring an end to it then there should be nothing offensive in his comment. If you're already "embracing what's right" then what's the problem? You're doing it!

I know it's scary. I know it's terrifying as a white person to be criticised - even jokingly - about racism. You think... "What did I do? I didn't do anything racist. I didn't start slavery. I don't use the N-word. I wasn't even alive during Jim Crow. I have black friends. I'm not a Republican. (joke!)" because it's really scary to be labeled a racist or to even think it. It's a stigma that can get attatched to you and taint everyone's perception of you. You think "How do they know what's in my heart and head? It's a cop out! That's what it is! It's a cop out to blame me for that because there's no way for me to defend myself there."

We need to stop worrying about this. We need to celebrate white people who realize and admit their racism and work on getting past it. Racism is not an inherent evil in white people or anyone. Racism is often times very unconscious and so we should be lauded for recognizing it and working to stop it.

Some people may think that white people are inherently evil or racist but that's just their issue to sort out for themselves. It's not true! Racism is a learned behavior. Of course non-white people can be racist but we have to be honest about our history here. America's history is replete with racism enacted by white people in power. It's just a simple and plain historical fact. Our nation was created through so many racist actions: the genocide of the American Indians, slavery, Dred Scott, Jim Crow, etc. We are not away from that yet. We are and so we are still in the process of transitioning from a time when white people held all the power. It's not done yet!

Granted I'm sure there are white people that have been judged unfairly because of their whiteness by people of color. I'm sure it made them angry. I would bet that many people reading this blog would say they have examples of this "reverse racism". Unfortunately this is a harsh by-product of the harsh reality of the oppression of people of color. That's going to happen. Racism is harsh and makes people very angry and they might take it out on you. It's part of the process. That's the "white man's burden" and it's something we are going to have to shoulder from time to time in order to get through this. If you don't have many close people in your life that are non-white this is way more threatening. You think "all those people think I'm an asshole! Well fuck them!" If you actually have close relationships with many people of color you'll know that that's not true and be able to shake off any "attacks more easily".

Also remember if someone doesn't know you they aren't really mad at you - how could they be? They don't know you! They're mad at racism - mad at the results of racism - and just doing it in your direction. Racism is an understandable thing to be mad about. It's just like how women get to be mad about how they are affected by sexism or how people who aren't rich get to be upset by how they are affected by classism.

Again this is all part of the transition we are still in to become a truly multicultural society with equal respect for all. Us white people are gonna have to deal, but when you compare it to several hundred years of brutal oppression - I think we get the easier job.

As white people we just have to check ourselves every once in a while and make sure we are helping this transition instead of halting it. I think what that means is somewhat a personal answer. That's what this is issue is - personal and political and I believe Rev. Lowery was reminding us all of this in a speech at a political time and in a warm and personal way.

Pure racism and clearly dismissed by politico's and the media, I am afraid that what we have to look foward to the next 4 years

Relax people - Life is Great! Until you've walked in anothers footsteps we have no right to judge. Change is good, but many are afraid - and it is understood. Have HOPE. Believe. OUR future depends on us working together. Don't let words get in the way of progress. Rise above a word or an action that you may not understand and stop the hate. COMMUNICATE -- don't berate.

Whatever else it may or may not prove to be, there's no doubt that the election of President Obama represents a giant step forward in race relations in this country, toward the day when we will judge a man "not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character." I think Reverend Lowery was merely reflecting on all the changes he has seen in his 80-something years of life; and on changes yet to come. I enjoyed it very much.

Some who write defending Rev. Lowery's ending seem to actually believe we don't understand his references to "blacks" and "browns" and their unfair treatment in the past..or they seem to think that because Rev. Lowery was active with MLK's movement, his comments are acceptable. Well, I do NOT feel they were acceptable. They were racist and divisive and they had no place in his "prayer". I do not believe Martin Luther King would have made such a statement, and I do not believe Rev. Lowery should have. It served no good purpose and I resent Pres. O'Bama's reaction to it as well.

Sounds like there's a lot of "white guilt" on this forum. Chill out people. He was being funny. Then again, ya'll must have found some truth to it if you really took offense.

How much longer will the finger pointing last?
An opportunity for unity was passed up by the benediction presented today.
Today we should have all rejoiced in a a new era of defiance to the past.
At what point will we all look at each other and see that all races have suffered under the cruelty of another?
skin color doesn't really have anything to do with the problems of today. Attitude, getting even mind set and ignorance continue to carry the torch of hatred,fear and ignorance. obviously a college education can not releive this affliction from the many.
Call out your colors, give their ancestors their due and move toward a future where the only rainbow we need to acknowledge follows the rain.
Has anyone stopped to think: Remove the skin completely and we ARE ALL THE SAME?
Being blind and deaf would be a blessing in a society like ours today: where we raise our banner because of our skin color and our ancestry rather than that of a melting pot for freedom. Why not stand behind the banner of a free nation and be happy you are here.
Every new culture to come here was treated badly. Ask the Irish who were sent back to Europe to fight a war within days of landing in this country. Ask the jewish community of their sufferage, the asians of thiers.Better yet, ask the Native Americans of their suffering. Why focus on one. The perpatrators are long since gone and laid to rest. Continuing the ignorance keeps them alive. Not one race does that for them...ALL do with their remarks, behaviors, beleifs and expectations of repentance from a generation uninvolved in the atrocities of the past.
Continue to wear your skin color like a ticket to treat each other badly and....you will.
It is my sincerest hope that my Grandchildren don't have to listen to this "In your Face" embarrassing behavior when they elect presidents.
The past was embarrassing enough, to know that we now have a racist first lady on a mission with Oprah sharing her racist opinions is scarry for those of us who hope for a colorless future.
When will we all look and say: Our ancestors were treated horribly, I want to ensure my childrens children are blind to color.
As long as color is the topic on the table, we will NEVER move forward. For as far as we have come, many of you remain stuck.
If the scenes of the last few months and today are any indication of the way the next few years will be, I'm certain the ignorance will continue for many more generations.
Take your revenge on your own time. I'm not paying taxes to continue the revenge of races for the sins of the forfathers.
Shame on our forefathers for their iggnorance and shame on you for perpertuating their stupidity. If you want revenge for ignorance..dig them up and take care of it. In the mean time, those of use who do not see color are tired of hearing the whining.
Step up..Be a citizen of America and be proud that you can live in a country where you are free. Take a deep breath, look around you and see there are no guards at the end of your street and thank god the opportunity for unity has beenthere waiting all this time.
Just get over the color issue, it really is getting old and I'm ashamed of all of those in a high postion who perpetuate the problem.

I embarrased to read this benediction and I'm embarrassed that those who pose as educated and intelligent were able to decieve the people of this country enough to get out there and make a presentation such as this.
Is this what I served inthe military for. I'm disappointed in tadays ceremonies. You tarnished what could have been a wonderful day for a history making event.
Shame on you all.

This whole issue shows that racism needs to be discussed fully to completely be healed. Right now, everyone just wants to pretend it didn't exist and that it doesn't still exist...after all we have an African American President.

Having an African American President will not solve the problems if we push what we don't want to see under the rug. That said, the quote used at the end of Rev. Lowry's speech is from a 1949 blues song called Get Back or Black, Brown and White. It was an indictment of the Jim Crow Laws which were enacted by southern state governments.

I am not of the generation that experienced Jim Crow, but I heard this version of the quote: "If you're black, get back; if you're brown,stick around; if you are white, you're alright". Sometimes the word light would be substituted for the word white. When this was the case, it would mean a light skinned black person. Rev. Lowery actually changed the wording and was praying, I believe, for a time when all vestiges of this way of thinking could be truly left behind us. He also implied that we are well on our way when he quoted Lift Every Voice And Sing, by James Weldon Johnson.

To the person who insinuated that blacks are on welfare, this is far from the truth. Some blacks are on welfare, as are some whites and others. Many are not. My mother grew up as a sharecropper and also worked hard to achieve success. She got up early, picked the most cotton so she could attend school, and then was harrassed by white kids on a school bus who laughed at her because she had to walk five miles to school. She managed to finish high school and was a successful business woman who owned a well known beauty shop. That was all done without a lick from our Uncle Sam.

I think a big issue here is that we all tend to generalize when making statements. Perhaps Rev. Lowery should have said some white people should get it right and perhaps you should have insinuated that some blacks get welfare.

Those are my thoughts. Google the song and get the real context for the saying. Also, for more information on the skin color issue in the African American community, read Cane River by Talita Tademy and One Drop, author unknown. I hope you educate yourself. I have read about the Irish Potato Famine and my heart aches for how dispicably the Irish were treated. I don't pretend to understand the entire situation, but my sympathies lie with the Irish.

I hope this post helps all who responded here and will open a serious dialog about race.

What an insult to "white" Americans.
How sad is it that on the day Americans, mostly white, elect a president of different "color", are we told that whites should accept other "colors". This is the antithesis of MLK's dream. This election and the unity amongst citizens in our country (with the exclusion of illegal aliens) proves that we have moved beyond skin color.
Shame on you Mr. Lowry. You are a regressive and there will be a backlash if you don't acknowledge reality. Black supremacy is equally abominable as white supremacy.
Robin O'leary, Rosa Parks was in the sixties, no? I think you should live in the present. You are not seeking equality, you are seeking higher status than others, based on your skin color.
Wake up America, the new racism is upon us.

Rosalind Hobgood ... you took the words from my mouth. Thank you!

Rev. Lowery's Benediction was very appropriate...and moving.

As President Obama quoted
'Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America'.

May angels walk alongside you and protect you as your journey begins.

As a white South African, I can see why the American blacks embrace their new president...as an ex Zimbabwian and having lived my 65 years in Africa and have witnessed the racist evil of black people under a black president all I can say is "America Adios"
And time alone will tell you the folly of your vote.

It was a historic day indeed with the inauguration of Barack Obama and now Obama will have to sit down and to tackle the problems facing the United States of America. The economy, oil, jobs and two wars will all be Obama’s focal points during his historic first 90 days in office. The changing of the guard will hopefully equal a end to the crisis.

Everyone here is talking about the race card and rightfully so. For those who say, he was doing a throwback, it clearly is understood that he is still referring to today. So, yes, I am offended. There are racists in every race but yet he only points out one.

My problem is not only with the ending of this speech but the fact, that this President is too good to put his hand on the Bible that many Presidents and Vice Presidents before him laid their hands on to be "sworn in". In fact, we don't even really know if his hand was on anything because, also, unlike every P and VP before him he hid this behind the podium instead of raising it high and proud for all Americans to see.

Even though the media is blaming John for the mess up in the oath, it was OBama who still couldn't get it right after the second try so John just finished it and prompted OBama to say, "So help me God". Don't believe me? Go read the transcript. Of course, everyone who is a follower of OBama either did not notice it or chose to ignore it.

Now that, my fellow Americans, is what we have to look forward to.

You let a white man say some of those things as presumably "innocently" as this bigot and all hell would break loose. People would want his head on a platter. But let a black man say those things and it is OK, heartfelt, beautiful even. The reverse discrimmination in this country sickens me.

Rev. Lowery's Inauguration benediction was one of the highlights of this wonderful day when at long last America has embraced a leader who has already inspired a nation to fulfill the dreams of its most patriotic citizens! AMEN!

Ignorance and racism are synonymous! America's greatest sin is slavery! It is delusional to believe that America has been kind to African Americans. The most silent places during slavery were the white churches in the south.

African Americans, who have been here since 1619, are our most PATRIOTIC Americans. They have fought in greater numbers than any in every war in which America has engaged. Those who display such a virulent lack of respect for our most patriot Americans who have endured egregious abuse and suffering should not be in their country. African Americans fought along side my (5-greats) grandfather in the Revolutionary War. One-fourth of those serving in Vietnam were African Americans when they constituted only 14% of our population.

Those who exercise our cherished First Amendment freedoms, for which many brave people, including African Americans, fought, sacrificed and died should remember those sacrifices and be compelled to display reverence for those cherished rights and for those who sacrificed so much for them! Any insidious ingrate that has a problem with our African Americans, America's most patriotic citizens, should find another country. Bon Voyage!

If his final comments were a reference to some internal Black American segregation, it was lost on me, and I suspect many others. Perception is often reality. My perception was that the comments for the "yellow" meant Asians. My perception of the comment for the white was that it was a racist comment. With so much being said about President Lincoln, how can we forget the hundreds of thousands of Americans, mostly white Americans, that President Lincoln asked to sacrifice their lives to free the African slaves. Why does it seem alright for blacks to insult whites, "white will embrace what is right", and not be called racist. If it was meant as a general statment about doing right, it was subverted by the laughter of the crowd who seemed to think it funny.

the Rev. mentioned ..."work for that day when"...Its a work in progress with a desire of a destination. If you are living out the desired destination, Amen, if not there, press forward to the day!That's all.In itself it applaudes the progress made by indivuiduals living it out.

MLK was a tool. If anyone bothered to do any research, they would know this.

As for obama, I just hope America hasn't made the biggest mistake ever. I truly do. But I fear they did, and will regret voting him in.

This white man believes that a few other white people on this board should get over themselves.

It's an absurd argument to say that racism is over because a white majority voted in a black man. First of all, the win by popular vote was hardly a landslide, plenty of white people did not vote for a black man. They voted for an aging white man and his vapid beauty queen. Second, he was voted into office by an unprecented turnout of blacks, latinos, asians, arabs and other non-whites.

Racism is over because whites voted in a black man? Who are any of you really kidding? The election was less than three months ago... how can you idiots misrepresent the facts so soon after? Oh, right... many whites generally do have memory problems when it comes to racial issues.

The prayer was beautiful, and those of you who see it otherwise are just looking for a reason to complain.

First things first...Barack Obama is not our first African-American president; he is our first "mixed-race" president. He is as much white as he is black -that's what makes his election so wonderful! I am hoping he will be an effective president and a unifying force for all races.

The choice of Rev. Lowery to deliver the benediction, on the other hand, I question. I thought his benediction was at times, inappropriate - and at others, downright mean-spirited. If our leaders want us to move 'beyond race', why do they keep drawing attention to it?

All the fuss about supposed racism is from a lot of nitpicking Republicans trying to rain on Obama's parade. If that's the best they can do, then Obama's going to be around for a long. long time. Get used to it.

what an insult to barack obama also. i mean if whites don't embrace what is right meaning that because i'm white i don't accept black people because of the color of their skin, then mr. obamas father must have been a rapist. right? his mother was white which according to the little rev. means that she didn't embrace what was right or accept black people so it couldn't have been consensual sex.

I'm afraid that until we can be irreverent in reverent settings about race relationships without the strong reaction expressed here that we still have a long way to go on our journey.

Personally, I was not prejudice, at least no more than the black kids I knew and delivered papers with. We called each other names that are now considered to be racist. My 1st paper route was in a predominantly Black neighbowhood, and I loved it, and the majority of the people were hard working.

When I first came to the south for my initial training in the Army (1959), I was taken back by the signs "No Colored" can eat here, use this rest room,etc.

I served for over 22 years in the Army with men and women of various shades and hues. I've travelled far and wide in and out side of the United States, and I'm still waiting to see what a real Black, Yellow, Red, or White person. You see all of us are made up of various shades and hues. Get away from the Color Coding and in time things will change.

I have been prejudice all my life. Prejudice against people of all "colors" or as I said "shades and hues", but for different reasons; lazy people, people trying to beat the system, people that think everyone else owes them something.....a job, money, etc. Noboby owes anyone anything.....it is earned.

The end comments by Rev. Lowrey were not necessary. They are inflamatory, just like the news media, just like all the flames that are fanned by people in high places of society,just like the need to have a Black or Hispanic this or that TV program, month, etc.

The news media and people say that Barack Obama is the first African American President. I say no. He is half Black and half White according to all the media experts. See they can't get away from using color to refer to people and until we all do then racism will always exist. He is the 44th President of the United States.

Lets get Congress to pass a law making it illegal to refer to people by using a color scheme. Oh, oh, I forgot, freedom of speech.

PS: I grew up in a northern city, worked since I was nine (built my own shoeshine box and hit the bars ---- there were about two to three on every block) because I wanted to improve myself, had a drunk for a father and one who was abusive to my mother. Don't ever tell me you can't get out of the ghetto, slums, or whatever moniker you care to place on it. Quit using excuses and get on with life.

Mr Bond hits the proverbial nail. Does anyone think that black America voted Mr Obama into office? Last I checked 13% was not enought to control a democracy.
Bleeding hearts of this country will sweep the statements of Rev Lowery under the liberal media rug. Which is exactly where the words uttered belong! Apologies, I believe "liberal media" is redundant.
The "X" generation is the first to be raised post civil rights clashes. Our generation has moved on from the closedminded thoughts of our parents and grandparents. Why is it that the minority groups of this country continue to prosecute whites and specifically white men in America? Stop the finger pointing and let us move on together.
Yesterday's ceremony only strengthened my desire for a Third Party. The gross misconduct of both parties launched this country into a downward spiral. Wake up America, Independence from our current system is NECESSARY!

I don't care where the controversial words came from, they were inappropriate. They are an insult to me and I don't have "white guilt" and I DO hold BHO accountable for the content of Rev. Lowery's speech.

I was not a supporter of BHO, and frankly, quite frightenend of what his policies and philosophies. Racism - promoting it...did not enter my mind.

I am now more worried then ever that America has made a grave error... change just for change's sake. How sad, how scary. Not only is reverse racism in full swing, it is coming with a healthy dose of socialism.

I agree, the inauguration was great until those last few words. And, Obama obviously thought it was very funny, we saw him smile very broadly. What happened to us all coming together as one nation, regardless of race or religion? Well, if we are ever going to "come together" we need to all be Americans, drop the African from American. This perpetuates a separation, a distinct difference. But, I think this is what some people want; people like Lowry, Jesse Jackson, and Rev Sharpton who keep all this stirred up. After all, what would they do for a living and what would they talk about if they could not stir racial discord?
Every word that was to be said at this event was approved beforehand, so that is no excuse. I am offended and am sick and tired of whites being held responsible for every ill in the world. (Kind of like Republicans are supposedly responsible for all the ills in this country.) Any other race is allowed to be offended but white. We are not supposed to be offended by anything.
Did someone forget to point out to Rev Lowry that the new president was a black American and that a huge number of those mean old white people helped put him there?
I think the black Americans are the ones that have more to put behind them and need to embrace a new way of thinking. The old rhetoric is worn out and behind the times.

As a CuMericaNese, Cuban American Chinese, I was offended 3 times not just once. That really hurt mango juice. "Yellow Mellow" makes me feel like we Asians are the body fluid that comes out when a bladder is full. And Brown Around is number 2. What kind of speech was this??? If its yellow let it mellow, If its brown flush it down.

Ok, but did anyone see the "our mosques" part of the speech?

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will judge this man for his unforgiveness, racism and lack of knowledge of who the God he says he serves really is. There is no personal relationship between Lowery and God. So evident in this speech.

Wow! Needless to say, a HOT BUTTON has been hit.
How about we all try to read-reread-internalize-reflect BEFORE we "shoot from the lips!"

The Inaugural Invocation was full of places to take umbrage, by any of a number of folks! But, here we are, zeroing in on the words of a man who just by the nauture of his survival of so much has earned the right to say what he said so eloguently and so well.

Come on, America! Stretch your resilience! Let us all begin to extend civility to all, regardless of our differing opinions and nursed grudges.

Let's start the day over!

Seems to me that Rev. Lowery could have made one simple word addition to his "white" reference that would have perhaps mitigated criticism:

"...and when ALL white will embrace what is right."

Hmmm... why is it always ok for blacks to talk about color but never whites? What if Rick Warren said those things in similar fashion? He'd be labeled a racist. This is a serious issue then. Dr. King's words are only alive and well in white America. Black America wants to live in the '60's where (in their mind) racism is thriving. When does it end? Never, according to blacks. The United States will never get to a point, in the black American's mind, where racism is not a main issue. White America has already moved forward, it's unfortunate, then, that blacks keep wanting to pull whites back into the racial quagmire.

If Rev. Warren had said "when homosexuals embrace what is right" the man would have mobbed and then, when sufficiently beaten,crucified in the media. But a Black man can insult an entire race - and his is praying poetic, and reflective of our history. Whites aren't the racist ones here, they elected O with a pretty even margin of votes on both sides - it is the blacks that voted by color not white. Get to the back Rev Lowery you are stuck in the past and continue to foster your unresolved hate to others that your Christian faith should have taught you to let go. I will stand side by side with someone who is not a racist - no matter what color, persuasion or financial standing they are! Lowery is a divider not a uniter! Obama should reject this man and his prayer! God help America.

It is clear, based on all this commentary, "Americans", black or white or whatever color, are NOT on the same page. Yesterday was NOT a day to reflect on problems or differences or mistakes made by some in our past as Americans, it was a day to embrace our new leader & pray that going forward we can work TOGETHER to figure out how to solve the immediate problems our country faces. Racism has been a bigger problem in our past & I do not deny it exists on some level throughout our country today, but unfortunately we are living in a time when there are far more dire concerns we face as AMERICANS & we need to focus ALL our efforts on resolving these. Lets pray our new President has surrounded himself with people whose only agenda is watching our country move to a better, more secure place. Look beyond your own immediate concerns, & focus on the problems we face as a whole. I felt Rev.Lowry's benediction set a negative tone & made too many, who were so happy & excited about this new President's prospects, feel bad about the past or something that is beyond their control. I felt his words & "stabs" were selfish on his part; when instead, his focus should have been on President Obama & the hope he brings to many Americans for our country to move forward in a positive direction.

I thought I'd throw my two cents in on this topic. Having lived through the last 59+ years. I am in the camp of those people that consider the color reference in Lowery's speech to be offensive. My first job interview out of college in the 70', when peace, love, etc. was prevalent, I was told by the interviewer that I had two strikes against me, I was white and I was male. Now fast forward. I didn't hold that against anyone, I just went ahead about my business. Lowery seems to be hung up with the past stereotypes, although I do realize there are folks out there that are prejudiced against everybody. I don't live in a vacuum, but Lowery was making a speech at an event where the first African American was elected by the PEOPLE of the U.S. not the black community. He needs to get over his prejudice and move on. A more fitting comment would have been to say "May all people of all races now work together as President Obama has suggested, to help us as a community of people, for the good of all."

Pure hate from the left and the new race Nazi's.

Look for more of this to come to your neighborhood soon....!!!

I think the essence of the ending statement was merely to "pray" for the ability of all to look pass these old and present prejudices and stop from engaging in these activities anymore. It was not meant to be an insult but merely drawing reference to move pass the prejudices.

The Rev. clearly stated "we ask you to help us work for that day when black will NOT be" . . . . judged by race and for all races to be accepted equally.

There should not be any sensitivity by any race to the Rev.'s statement. Let's just make the change. It's a new day.

This is a great and beautiful benediction and Reverend Lowery couldn't of had said it better for there is truth in the words that he speaks.

Black America GET OVER IT!!!

The quote at the end of the speech came from a song called "Get Back (Black, Brown and White" Big Bill Broonzy. Chicago, 8. Nov. 1951 orignally written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney as a powerful attack on racism!!!! The link is: http://www.gavagai.de/musik/HHM60.htm. Please start googling stuff before you start commented (just like I did) or we will continue have problems in this world! - God Bless

The quote at the end of the speech came from a song called "Get Back (Black, Brown and White" Big Bill Broonzy. Chicago, 8. Nov. 1951 orignally written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney as a powerful attack on racism!!!! The link is: http://www.gavagai.de/musik/HHM60.htm. Please start googling stuff before you start commented (just like I did) or we will continue have problems in this world! - God Bless

To Understand the man and his message/pray you must understand the struggle. while infact he dealt directly with those who are guilty of racism and social as well as moral injustice, I'm sure he is very much aware that all white man or Irish or what ever your opposite race or cultures maybe are infect not all guilty of being prejudice.

On the contrary there are still present, those who did not and still doesn't want to see a president of african descent or minorities on any level of government. let us not forget what happened to the kenndy brothers who supported african or black americans. so prehaps in your annalogy of his prayer please stay mindful that while you may be innocent their are others who are guilty and that is a fact.

God bless pastor Lowrey for his struggle

This benediction was for all Americans to come together and work as one. When every citizen to your nation can contribute their special abilities. The reverend pointed out some the best that each American can bring to the table. The last part was taken be most as it was suppose to be, in that the black man will be included, the brown will not be thought as a terrorist, the Asian person’s views of wisdom will be heard, even if it said to think before you judge. When First nations people are not viewed as a person, not a premonition and for the rest of the nation to use the wisdom given to use by the generation before us weather it was great or in error. There needs to be more understanding and fewer fingers poking or pointing. We are the new generation and have the wisdom of the ages at our finger tips. Let’s learn and benefit from the truth and sacrifice.

And if you are Christian you think God truly listened to that "prayer"...My God is bigger than that...
Remember this song? Jesus loves the little children....all the children of the world....red and yellow black and white they are precious in HIS sight.....
Dr. Lowery my heart goes out to you ...you have a lot to answer to God for one day as each of us does but I think bearing Reverand in front of your name you'll be judged more harshly.

Wright needs to apologize to all WHITE people. Nope, I'm not racist at all. Pure capitalist Christian white guy. Wright is a bogus reverant just like Jesse Jackass Jackson

Wright, is a pompous, racist a s s h o l e.

How true, from Shelly: "I'm afraid that until we can be irreverent in reverent settings about race relationships without the strong reaction expressed here that we still have a long way to go on our journey."

I think the many complaint comments here have bubbled up a lot of race sentiment. And this talk of "white guilt" from whites referring to empathetic whites. Oh come on. The deal is this: some humans have empathy with other humans, with those laboring under color-based bias being one example. For some, it's not a group/race thing, it's human empathy, plain and simple.

To find fault with Rev. Lowery's prayer is to expose a lack of empathy; to take it out of context--and the inauguration was replete with context, as is Dr. Lowery's life--is more of the same shortsightedness that we've suffered through for 8 years and more. This new day is about larger ideas, the need to continue to SEE and acknowledge what is in need of change in order to move on, because without a larger picture in mind, our collective complacence or smugness prevents us as a nation from moving forward.

You can youtube Mr. Lowery’s prayer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pEH37JIgBU
At the point where he says “Let whites embrace what is right” Mr. Obama’s smile changes. It is like a Homer Simpson “Doh” moment. I believe he recognized the faux pas. I doubt he found it funny since his mother and grandparents who raised him were white. That’s another fact that the media didn’t comment much on during the inauguration although they had plenty to say about him being black.
I took the comment as a jab at whites. I really cannot look at it any other way. I cannot look at is as a joke or because I don’t know the history, etc, etc. I’ve googled it and see that many feel like I do on other boards. Others say we’re being racist if we feel this way, which is amazing to me, because the comment was directed toward white people. Unfortunately, the ignorant, white and black, have shown up to muddy the waters of people who are trying to just express their feelings.
I am amazed the media was silent. When the “talking heads” pick apart every little thing said in a speech or done at an event why does no one step forward and say anything? It is bizarre. . . . Well, I’ve begun to think I’m living in “The Twilight Zone”.

Perception is a reality. I, like others of the Asian and White races, felt insulted at a time when I wanted to feel inclusion. I am truly saddened that this speech was aproved for the inauguration. It is an affront to those who helped put President Obama in office.

I was thrilled when Rev. Joseph Lowery began with the grand verse from Life Every Voice and Sing. This past Sunday we sang that hymn as our recessional in a small (and very white) Episcopal church in Granville--and we cried with joy.

I was thrilled when Rev. Joseph Lowery began with the grand verse from Life Every Voice and Sing. This past Sunday we sang that hymn as our recessional in a small (and very white) Episcopal church in Granville, Ohio--and we cried with joy.

I WAS APPALLED AT THE REVERAND'S REFERENCE TO THE WHITE'S DID WHAT WAS RIGHT. BLACKS NEED TO GET OVER IT. RACISM WILL NEVER END UNTIL PEOPLE ARE TREATED AS INDIVIDUALS AND NOT PART OF A RACE OR CLASS. BLACKS HAVE THE PRIVILEDGES OF A BLACK TV NETWORK, BLACK COLLEGE FUND, ALL BLACK UNIVERSITIES, BLACK MISS AMERICA, ET... THE LIST GOES ON. STOP THESE SPECIAL TREATMENTS. EQUALITY MEANS EQUALITY ACROSS THE BOARD. NOT ONE ETHNICITY SHOULD BE TREATED ABOVE ONE. A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE STILL ALIVE THAT WERE PART OF THE TRAGIC AND UNFORTUNATE TIME OF SLAVERY. WHY SHOULD PRESENT GENERATIONS BE PAYING FOR THEIR MISTAKES. AFTERALL IT WAS THE BLACK MAN WHO ENSLAVED THEIR OWN FIRST. STOP USING WORDS SUCH AS AFRICAN-AMERICAN , WHY NOT JUST AMERICAN.

HE WAS QUOTING A SONG!!!!!! Here's a link to the song he was quoting words from: it's a song by Big Bill Broonzy, Chicago, 8. November 1951 (http://www.gavagai.de/musik/HHM60.htm) it was actually written to attack racism,

SERIOUSLY.....Do your research before you are quick to call someone racist!!!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

As a 50ish person who grew into adulthood in the so called "post Civil Rights years", I am totally amazed at all of the negative response to Rev. Lowery's benediction. I heard the first negative comment last night on C-SPAN from a caller who was offended by her perception of "racism" in Rev. Lowery's ending to the benediction he offered following the inauguration.

First, I feel the people who are responding negatively and commenting have no perspective on the words he spoke. Several posts on this board have explained where the saying originated and the use thereof. So I must conclude that those of you responding negatively 1) were looking for something negative or 2) spoke from ignorance and just need to read more of the other posts to gain the knowledge you lack.

All of us are ignorant of something in this world. We need only seek to gain the knowledge we lack which can illuminate our minds and our lives. This is the true spirit of unity. If you would seek to know someone who is different from you personnaly; the goal should be to understand their life struggles, to grow, to work and live together in peace. This is something you cannot do in a vacuum nor as a group process, it is an individual process that each of us moves through at our own pace.
Maybe I am idealistic, but I think this is possible.

If Rev. Lowery's words caused you angst. Look inside yourself. Try to determine what caused you to respond negatively to his reversing the wording to that old saying. Then look for ways in which you and the rest of the inhabitants of this United States of America can move forward to a day when none of us will remember the hurtful sayings of the past and can encourage each other to create new sayings for our children and children's children to learn and teach to their children so that they can remember the good times, not rue the bad old days.

I see a bit of fear in some of the comments posted. Don't fear our new president. Trust God to guide him and us to the united future we can build together. It won't happen overnight because we didn't get in this condition overnight. Positive changes to prejudice, bigotry, economic concerns, governmental ethics and all of our other problems will take time and effort. All changes of this magnitude need a plan and take time and effort. Let's pull together and not pull apart this tentative beginning to our new administration and president of the United States of America. That's who we are (USA) and that's who we want to be. So let's learn from each other, celebrate our differences and get on with life here in these United States of America.

Fantastic comments, folks.

Don't forget, history's winners are its biggest whiners. The more you all cry, complain, and act like dirty diaper babies, the better off our nation will be. The whites on this thread who were offended by Rev. Lowery's speech -- congratulations, you're blazing the trail!

I think the next step is to write letters to the paper when you see articles about our beautiful economy is in a recession. Express how angry and hurt this makes you feel. Or, better yet, why does the newspaper write stories about our governor's corruption? We don't want to hear about corruption in our government. Why, I think the newspapers are the real corrupt ones for pointing it out!

Stop living in the past. I for one am sick and tired of hearing about things that happened years and years ago. There is a new racism upon us thanks to people like Mr. Lowery and Rev. Wright. Obama wants to watch the people he associates with because one might question is he a racist. Also we fail to recognize that Obama is part white but that is just put aside ,why is that fact ignored, because it didn't benefit him or is he forgetting that fact.

So many negative comments here! Do Americans have an irony bypass at birth? It was such a lovely lighthearted ending to a heartfelt speech. It beggers belief that one could read racist overtones into that speech! Americans should all be so proud of what has been achieved in the name of democracy!

Regards from Downunder!

I am offended for my children, sisters and brothers, parents and friends. My children of mixed race (Native American, Black, and White) can only now wonder what they are. I say they are human citizens of the United States of America. The reverend's prayer(?) was the most racist statement I have heard. He had no need to add in his final statement of predjudices!

Until we all set color aside and work as one, America. Then and only then can racist truly be conquered. We as people need to realize that we can not live in the past but progress from it and only remember the hard ships that each person has endored as an individual person. Not one race is better then the other but until we grasp this idea and take the steps forward we will never progress to what God truly intends for each of us. This does include also religion. May we remember the past, forget the hate, and progress towards unity.

I found the ending comments offensive. This was an opportunity to inspire people to work together, instead it was used as a platform to criticize non-Blacks. I realize that this is a great opportunity and achievement for the Black community. However, it should not be used as an excuse to further divide the country. I personally did not receive any inspiration from the prayer. Also, it is one thing to have a Black man as president, but is it the right Black man? In the rush to get a Black president, did we give him a pass? No one knows anything about him, other than what he says. And he has never released his birth certificate, medical records, or school records. So much for transparency!

Racist - who knows. In the modern American lexicon "racism" is not well defined and even less understood. Conduct an experiment - ask 5 persons today what "racism" means. See what you get. I find most persons can not define it. If we assume racism to be saying and/or doing things that seem to demean other persons based solely on race and that the standard is a subjective one (i.e. I as a black/white/red/yellow/brown person was offended) then Reverend Lowery demonstrated racism. If you tell whites - all whites - to start embracing what is right, then it is fair to assume the implication that Whites have not done so in the past and are not doing so now - all whites. This is objectively wrong because (1) Whites don't act collectively (so in itself each one of the Reverends comments are racist if the definition is that certain races have certain characteristics), (2) Whites just to a large extent acted collectively to elect a mixed race person (even though we can not determine why any individual voted for Obama - some may have just liked his ideas) In the end, for me, I have never been able to look into a person's mind and soul. A friend can call me a "redneck" and we just laugh because he means nothing derogatory.

Was what the Reverend said stupid - most certainly. And exponentially so for the President and/or his advisors to permit these comments. Is anyone under the delusion that that the President and/or his advisors did not know the content of each and every speech that was made at the inauguration? Why allow such a comment that can be construed as inflammatory.

Ineloquent - most of his speech was eloquent. But what was this "Yellow me mellow" thing? That just does not make any sense. I can't even figure out what he meant by that one. My wife is "yellow" and she does not know. I have many "yellow" clients and they can't tell. But the "yellows" aren't marching in the streets so maybe that is what he meant. Got me. So on this particular point the Reverend was inarticulate and, well, rather dumb.

I have hoped for a day when each of us individually can do our best to look at a person for what he is; Judge his actions. The Reverend was a speech maker on this hopeful and historic day. He had the ear of the nation and, indeed, the world. Why go there is my question - why?

It surprises me that so many were genuinely offended by the rhyming song made into a prayer by Rev Lowery. I am surprised because I had a completely opposite reaction. It warmed my heart.

I take my faith seriously, and I listened to the Inauguration with interest. I appreciated the invocation, President Obama's speech, the poem, and the benediction. I would like to re-read all of them and got online to look for transcripts. I graduated high school in Flint, MI in 1966. All through my high school years there were whites and blacks that were hateful, and there were those that were unwilling to be hateful; instead they sought to improve the tone of life and do their part to make a better world while they lived their lives and pursued their individual futures.

As a white woman, I am embarrassed at all the flack being tossed around in the postings above! I was not offended by Dr. Lowery's jab. It is a stinging truth that white has not gotten it right and it is also true that white has seen the error of its ways. The prayer is valid, and I enjoyed the light-hearted manner in which Rev Lowery offered it. Our country has many, many wounds which we are still healing from. I took the reference as a simple, pungent acknowledgement of where we've been as a nation. At my age, I know the racial struggle as part of my life. And I took it in the spirit of forgiveness for wounds received and with a desire to overcome the remaining residue between the races.

The postings above show there is much residue. But I for one enjoyed the inauguration as a visible turn for the better in our national history. It was good to see. In the end it will be our effort to make not only our individual lives good and successful, but to stretch ourselves out to our fellow man and show the sincere desire for the welfare and happiness of any who are on the short end of the scale around us. How can we be happy individuals and enjoy our own good life when we see in our own sphere of activity others who are struggling?

All things are not well with our country, but we must acknowledge this with the intent to make it better. The truth can hurt, but it is necessary to admit it for healing to occur. So I didn't mind the little sting from Rev Lowery's lips as I listened to his prayer. God knows all his children need to work together; and the ones that want to be part of that all bring with them their own imperfections, but the work they want to do is what is important. We need to Press on and put away childish things as we overcome the sins of the past by acknowledging the truth and changing what we can-- one individual at a time. Rev Lowry warmed my heart. I hope that those offended can put their offense aside and make their individual contribution a constructive one as they and we all move forward.

It's not going to be smooth, but it is a worthwhile hope and goal to do our best to make our country a better place.

In order to 'get passed' something, all people must refrain from participating in it. The definition of racism is: Discrimination or prejudice based on race. It does not end that definition with "By White People". The definition is inclusive of ALL people. So no matter who you are, if you descriminate against, pre-judge or even stereo-type base on race you're rasicst. That's something that can't be argued. Now was Rev. Lowery's remarks about race that ended this prayer racist? Probably not, but they are most definitely racially insensitive.

Those remarks were not made about past events. If they were, he would have used the PAST TENSE of the verbs. They're an indictment of the still lingering feelings of racial inequality in this country.

If a white pastor had made those same remarks REGARDLESS of his intentions, he would be dogged continuously for them.

The theme of the Obama campaign was about CHANGE. But, I see no change in attitude or tolerance in Rev. Lowery's remarks. Nor do I see no change in the attitude of those posting here regarding tolerance. Are there requirements to being a victim of a racial remark?

Any one care to take a stab as to why a person of color can make racially insensitive remarks and a white person can not?

Are there requirements to being a victim of a racial remark?

I think the different responses to this benediction is indicative of what some Blacks feared : that the election of Obama would somehow absolve the facts of history as well as current events in the life of African Americans.The fact that most Blacks understood clearly what Lowery said and many whites(?) felt "offended" signals that that reality of our life as a people is still not to be acknowledged. The election of Obama has "fixed" all racist ills. A handcuffed black man was shot in the back by a white police officer in Oakland RECENTLY. Not in the '60's. Higher unemployment rates, housing discrimination, purposeful miseducation of students of color are happening NOW. I'm not saying this in a "woe is me" kinda way because I'm clear that those beneficiaries of white priviledge really don't give a damn. My struggles will continue to be my struggles and I won't let anyone tell me that because some white folk voted for Obama, that young man would have been shot in the back if he were white.
P.S. The majority of whites who voted, voted for McCain. I'm sure the Obama campaign appreciates the high number of whites who voted for him - but it wasn't a majority of whites.

Please, boneheads, do research before you freak out. He was turning an old quote on its ear. The expression "rule of thumb" signified the width a switch could be in order to beat your wife legally. Times have changed thank goodness, and now we use the expression in common language. The Rev.was taking a popular expression from the 60's and updating it. It was meant in jest. Educate yourselves first before writing!

I understand the Reverend got his closing remarks to his 'prayer' from a song...but that song was written a very long time ago. We've all come a long way since then and there's no place for a reference like that. I think the main point the white people are offended by is that there is no equality in America...if a white pastor had given a benediction saying something demeaning to any other race, he would have been stormed by the crowd. And for those of you who think it's ok for the Reverend to use those references from the past, then why would it not also be ok for the 'N' word to be re-introduced? That word wasn't demeaning in its origination.

I was sadden by the closing remarks about whites. It seems that there will always be someone who makes a remark that will make us all cringe. Blacks are not exempt. Please remember, the remark came from a person, not a race of people. Should I believe all whites feel the same way should a white person say something negative about blacks? No and I never will. I have seen too many good examples to base my beliefs on the thoughts or actions of one person. Let's call Rev Lowery to task for his remark and anyone else who makes these kind of statements. Wrong is wrong!

I cannot believe people voted for this guy. HELLO the anti-christ is here folks. and Rev Lowery just proved. I am not racist but this will start race wars bet on it. In this century I nor any white person I know of could have said those degrading words and not been labeled a racist and possibly shot for saying it. I mean what if a white person said get back you black? OH MY GOD YOUR A RACIST !!!!!! How backward can this get. It's like you can but we can't. I'm not racist I hate everybody who is stupid and narrowminded. The only thing that got him elected was his color not his qualifications. And just a reminder HE"S HALF WWWWHHHIIITTTEEE. Get it. Obama ryhmes with Osama so basically to me this says welcome terrorist. Great voting. And it's nice that you all remember to forget what Martin Luther King said "seeing NO color". He would have made a great president. Build your bunkers and prepare for the tribulations.

I can see both sides. I don't want to hear about any of it anymore. Maybe he shouldn't have said that, but I know as a white person, I don't have issues with black people so it didn't bother me. Some people have said, "Well, if Rick Warren had said......", but the fact is he didn't and we won't ever really know what would have happened. Yeah, maybe as white people we have to be a little more sensitive, but if you truly don't care about blacks in such a negative way would it really be that big of a struggle for you to do so? I can be more tolerant and sensitive because it doesn't pain me to be otherwise. I love the famous wuote by Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?" It was just one line in a speech. Let's move on and look ahead.

Go gently good people. I think many people are letting fear rule them. In the past weren't you hopeful that certain actions or comments were not taken by your friends of color as the way all whites behaved or spoke. And didn't you have times where you knew someone coud take an idea out of context, and hoped they didn't. The Reverend's reference to an old song was no more offensive than me saying I love White Christmas!

He was quoting a saying that originated in the 60's during the civil rights movement, and when he referred to "Yellow", was referring to the Vietnam People at that time.

I felt that his remarks were inappropriate given the circumstances of the event. This country is made up of approximately 78% whites so, I think the white vote was very important to President Obama's election success. I think even those who did not vote for Barack Obama still wish him well because it is all of us that will suffer if indeed he does not. Dr. Lowrey's remarks were unkind and I would have been just as upset, no even more so, had Rev Warren made a comment to the effect of Blacks doing what is right finally. We are all people and although there is unjustice in this world it is not exclusive for the Black population. Just the same, it is not only the White population that creates these injustices. We have to stop blamming each other and start taking responsibility for ourselves. That is just my opinion.

Robin and Loronce both make good points that I would like to address.

Most of us know Rosa Parks sat down on a bus in Selma, Alabama on the 1st of December, 1955. She did the right thing. Ms.Parks is a true hero, the kind of hero that shows up out of nowhere and changes the destiny of a country for the better.

That horrific incident occured fifty years ago and things have changed. My parents were not old enough to get married when Ms Parks was abused. It is indeed history and we have come a long way from that history.

I know what the phrase meant and that is waht made it insulting.

"We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right,” Lowery

He implies that he is still waiting for that day to arrive. I have never seen a black asked to give up a seat or move to the back of the bus.
I have never seen a brown person asked to leave any place. I don't understand the yellow reference. I have embraced what I know to be right and so has anyone, white or black, that I associate with. That is why this is offensive. Mr. Lowry assumes that there is still so much bad behaviour that we need to be "righted" in some way. If that were the case then please tell me how President Obama was elected without the white vote? The truth is that a large majority of whites voted for Pres.Obama, How then do we need "righting"

All too many are screaming racism, regarding this benediction. Maybe if whites knew just a little more about minorities they might see the humor in the closing comments. The first few lines are the third stanza of the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, written by James Weldon Johnson in 1905.

The final lines of the benediction are an updated modification to an old adage repeated in minority communities. Maybe if one reads the original adage some will see that Reverend Lowery's benediction comes full circle to 2009. The original adage is as follows:

If you're black - get back.
If you're brown - stick around.
If you're yellow - you're my fellow.
If you're red - drop dead.
And if you're white - you're right.

The literary license applied to the old adage is what had the minorities laughing. The well known old saw this one day, January 20th, was humorous, because the sting of racism was lessened ... even in the last line.

First of all, as has been mentioned here already, Rev. Lowery was quoting a song. Secondly, when he mentioned "white", he wasn't talking about YOU, or any white person in particular. He was referring (actually, the song was referring) to institutional white racism. Which, if you don't believe is an actual, tangible thing, then you are either 1) White, or 2) oblivious.

I am still awaiting for Pres. Obama to respond to this issue. He has said over and over that he is the face of change. I hope it isn't a change back to the tensions we faced as a nation prior to Dr. King.

Oh all you poor poor white people, so much reverse discrimination abound, and then you got made fun of in this speech!?!? Its (sobbing)... Too much to bear!

Good grief. What's wrong with some people? Scared of people who look "different"? Tuesday was a day of healing. Be honest about discrimination and move on. I was in the crowd and saw REAL change in how people looked at each other. We all laughed at the stupidity and hurtfulness of racial divides, and we all shouted AMEN, over and over.

You can't just sweep the past (and sadly, the present for some) under the carpet. Acknowledge. Learn. Change.

"If you hit a dog, he'll holler." As a previous poster stated, Rev. Lowery's closing words were a reversal of an old saying.

Would you lot please get over yourselves!

If you're taking the reverends comments literally then you are missing the point. There is no doubt, whether you like it or not, that there is a cultural history that has yet to be overcome. Can I ask all those people expressing dissatisfaction with Reverend Lowery's closing comments whether they feel that true equality exists in America? No? Well then you'd be right.

The Reverend's comments were an amusing, humorous but poignant way of getting across a bigger message - that there is still work to be done.

If you can't see that, and if you can't take it in the spirit it was meant, then this is simply further proof of the point the Reverend was making.

Take it on the chin, see the truth for what it is and work toward that day when truly race isn't an issue. It hasn't come yet.

J.

The good reverends speech should have stayed in the past.There was no good reason of value,to further the reversed racist trend at the threshold of a new presidency.A new presidency,and time of change, that was brought about by the white citizens of this country,moreso that the blacks.Obama's attempt to make America "one" people has been undermined again,by a bitter black leader and a so called religious figure.
This is one of the reasons amongst many why I didnt vote for Obama.I fully expected this type of "one upsmanship" rhetoric,and fully knew Obama would make beleive he didnt hear it, or see it, or acknowledge its presence.And while he has had the opportunity to refute and disagree with this comment,he is silent.And his silence speaks loudly.

it's about making money. the more they beat on the reverse discrimination theme, the more $ they get from their supporters. getting in front of a national audience (if not global) and saying something retarded like that gets you attention and with attention you get $.

keep that in mind at all times.

the majority of non-profs focus on problems and causes without end b/c if they did end, the non-profs would have no jobs.

keep that in mind at all times.

an emotional speech about a cause is 99% of the time someone who's doing a lot of marketing and is targeting you and those around you to...make money.

keep that in mind at all times.

I am astonished and deeply saddened by how many white people here are saying they were offended by the ending of Rev. Lowery's benediction and calling him racist for it - and then using it as an excuse for saying some really vicious, nasty things about him and President Obama and others.

Lots of these same posts cite the many white voters who voted for Barack Obama for president (what exactly is that supposed to mean?) - but I truly wonder how many of these posters actually voted for him themselves.

I suspect these voters, these accusers of Rev. Lowery and President Obama (not "O'Bama"!) and even Oprah of "reverse racism," perhaps represent those silent voters who, before the election, would give any reason, any reason but race, for why they would not vote for Obama for president ("I'm not racist but...").

I wonder if many would own up to their actual vote now that they're using Rev. Lowery's next-to-last sentence as an excuse to trash not just him but President Obama, his wife, his administration, and Rev. Lowery and Oprah and anyone else who associates with President Obama.

I am half-white, grew up in the 50s and 60s with my white mother and white stepfather in a while neighborhood, and for most of my school years thought I was white, because my absent father had told my mother, when they were married in the '50s, he was Italian when he really was Mexican and Spanish (yes, folks, I can hear you now: I am a "half-breed").

Why do you think he would do that? Perhaps because if he was Italian, he was white (and thus "alright" - I too remember the saying), but if he was brown, he'd have problems. For exactly the same reasons, once I learned I too was half Mexican (and thus half brown) and not half Italian (and thus all white), it took me a number of years to say the words, "I am white and Mexican" as a simple, straightforward statement.

But let's look at the context, at the whole speech. Rev. Lowery's benediction had many, many references to other historical moments; the ending was just one of them:

"Got the whole world in your hand" and the rest of the first paragraph - as Julia Dengel pointed out in her post, it's from Lift Every Voice and Sing, by James Weldon Johnson

"As we leave this mountaintop" and "when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream" - Martin Luther King Jr.

"when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors" - isn't "turning swords into plowshares" from the Bible? Try Hebrew Isaiah, 2:4.

(I'm sure I'm missing a whole lot more, and I would love others to tell us which ones they recognize.)

And then the ending, which referenced a common-enough saying (I only heard it privately, not publicly or in a song) in the not-too-distant past:

"If you're white, you're alright.
If you're yellow, you're mellow.
If you're brown, stick around.
If you're black, get back.
If you're red, you're dead."

(Another saying, also never said publicly, was, "I'm free, white, and 21," meaning you need all three to be truly free in this country. Recognize the sentiment?)

Rev. Lowery wasn't dissing whites, or Asians, or Latinos, or anyone else. He was, in a joking way (I laughed as I recognized it, you bet), saying he hoped we were past all that.

Apparently, to judge from the snarky reactions of many of these posts, we're not. Far from it. (And just because we whites no longer admit publicly that we judge people by their race, that doesn't mean we are in a "colorless" society or that racism only exists in the "reverse" kind.)

As a writer and a once-in-a-lifetime commencement speaker, I see the way Rev. Lowery blended all these references and made them his own. He is a masterful writer and this was a masterful speech.

It also had a beautiful message, calling on all of us to be strong in the face of these powerful economic and global headwinds, to come together as one people and face these challenges together.

To focus solely on the ending to the exclusion of the rest of the speech - and, worse, to take it as an insult - is really, really sad, and I hope we can get over it.

Because the only way we are going to get through the mess we are in is by coming together.

By the way, thank you so much, Lynn Sweet, for posting Rev. Lowery's speech. I did a search for it because I wanted to save it, and savor it, along with President Obama's inspiring speech, Elizabeth Alexander's beautiful poem, and photos of that glorious day.

I am the LEAST offendable person on the planet and haven't been offended by anything probably in the last 10 years, but this speech was appalling....absolutely in the poorest taste ever!

To even bring up 'color' of the different men goes against the cry for 'unity' that people claim they are seeking. If one wants unity, focusing on different colors and telling a 'color' to mellow out and another to get right is so counter-productive.

This is the most racist thing I've heard in my entire life in a public setting and is disgusting.

seem's we have so very thin-skined folks on this
posting site,listen Rev.lowery was not trying to
insult any race,now if you got ticked-off by that
little comment,it just shows your guilt,just
remember,"EVERYTHING CHANGES,NOTING WILL EVER STAY THE SAME"..............

I feel sorry for some of you who do not understand the meaning of what Rev. Lowery said. Remember he spoke on the Red man getting ahead? When is the last time anyone thought of the Native American and his/her plight???? By the way, African Americans did not refer to other races as yellow, red, or black/colored. It was certain Whites who did.

The good reverend was obviously being playful, and it was clear the audience took it in that spirit.

The yellow/mellow bit was admittedly cringe-inducing, but this elderly gentleman comes from a generation where this is eminently forgivable. Can anyone who saw him speak honestly judge his message to have been racist?

It goes without saying that every syllable spoken at the inauguration would have been vetted by swarms of people considering every conceivable angle of interpretation...

Having Rick Warren give the 'benediction' was far more a stain on the overblown proceedings, and infinitely more worrisome in terms of BHO's judgment.

Here's hoping the next four years can help America finally move beyond its silly and divisive obsession with race and labeling. After all, BHO's family includes all the shades mentioned in the 'offending' lines...

It seems to me that none of the posters here that found such offense by Rev. Lowrey's words know the origin of the saying which he paraphrased.

First of all, this saying was NOT racist. Rev. Lowery's phrase comes from a song from the Jim Crow south era. If you are not aware of Jim Crow, I'll refresh your memory. Jim Crow was a system of legalized segregation and classism in the South which subjugated non-Whites and was similar to the apartheid system used in South Africa.

The phrase which Rev. Lowrey used echoed these opresive laws in that Blacks were lowest on the totem pole, followed by latinos, and then asians, and ultimately at the top were whites. Lowrey's paraphrase essentially was hoping for the day in which this system would no longer apply in America. The symoblism of this phrase corresponding with Barak Obama, an African-American, as the first president served to indicate that the country is at last moving away from such systems that serve to classify and seperate groups of people based on race.

SO finally for those of you who automatically assume reverse racism, you should ask yourself do you know your history? Do you know that Lowrey's words were those sung in the deep South to glorify racism and subjugation.

Therefore, when Lowrey said, "White will embrace what is right", only referenced the historical and legalized use of Jim Crow, etc. to disenfranchise other citizens of the this Country (it just so happens that the creators of this system were White and it took Whites to embrace what is right to end this policy, ie Voting Rights Act, Desegregation).

So finally, I implore those that want to use reverse racism to feed their need for hate to know that one can not grow without acknowledging their past, whether this includes bitter racism, slavery, or injustice.

Just food for thought.......

Simply beautiful and very encouraging to all people. If we just band together in love and unity, then YES WE CAN help President Obama bring about a great change in OUR NATION.

TO AMAZED IN TEXAS: YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH, I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER!!!!!!! THANK GOD THERE ARE STILL SOME INTELLEGENT PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD!!!!!!!

I'd like to second admiration for the commenter "Amazed in Texas", whose comment sounds very reasonable and adult and who apparently knows how to take context into account.

Listen! If you are looking for racism you will find it. If you are looking for unity you will find it.

My question is what are you looking for? We all make mistakes and say the wrong thing at the wrong time, Rev. Lowery’s imperfect time happen to be on inaugural day when a billion self-righteous eyes and ears were watching and listening. Let he without sin cast the first stone? Or take your stone and build Rev. Lowery up. May this email create peace for us all.

Michael

Dr. Lowery's comments were intentional and personally ignorant.

Preparing a speech for a country that is supposed to be moving forward with change, hope, and unity does not require a prayer on race.Isn't prayer supposed to be a positive thing.

If hope, change, and unity is what Obama is about, he should definitely do business with those who will promote positive feelings and unity to all colors and not ever bring up race in a prayer. In order to solve the race issue, blacks need to quit blaming and whites need to stop trippin and everyone needs to start taking responsibility for themselves.

The biggest issue with the upcoming presidency is the overall approach by the black race. Obama is not your savior. Obama will not pay your bills. Obama will not wipe your ass. WHY? Because its America, and America is about white people, black people, green people, purple people, and yellow people. Just because Obama is black does not mean that he can sign a bill that will give black people free reign over everything.

One more note about Mr. Obama...totally not race or religion related. If Obama was really about change....why did he follow suit and spend the millions of dollars on the inauguration? Why didn't he have that money put back into the economy?

REVERSE DISCRIMINATION THATS SAD GREAT ENDING

GET OVER IT!!!!!! Mr. Lowery, you are black and I am white. The more you keep bringing it up the more I see the difference. Thank you for continuing to point it out to the rest of America!

I am more concerned that the President of the "UNITED" States of America allowed a Black National anthem during his inaugeration. Where was the white, yellow or brown national anthems. It is BS like this that keeps the country divided. We have ONE (1) national anthem. That is the only natioinal athem that should have been played.

Hey "ec", you are full of crap! Lowery wasn't quoting the song you referenced. If you would have looked at the song, you would see that there are similarities but Lowrey's prayer were not quotes. Big Bill Broonzy, who wrote the song you claim Lowrey was quoting said: "If you was white, You's alright, If you was brown, Stick around, But if you's black, oh, brother, Get back, get back, get back."

I don't see Big Bill Broonzy say anything about Yellows should be mellow, or The Red Man can get ahead Man, and I especially don't see Broonzy say that Whites should embrace the right! I don't doubt that Lowery included some of the rhyming words of Bill Broonzy's song, probably because Lowrey is still living in 1951 when Broonzy wrote it. Broonzy's song is probably one of Lowrey's favorites on his iPod. He probably plays it daily so he can maintain his racist attitude toward the White man! But to try and pass off Lowrey's blatant racism as 'quoting a song' is ridiculous!

What happened to MLK's dream of judging a man according to his character rather than the color of his skin? Why is it that Obama's election as president of the United States is "Historic?" It's because he's a black man. Is this because of the 'content of his character' or is it because of the 'color of his skin'? We all know it's the latter. How long will racist black people continue with this expired notion of racism by white men? Ok, we've elected a black man (if only by half) as president. Can we cut the crap about how the white man now needs to be embracing the right? How about not elevating everything Obama does as "historical"?

I am tired of the reverse racism of the left accusing white men of the exact same sin that they are perpetrating on the white men. Enough already.

Oh, and btw, I am 1/4 Native American...almost white but not quite!

Yep, Lowery is racist. There's no doubt about it.

"When white will embrace what is right." Are you kidding me. Obama's white grandparents embraced what was right when the baby mama and baby daddy didn't.

It is very well to think of whites in the United States as racist however I don't see a black person as an elected leader of a European or UK Country, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc. etc.

I think we have gotten a bum rap and now publicly shamed at every opportunity for being white. I am not apologetic, no, I am proud to be a white man and an American.

Another pet peeve of mine is the "African-American" label. I'll not use it unless it is reciprocated with the equally dignified "European-American". American blacks are no more African than American whites are European.

Racist is racist and American is American. All else is silliness.

I'm very optimistic about Obama's presidency. I believe he was by far the best choice we had once the Congressman Doctor Ron Paul dropped out of the race.

Look, people. Geet over it. The Democrats won. We think systemic racism is still a problem in American, and we're gonna keep on talking about it for the next four years. We're going to talk about poverty, climate change, reproductive freedom, international cooperation, civil rights, and anything else we think needs fixing. If it hurts your feelings soooooo much to hear an opinion you don't like, just turn to a different channel when you hear anyone from the White House speaking. That's how I've kept my blood pressure down for the last 8 years of streaming insults to Democrats, intellectuals, and every religion (even Christian ones) that isn't evangelical Christianity combined with conservative politics.

If some of the commentators are correct about the origin of the "when white will do what's right" phrase, then the reverend, in his closing poem, was speaking to a select group of Americans, not all Americans, as should be the case on inauguration day.

I never heard this poem before. Clearly, this is a cultural thing in the black community, and that's OK.

The reverend should have taken into consideration his audience, the collective American people. He should have clued us in to the joke so we could laugh with him.

PS: Looks like Shelby Steele was wrong in ""A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win," "

Lighten up people .... you are being way too sensitive. The Rev. Lowery is around 87 years old and I liked his prayer the best. He grew up in a different time and is part of the old civil rights movement so of course, he would have a different perspective than younger people today. Speaking as a white person, I liked the ending and didn't find it offensive at all. I don't think he was trying to be racist, he was just rhyming his ending phrases. Better than being boring!

I have never been racist against blacks or any other race, but the so called Reverand Lowrey is a racist. His derogatory comments about Whites is old and tired. Get a new line reverand.

To get past racism, people need to do their best to be (1) non-offensive, and (2) not be offended. Clearly Lowery's speech fell short of the first goal, even if the history is understood. But it's still within our ability to follow through on the second part, and refuse the offense. Only when people practice both of these will racism really be in the past.

I think Reverand Lowry labeled ALL white people as lacking in our willingness to do what is right because he included the word "when" before the words "White will embrace what is right" in his prayer. By definition, this means that "white" has not yet embraced what is right. As a person who was sentenced to life as a member of the wrong-embracing white race, I'd like to send a note of appreciation to Reverand Lowry:
Dear Reverand Lowry - Thanks for suggesting to the world that white has a real problem in doing what is right! Thanks for reminding me that as a white person I'm obviously embracing what is wrong! Thanks for asking God to help me change! Thanks for not just asking God to help some whites change! Thanks for not noting that some whites already do what is right! Thanks for failing to notice that a few whites took time away from our busy schedule of doing wrong and voted for Obama! Thanks for including a little bit of race baiting into your prayer!
Thank you for your inspirational rhyming prayer. Had you changed some of the words and asked God to "Help Black to give up Crack" or asked God to "Allow Brown to stay and prosper in his home town", your prayer would have been offensive. Although each of these requests does rhyme pretty well and at first appears to be a worthy request of God, this is actually stereotypical racist hate speech disguised as prayer. These suggest all African-Americans use illegal drugs & that all Hispanics are illegal aliens. These types of requests have no place in a prayer to God.
Thank you Reverand Lowry for not confusing the world and praying about things that are actually stereotypical racist hate speech disguised as prayer. We understand that you were not simply suggesting that all whites are not embracing what is right. We realize you were stating that EVERY WHITE PERSON IS NOT EMBRACING WHAT IS RIGHT! This is certainly not offensive or racist in nature! White American thanks you from the bottoms of our wrong-embracing hearts!

Rev. Lowery’s prayer was one of the best moments of the day. I cried so hard I hurt my head.

I am a 67 year old white woman and for 15 years I have worked with American Indians, specifically the Oglala Lakota of the Pine Ridge Reservation. While there are many white people who embrace what is right, there are also many who still deny the rights of American Indians. It’s mighty hard to get ahead when you’ve been refused a job again and again. Our largely white government has not gotten it right either with reservations, where shamefully many live in severe poverty.

Racism is amazingly prevalent in many cities and towns that border reservations. Many whites are not getting it right – it’s a painful realization.

I applaud Rev. Lowery for asking God to “help us work for the day ... “when the red man can get ahead...”
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen!

Thank you Sun-Times and Lynn Sweet for printing this prayer.
Nancy Cayford, Director
Friends of the Oglala Lakota

Excellent piece of art-more inviting than the president's speech

AS a 63 year old African American woman, I would
say "right on" to Rev. Lowerey.Those of you who
feel the references to the white , black, asian,and native american, really don't know any history at all. This saying was very popular when I grew up in Tennessee. It reflected the way things were and have been for a very long time. In my opinion, Rev. Lowerey's comment was an indication that perhaps we are moving toward closing the circle of unfair treatment to all. I know exactly what he meant and that is why I laughed and said "right on" As a youngster, I sat on the back of the bus, went to segregated
schools, and drank from the water fountain with
"colored" on one side and "white" on the other.

Those situations reflect racisim, not the words of Rev. Lowerey.

I'm glad I lived to see the election of an African American President and I believe that
President Obama will inspire all of us to work
for the recovery of the dismal state of this country. He's a brillant man who happens to be
BLACK and that's why he got my vote. And that's right on!

I don't know what he means by Brown sticking around, but it is clear that his call for yellow (Asians) to be mellow, and Whites to do right is clearly racist P.C. hypocrisy that passes itself off as part of the new progressive world order.

As a "Christian" pastor, he should call on *all* to repent, not just White folks, but the bottom line of the message is Black good; White bad; and he hides behind the cloth to spew this. I would also add that in the Bible, only God is referred to as "Reverend".

Here is the uncomfortable truth: In addition to what we already know about slavery/lynching/W.A.S.P.-inflicted discrimination, there has always been a counter-movement against this, and it was already in place with the then-unconventional actions of John Adams, Ben Franklin and others who had very strong convictions of social justice. Despite this, there are those who prefer to sweep that under the rug and only talk about all the horrible things the White race. not white *individuals" did. "Reverend" Lowery is a bigot because he sees us not as individuals, but as people who are marked by the immutable quality of our racial origin, which is an accident of birth and not a choice we make.

Martin Luther King gave his life for his dream where his children would not be "judged by the color of their skin, but for the content of their character", but the Freedom Train has been hijacked by those such as Lowery who talk out one side of their mouth about justice, but keep telling us that if we should feel guilty simply because of our skin color.

And as AShaw pointed out, didn't the White race already do right by electing Obama?

Also, does Lowery forget that Blacks alone would have had no chance against the Whites who oppressed them unless other Whites had taken the the side of their Black bretheren? How many Whites (and brown people, and red and yellow people) risked their lives and in some cases died alongside Blacks in their struggle for freedom? Funny how that part isn't discussed.

Don't kid yourself folks, the professional race-baiters such as Lowery and others such as him will be no sooner placated by the endless concessionary gestures of self-loathing Whites as the KKK will be impressed by people of color who live their lives in a dignified manner. While through the sheer force of numbers and economic advangage White bigots have done far more damage than bigots of color, the bigots of color are just as hateful, and given the same opportunities, would inflect the same damage.

MY HAT GOES OFF TO THE COMMENT BY "Amazed In Texas"
You stated just what I was thinking to the "T".
Lets move on people and stop looking for something negative and lookin for positive in everything we do.

1. the benediction was beautiful and humorous
2. people of color and people who 'get it' understand what the references elude to
3. there is no reverse racism. we all have personal pre-judgements about people, places, foods, things, and ideas. when people who have historically wielded power, privilege, and served as oppressors use words to further that oppression -that is hurtful, hateful, and poisonous. when someone speaks to the truth of what we have done to each other, that is truth not racism.
4. a personal pet-peeve of mine is when people say, 'i don't see in color.' or 'we can't we be color-blind.' well, you know what, i'm proud to be an American who identifies with a rich ethnic cultural background. why do i have to give up my ethnicity or deny that my skin color is what it is? why can't we see each other as people and understand that we do not look, speak, or act the same? what's wrong with seeing the world in its diversity and embracing what we each bring to the table? the world is rich in color and i don't want to be blind to it. i'm brown and i'm stickin' around!

President Obama's Inauguration Benediction - I believe that Rev. Lowery was trying to end the entire sober day with some levity. Our country and the world are in the worse state that it has ever been in many serious ways. I do not have to list them because we are living them. Let us stop looking for the negative or something to complain about. There is racism, prejudice, sexism and age discrimination everywhere, and has always been that way.
I once stated to Rev. Phillips B. Henderson approximately 40 ago, "It would be nice if all of us were blind. Then there would not be any reason for racism or prejudice." He responded, "People would always find a way to be a racist or prejudice." and he was right. Reading the responses to the Inaugural Benediction proves that fact.
Even if he had just quoted scripture and/or said the Lord's Prayer, there would have been complaints.
If people could not and do not accept Jesus Christ, then why should we expect them to accept an Inaugural Benediction?

IT TOTALLY AMAZES ME THAT WHEN ANY BLACK SAYS ANYHTING ABOUT WHITES BEING UNFAIR, I SEE THAT THEY BECOME INSULTED. WE AS A PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING INSULTED AND STEREOTYPED BUT NOTHING IS SAID EXCEPT "I AM NOT PREJUDICE" BY WHITE FOLKS.
MY POINT IS GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON.

Do you guys think he made up the ending? Didn't you know that it was a re-writing of a saying that all black people have heard? If you understood the context in which the comments were made you wouldn't be offended. It represented CHANGE fro the past. I guess it was an inside job that shows that we are still different because only those that never heard the original saying seem to be the people offended. Anyone who wants to pretend that the past didn't occur or that this country is not still struggling with racism is naive.

People, people ... why can't we all get along? The superior color now occupies the highest office in the nation. Now it is OUR time to grow the government so it will benefit the downtrodden. Can not white embrace right? For once, let the redman get ahead! As a blind man once said, "If race has you confused, strike out your eyes."

Rev Lowery's speech was, for me, both funny and moving, and in no way racist. The part where he mentions colour sound like some kind of quotation, and I should like to know its origin.

It's an unfortunate human failing that we look at things in order to have our opinions, which are the means by which we regard ourselves and handle our lives, confirmed.

Paul Simon once wrote: "a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest" - a truth which explains the basis for much misunderstanding, conflict and grief in the world.

Those who imagine this speech to be racist would do well to reflect first on their own attitudes and opinions with regard to the issue of race.

Lord, it's hard to be humble! The arrogance of some comments make that clear. So do some of the comments of some persons responding to some of those comments (albeit a few are excellent arguments).

Lynn Sweet, I first found a translation done by the AP and questioned the syntax of one line, so I sought out another to verify it - which brought me to yours. Disturbingly, they're the same in every respect. I believe the line of text, "lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee" in the first paragraph would be more accurately punctuated as "lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest - our hearts drunk with the wine of the world - we forget thee". The first version simply doesn't flow logically for me.

I'll leave the issue of appropriateness to other seemingly more informed, writers. To Pat of Sacramento, I copied and printed your Jan 22 comments. I believe you got it right in every respect.

I'm excited about Obama being in office, this nation needed this...

I was offended by the ending by Rev. Lowrey's comments. Being a 4th generation American ( great grandmother was a legal immigrant), I'm considered white, aka Caucasian. My family does not look back at heritage, but forward towards America. From our appearance and family values, you'd see us an typical average American family. My family had nothing to do with slavery or oppression of African Americians. I'm still classifed as white/Caucasian, which I feel sometimes is considered bad by some races.

I try to look past what the rev said, but it bothers me deep. Enough to research what others think, enough to share my thoughts. I looked up racism and the good Rev. didn't really do that, but he did stereotype just a bit, or a mixture of that and a bit of racism. It was in bad taste in my opinion.

I see an old man with poor taste, trying to get cute with this poetic comments, but there are a few things on my mind...

1) How what that a prayer?

2) Why does he feel white doesn't embrass right.
Doesn't white cover a lot of types of people. Russian, Polish, German, Europeans, Australians, etc? Is he saying all Caucasian people don't embrass right?

3) Watch Obama's face after he says the "white embrass" portion. It goes from a full smile to nearly a smile, it obviously made Obama think about something....

4) Turn the tables, if McCain was elected and his preacher said the exact same statement, only replace with the following..
"And when black will embrass what is right".

Pretty sure there would be riots...

I had a friend who found this very racist and couldn't believe it was actually said. Am I offended by it? Not so much. Racism comes in all forms from all people no matter what your skin color. Someone has already posted that we need to view ourselves as Americans and not by skin color. I agree with this completely. What gets me though is, has anyone ever really stopped to think that maybe there is no "pure" white anymore? I am proud of the fact that I have a mixed background even though I am uncertain of what exactly it consists of. Doesn't matter to me because I am a person and no one in this world is any better or any less of a person than the next. So you choose to get offended by what you perceive as a racist comment or you can choose to be a better person and lead by example. Racism has to end somewhere.

Whoever said we, as white people, have a "burden to do what's right" is an idiot! No one reading this article had anything to do with slavery. Slavery was horrible and I am thankful it was abolished! However, I am tired of constantly having to aplogize for something I had nothing to do with! In fact, neither did my ancestors. They were too poor to have servants.

As for doing what's right, let's look at statistical evidence and see who has the hardest time "doing what's right"! You will see a shocking picture when comparing these numbers demographically. Perhaps even more importantly, let's look at the number of black-on-black crimes. How can you blame the white man for those?

Just when I think that I have read an article at the pinnacle of stupidity, I find another one that tops it.

I am amazed at the comments from people who accuse the reverend of being "racist" as opposed to being "honest". Is there really one of you who labeled him "racist" who believes that he lied in any way. Have you ever lived in New York, Chicago, Baltimore, South Carolina or Boise Idaho? I have, and I have seen racist discrimination and segregation in all----but I have also seen and heard prayers like this come from Black and white priests and ministers. I look at this benediction as one calling for all of us to do better toward one another, the old, the young, the minority, the poor. All those who would be in the mind of Jesus at any rate.
Cries of "racism" are either covers for racism, or excuses. Neither is becoming in America where the statue of liberty promises more.
fredkellygrant@msn.com

I am suprised by the views that this is racist. While I know the first part's origin. It's the National Anthem sung by African-Americans since 1900 for unity and solidarity in the struggle for basic rights. I felt it reflected on God's deliverance through times of struggle. I was most impressed by the fact that the words cover all races who have toiled in this land. From those who fought with Washington to those who fought for freedom from slavery, who suffered from internment to the fight for the worker's rights. Rev. Lowery prayed that we move beyond our current economic and military situation. He lightheartedly hoped that we continue to move beyond skin color. In fact, if you look beyond yourself, you would realize that that we as a country did not set a limitation based on skin color and elected President Obama. So for those who feel it is racist or that someone was trying to make you feel guilty --- you may have issues that you need to personally address. Remember it is not all about you.

I guess I am older than most of you because what Rev. Lowery said was a common saying just as the LOL is to texting. Trust me he changed it a great deal because the original was "if your black get back" and it was his way of letting those of us know who remember the way it was to light up. The original also said "if your white, your right". Rev. Lowery earned his right to say what he wanted the way he wanted. It is very common to include humor in a prayer. My white friends all liked it because it served the purpose we're still talking about it and you will remember Rev. Lowery. Check out the things he did earlier in his life.

it was a joke!!

....relax....

GET OVER IT AND YOURSELF!!! If you are really not "prejudice" then why should it bother you. He said nothing demeaning or attacking.

I'm so tired of being evil or the devil or whatever! 1st - I'm a northerner! My ancestors were not slaveholders & they fought to to free slaves. They fought for civil rights, etc.

2nd - growing up where I did (as a white person), I was a minority in my area. Until I learned about racism in school, it wasn't even on my radar. I've never judged a man by anything other than the content of his character, but I get judged all the time.

The assumption is that I'm wealthy or better educated or had better job opportunities. All of which is ridiculous. Much of what we call "race" problems are really "socio-economic" and as a poor/ white person - I'm tired of getting kicked in the teeth for something I didn't do.

The 60's are OVER!!!!!! If we really want to move on, let's just do it already!

You know white people have been whining since 1968 about the so-called racial guilt being poured on them.
GET OVER IT. White racism is a real and historically powerful force in this nation's very imperfect history. And whether you directly participated in it or not, YOUR WHITENESS ASSURES that you definitely and in myriad ways benefit from it
SO WHAT Joseph Lowery asked that whites do what's right. AND!!??

WHITENESS means being born into a certain set of privileges and among a certain set of assumptions that will in comparison work to your white advantage. To deny that is to deny fact itself. Doing what is right as a white person with regards to race and how we relate to each other is a future wish and not a common enough reality to NOT say what Joseph Lowery said AND HAS SAID (the same thing) since the 60's.

When do the columns about whites whining all the time about being oppressed by some old Black preacher's words come out?

AMEN Dr. Lowery!

I think Rev. Lowery was just so excited about doing the benediction that he didn't consider all who would be his audience that day. If I told an inside comment or joke amongst a group of people that had me and a few knowledgable friends laughing but the rest of the group hadn't a clue; it would be considered bad manners if I didn't explain myself. Let's face it; it sounded like sterotyping if you didn't know the history. Words are SO powerful; we need to be mindful of how we use them. I believe a lot of problems come from misunderstading each other and assuming.
Too much humor on TV and movies these days comes ffrom putting somebody down or making fun of them. Our president needs to consider this too. Maybe telling Republicans they need to quit listening to Rush Limbaugh if they want to work productively with him was a joke. But again it sounds like stereotyping. I'm moderate to conservative in my politics depending on the issue. That's why I didn't vote for Obama; not the color of his skin. If J.C. Watts had run for president, I would have voted for him in a nano-second over McCain. I also voted for Clinton the first time he ran. But I'm feeling like our president thinks I listen to Limbaugh and that's where I get my ideas. It couldn't be farther from the truth; I can't stand his show. The meanness and put downs on both sides are very unproductive and divisive. So, let's all think before we speak and quit assuming.

I forgot some quotes in my last post.

"We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now"

"We must learn to live together as brothers, or perish together as fools."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I am not assuming any reader's behavior or ideas, just passing along some great quotes for all. Take from them what you will. We can start today.

Perfect ending?

"and when white will embrace what is right"

That implies that white does not currently embrace what is right. President Obama is where he is today because on November 4th, 2008 whites and blacks and people of all races across this country did "what was right". These types of statements are inflamatory regardless of their intent or origin of reference and do nothing to move our country foward.

I think whites are not use to our culture but we are use to theirs. We werent putting them down but letting them know that these kind of things still exist. Yea we have a Black President so what and yes you all did help put a black man in office and so did blacks, latinos, asians, you white arent the only ones in America. There are still white people out there who have not got over racism. People are not born racist but are taught to hate others. Especially in the South. Many descendants of racists whites are taught to hate or discriminate against blacks. I see it as a black youg lady! They might not tell you but they are. You see it in the Police force, the government, and work force. And for those talking about it being racist to Asians as well all the Rev was saying is that asians are always going to be comfortable around whites in other words "mellow with them." Black and Brown are still being held back in so many ways still, and Red people or Native Americans are somewhat getting ahead even though there are barely any left. It doesnt take a genious to figure out what the Rev. said. In those who say you dont understand his comment what you really saying is that you dont want to accept the truth about how white Americans are. In yes not all whites are the same and for those who were offended by that im sorry the Rev was just telling the truth and if it doesnt apply to you dont worry about it and for those who it does apply this to yourself and you better start to get right!Peace and God Bless America

I think the old fool is just a little senile and doesn't even know it is 2009. If any race hasn't embraced what is right, it is the blacks - and they know it. They do 90% of the crimes; they have about 75% of their children out of wedlock; as a percentage of their population, they receive about four times as much welfare as whites; and on and on and on. Black people please - embrace what is right!!!

Wow, What a powerful and remarkable prayer!!!!! His prayer was inclusive, the way GOD intended. GOD shined HIS grace on Rev. Dr Lowrey, all for the glory of GOD!

There are more than 84 hues associated with black americans. They range from white to black. As a black american female, obtaining makeup becomes a surreal adventure. For those who are unaware or blinded by the "colors" blacks carry, blacks have made light of the pain suffered because of being on the black side. Blacks knew of the supposed advantage of the lighter skinned blacks and the disadvantages of the darker skinned blacks. Blacks knew that if they were close to being white skinned, they would be alright. If their skin tone was kind of "yellow" "high yellow" fair skinned or light skinned, their life and livelihood would/could be mellow. If they were "brown" they could stick around and perhaps get crumbs from the table. But the closer they got to being black, the chances of a promising life were not in the forefront of anyone's mind, but way in the back. The notion of color shades still exists today. The TV anchors are fair, yellow and light skinned. The sports "color" men are the exception as they are usually darker skinned. To further the point, the ideal beauty of black women still resembles Halle Berry. If one were to rate a beautiful black woman and had a choice of Halle Berry, Angela Bassett, or Alek Wek, the choice would be clear.
In 2007, the white doll/black doll experiment that originated in the 1950's was again conducted. You guessed it. Black girls still held that the white doll was pretty and the black doll was not.
Rev. Lowery's message was a message to black folks and a timely message indeed. His message had little or nothing to do with white folks, asians were not even a consideration in the recitation, native americans still have more rights on reservations than on other american soil. (In some areas, lighter skinned blacks are called "red bone." Therefore the remarks could also have excluded native americans)
Since most caucasians did not have to bear scars based on their skin coloring, and in most cases their skin tone has always been described by a hair color, they have no clue as to the remarks. And yes, you will continue the misguided missed cues by thinking that you were excluded from a prayer that should have included everyone. I think that's what blacks have been thinking since 1512, can't everyone be included.
So now, people other than folks of color know the hand slapping, hand clapping rhyme. How about, "I don't call you son because you're mine, I call you son because you shine." How many caucasians, asians or native americans have you seen with greasy, oily complexions? Blacks have had to use colloquialisms to get through the pain and suffering of an outer wrappping that has rendered them less than others for so long.
Rev. Lowery is 87 years young. He will not live a matching number of years to even out his years of suffering. Based on the age expectancy of blacks-78-, if they are 39 years young or younger, they have a chance. The rest of us can only make ourselves happy with what life we have left, our light hearted sayings, and yes, our humorous prayers. Amen. Amen. And, Amen, again.

I understood the reverend as discrediting white people by making a stereotype just because of the color of our skin. To me, it’s insulting and discrediting to us as a people. I understand that slavery was a horrible thing, but so was the concentration camps in Germany, and yet I’ve never experienced a Jewish person holding a grudge against me because of where I came from or who I am. It’s almost as if some people choose to live in this time warp and it’s not a productive place to be. I don’t see Obama as a black man, I see him as a person. Who cares if he’s black, white, Hispanic or Oriental. Why do people have to keep placing such emphasis on skin color? It makes no sense to me especially if our goal is to come together in unity and equality. But pointing fingers and blame only makes people defensive and that in turn shuts down all efforts to make progress. That’s why I say, if people keep living in the past, they can’t go forward. The reverend was NOT telling the truth, he was contributing to racism.

Thanks Rev. That pathetic speech (definitely not a prayer) has turned me from being tolerant to being just another racist, like you! Is it 2012 yet?

I enjoyed the Benediction by Rev. Lowery and there was not any thing racist about it. People need be able accept change.

When it's all said and done the USA will be multi-cultural nation and then what.

People in ths country need to wake up it's a new DAY.
THe LORD WANTED OBAMA right where he is. This was the DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.

WAKE UP PEOPLE!

Anybody who thinks that Rev. Joseph Lowery had racial intent with his benediction should get a grip and understand the context of what he is trying to say. He's not telling us that white people still don't get it right. He's telling people to do what is right and is telling the black population to stop getting back with revenge on one another. As a white Christian male, I hope that some people can step back and relax and stop letting race motivate the context of their lives and influence the decisions and words they write. It is no wonder the world looks at the U.S and wonders why they can't break through and step forward to be the leaders they can be. The world grows more and more apathetic to the U.S because of the desent and racial divide the country just cannot hurdle. Men like Joseph Lowery understand the need for racial equality but they also embrace the idea that all are created equal, as stated in the U.S constitution. I thought what Joseph Lowery said was amazing and if people understood what it means to turn tanks into tractors, they would understand the peace Joseph Lowery desires to see.

Too many words. Too many apologists. Lowery was wrong. The inauguaration was about the future, not the past. The day should have passed as Lincoln described,"WITH CHARITY FOR ALL, WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE." Lowery, knowingly, created this mess.

The very fact that so many were offended tells you that this was a very inappropriate comment. As a white Christian female from the south who considers all races to be equal before God, I do not believe comments such as his are helpful toward unity. Having said that though, I also believe that the only one who CAN unify all races is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever noble attempts to do so now, while honorable in intent, will only be met with failure (just as it was when Nimrod tried to unify all people but without God as head, and all were looking toward one man to do it. We should be careful giving 'messiah' status to ANY man, be he black or white, else we make the same mistake those who elevated Nimrod did, and heap judgment upon ourselves).

It was a great PRAYER!

Come on everyone.Stop being so touchy. We could go on and on who's right and who's wrong. There is no perfect person walking this earth and each and everyone of us may have said things that weren't nice. The whole nut in the nutshell is that we need to all pray for our leaders that they will make good decisions. If they don't we still pray for them. It's said and done now lets move forward.

Any time one sees race as being something that categorizes people, it's racist. There is nothing about race that makes anyone any different than anyone else. If people want to get beyond racism, they need to not be racist.
Who was the first president with an "inny" bellybutton? Anyone know? It's a characteristic that pretty nicely divides people, with a few exceptions. Not the same, you say, since bellybutton orientation doesn't mean anything about the person? SAME WITH RACE. If you think race makes people different, you're racist.
The "prayer" was racist because it divided people by race. It was offensive because it assigned different aspirations to each race. Some did sound negative and some positive, but even if it's all positive, it's racist, and offensive. Suppose he had said, let black get love, brown get peace, red get serenity, yellow get friendship, and white get happiness. That is also racist, and offensive. Why should one be any different than the other? They shouldn't.
Oh, it's sexist too, because it includes black, brown, red MEN, yellow and white. What about red women?

Rev was right, lets embrace what is right. As an african foreigner in Europe; many times l feel that l have to prove myself because of my skin colour. I long for the day we will not be jugded by our skin colour and be one with no colour and just children of God. Lets overcome racism.

What is going American people? The Benediction by Rev. Lowery was GREAT! The ending was humorous to say the least, just laugh and move on! PLEASE don't take it personal, unless the "shoe fits." It is EVERYBODY'S constitutional right to Freedom of Speech. I think Rev. Lowery's pass experiences, because how old is he, 77-80? He has every right to make a humorous remark about HIS HISTORY. He's an old man for Christ's sake! LET IT GO PEOPLE!

Example: I was an apartment manager about 20 years ago (1989), one of my white elderly tenants, I think she was about 70+ yrs. old, came to the rental office looking for the maintenance man. She asked me, "were is that colored boy?"

I immediately took offense, but "bit" my tongue, because I was taught to RESPECT THE ELDERLY. Moreover, since I am a very light-skinned beautiful, black female, this tenant thought I was white (LOL). I looked at this old, humped over, frail, white lady and thought, she doesn't mean any harm toward black people, it was HER PASS, HER 70+ year old way of addressing black people. I immediately forgave her and told her he was not in the office at this moment.

Point: Rev. Lowery is an old man, who has experienced many, many, years of oppression and discrimination. He is entitled to make a humorous remark about it. I did not picture him as a racists black man who intentionally wanted to spite other races. I say leave the old man alone, RESPECT YOUR ELDERLY, let them share with us their experiences, don't take it personal, strive to work together and make America better for our future...and finally, JUST LET IT GO PEOPLE---MOVE ON!

Dockery - What's wrong with colored boy? The C in NAACP stands for colored. Was it the "boy" you were offended at? Why, was the maintenance man a girl? An old man?

I have been stopped in my tracks, so to speak by some of the comments that have been posted. Rev. Lowery has lived long enough to see Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's dream come true. Within the fact that many people of all races voted for President Obama,and many people of all races were on the mall on January 20th, a black church was burned that night by white racist. What Rev. Lowery quoted at the end of his benediction were words that were used many years ago. Considering his age, I can understand and overlook what he said. As an African-American, I do understand that there are still people who still believe that "blacks should step back, etc...". What we need to do is focus on making sure that these words are erased from our vocabulary and never be used in such a demeaning manner again. For me at 60 plus years of age, Rev. Lowery's words reminded me of how far we have come, but how far we still have to go. The election of President Obama is just the beginning of a dream no longer deferred.

Preacherwoman

His reference to color had no place in the benediction regardless that Obama is the first black president. Had we elected a woman, should we have prayed for special blessings during her PMSing???

I don't give a HOOT about his color and if he does,,,it's his issue. I do however care a great deal about his position on the issues and because of this, I pray about him and his cabinet, I pray for you, I pray for me and I pray that our country is still recognizable at the end of his term. I PRAY A LOT!!!

I was moved by Rev Lowery speech - the experience of watching the inauguration on TV and listening to it on the radio still brings joy into my heart.

I have to chuckle when reading the comments from white folks who see Rev Lowery's speech as racist. I grew up middle class white in California - there were a few issues but generally my circumstances of birth couldn't have been better. My mother, very Anglo-Saxon European, was active in the civil rights movement and I grew up in a largely Jewish environment in the shadow of the Holocaust; I was brought up to believe racism is an evil in the world. I didn't have any bad experiences of African Americans - I didn't know many; most were my mother's professional colleagues.

Even so, when I started spending more time with African Americans of varied backgrounds, I could hear those little racist voices; I have worked hard to convince them to go bother someone else.

I have experienced racism against me for being white but mostly I have been the recipient of lots of white privelege. We are all impacted by the history of racism in America; it is like alcoholism: we need a good recovery program. Maybe Racism Anonymous; not to cure racism but to cure the negative impact it has had on our lives, on our society.

Any white person who thinks voting for Obama makes them righteous or proves they've erased any impact that racism has on them and their relationship, needs to think again. It is not that easy.

The accusations that this speech was racist are ridiculous. He is reciting the last part from the Negro National Anthem. And just because, we as whites, elected Obama, does not mean that racism is dead. It's alive and well. I just had a woman at work the other day tell me that her 5 year old daughter would no longer listen to Bob Marley because she found out he was black. This is just an example of MANY Americans out there right now. Doing one thing, electing a black President, doesn't wash away all of the years of racism and hatred. You, nor I, have any idea what it feels like to feel that oppression.

Reverend Lowery's poem at the end was quoted from 1960 and needs to stay in 1960. Anyone who makes a choice to keep living in the past with a grudge needs to "GET A GRIP". American's should be more concerened with Obama's credentials as a president and not the color of his skin. Since when does skin color play a factor in voting someone into office? Just because he's black, means he will be the greatest President EVER? I don't think so. If people really want racism to go away, then stop bringing it up every minute.

With all due respect, the last paragraph of the prayer is not part of the Negro National Anthem and has no place in a presidential inauguration, especially the inauguration of a president who claims to be a great unifier.

The overwhelming majority of criticisms regarding Rev. Dr. Lowry's prayer fail to recognise that particular part of the prayer was requesting God's help to enable Americans, together, to make an effective effort to bring about a time in the future when no Americans will be negatively treated because another person dislikes their skin colour. It is a fact that Americans of colour have been and still are, in varying degrees, subjected to such negative treatment. It is also a fact that many whites are still perpetrators of this negative treatment. Why wouldn't an American, white or otherwise, not want discrimination to end? Why wouldn't an American, white or otherwise recognise that some, arguably many, white Americans still treat other people negatively based on their skin colour. If such negative, destructive treatment exists in a nation with a history marred by such treatment, why shouldn't this be a legitimate topic to submit in prayer during a historic national socio-political cultural event? Surely we do actually want God's help in working together for a better day!?

I can not believe the ignorence of the people! Please think about do we get upset about a Black Miss America or Black College funds Black Movie Awards, Black this or that. Guess who would yell and scream if we had a White awards, or just White beauty pageant, or White college funds. They all claim to be African-American. Sorry people they are not the only ones from another country. What about asking about race other then African-American, Latino, white, other. That don't fly with me I may be Scotish-American or Italian-American, Dutch-American, Australian-America. The point is we are all from somewhere. To set the record straight we did not start the slavery issue, the spanish in South America did. I am tired of the reverse race issues. I teach my children there is no such thing as a black or white person. Really Look at the actual colors have you truly ever seen a black, white, brown,red, green,or yellow person. We should be described as the color we are, peach, tan light brown,etc. My daughters friends often have told me I'm not black look at my arm I am tan!
From the mouths of children we should return!!!!!!!

BTW, just because I am white, in no way shape or form means that I was born into a certain set of privileges as some people have commented earlier. That in itself is a racial remark and ignorant to assume. I had to work hard for everything and nothing was easy for me nor was it handed to me on a silver platter. Just the opposite. Bill Cosby has even said that he's tired of the black community using their race for every single excuse that ails their community. I'm tired of a stereotype placed on me, just strictly because of my skin color. And the very people placing these stereotypes, are the ones complaining about racism. I have many friends of ALL ethnic groups including blacks, and I've never separated them by race nor have I treated any of them differently just by their skin color. Remember people, racism works both ways, both ways. Get over the past and move on.

people, CHILL OUT!!!! i dont think he was making any racial comments. just trying to get a laugh, which was obviously succesful. o, and by the way, wouldnt you have a little tiny bit of distrust towards white people if yur grest grandfather and his whole family was killed by the kkk? would you?

The ending of this speech shows just how badly people of color do NOT want to move past racism. They want to perpetuate it!

I'm white. I consider a man's character, not his race. I have worked beside and in subject to black people, Asians, and women. I have always been able to respect these people, because they treated me with respect. Lowery's poem showed respect to all races... except white peoples.

I have learned throughout my almost 50 years on this earth that it is the black man who cannot seem to get rid of his racism. As a child, my mom took me and my two brothers to greet my dad after a long day of work - here comes a gang of black youths who beat up my oldest brother, and ran off. My mom chased them down the sidewalk, and threw her shoe at them. I ask you; where does that behavior come from? We were 5 year-olds, they were young teens. It is the black man who needs to get rid of his rage, take responsibility for his destiny, stop making excuses, and get past it. White people did so many years ago.

My Country
For those who are angry about the Inaugural prayer Rev. Lowery prayed, please forgive him. He’s an old warrior, and it may be quite difficult for him to let go of the hurt from the past. One must understand the struggles of a people from so long ago. I would like to thank; whites, reds, yellows and browns, who have stood by us as African Americans to finally make it to some point in history were we can finally say maybe, just maybe we have almost arrived at the “mountain top”. It’s been a long hard struggle! I don’t want to say only if you’re “black” you understood what he prayed the HURT and the HUMOR. I do believe others who aren’t African American understood as well. I do believe he didn’t mean any harm.

If I may share some of my family’s history to help some understand why some of our elders speak the way they do. My father and mother were married for almost 60 years, raised 10 children in the ghetto and helped 7 of those children through college. My father fought in 3 wars: WWII, Korean, and the beginning of Vietnam. He was always trying to prove himself as an American. While on leave he would go home to visit his mother in Mississippi and some would spit on him in his uniform, shouting at him to take off that uniform you black (n word). Yet he jumped ships when being bombed, watched his buddies killed in war, hide in fox holes fighting the enemy, kicked by some white officers and called the (n word)when he thought he had found a quiet place to kneel and pray on ship(only 17, he said he was scared the first time they were attacked by the Japanese and all had to jump ship)…..and being left to walk alone on a dark rode after a car drives up and pick up all the soldiers, he reaches for the door to get in and the car drive off. He heard the driver say, “ I don’t drive no ( n word) “, so he continued walking alone. He told me that hurt, and that driver didn’t see me as an American! With tears at times he would tell us this is “OUR COUNTRY” treat others with respect and “IT DIDN’T MATTER THE COLOR.”

He never wanted us to deal with what he had gone through. He was always trying to prove himself as an American always! All my life because of my father it’s been God, family and county. My country, my America. When Rev. Lowery gave the prayer, when he said “Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest.”, I thought of my father, who would have loved to see this day. I shared my father’s history not to lay blame or point fingers.. But to say thank you America ( whites, reds, yellows, browns, and yes African Americans) for coming together this day and saying we are ONE COUNTRY, and we can stand together as ONE RACE OF PEOPLE.. As the Apostle John would say, “let us love one another little children.” My father taught all of his children and grandchildren to “LOVE ALL PEOPLE”.. He never past on the hate to us that others pushed at him for years!! He would only cry his pain to my mother the hurt he suffered... She finally let us know this intimate moment between the two of them after his death. In memory of my beloved father (I miss you daddy) he died Veteran’s Day 2005.

Handcuffed black man shot by white cop. 2009 not 1960. Racism is prejudice plus power. Without the power dislike may be prejudice, but it's not racism. Racism is being able to murder someone based on their skin color, knowing you'll get away with it. Racism is denying someone, who is qualified, a mortgage loan because of their race. Racism is denying someone a job based on race, because you can - because you'll feel more comfortable with one of your own. Racism is the president's mother saying people who have been flooded out of their homes is in a better position in a dark crowded filthy arena, while her delays and denies assistance. These are not the 1960s? That's for sure.

I thought it was hillarious, that he pointed all that out. Honestly, we still live in a society where people don't want to move past racism and hatred over things that happened generations ago. I can understand if its still going. I am Indian and often insulted to hear people of color not harping about slavery. Look folks indians were taken by the English as slaves also, England even invaded India. You don't hear India hating England.. but instead we have embrace the opportunity to work with prospering countries. However, because of greed of humanity, Yes, India is still a third world country. So get over your petty feelings of racism and move past it. You are a slave in your on mind and of your own emotions. I wonder if Barack Obama kept harping about slavery and harped on feeling of slavery, if he would have been the president. Hmmm LETS THINK ABOUT THAT! If I am not mistake Cosby said the same thing, Folks you are responsible for yourself and what you make of your life, STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR SHORTCOMINGS!!!

i thought the speech was very demanding and just great! all you white people or watever race, he was not beings racesis to the piont where you got to call him out like that! He was just saying what he though was ok, and dont have nothing to do with dat. You wasnt up there saying nothing so dont say nothing now!
i dont care what any of you think i think he did a very great job and if somthing was really wrong with his prayer then somthing would have happen and would have been addressd about it!
but sense it dnt ...shutup!
let history make it self without you juding your racsis thoughts! nobodys care!
if you dnt have nothing good to say dnt say it at all!!! dammmm...

I am a teacher at an inner city school and although I did not vote for Barack Obama, I realize the significance of what the newly-elected president represents for the Black Community as well as other races. As a Christian man, I will pray for Obama daily (as I have for every president equally), and I will pray that all he promises and all he hopes for will come to fruition (again, as I have for every president equally). As a white man, I was not offended by the "benediction" that Rev. Lowery said. I was hurt. On a beautiful and glorious day that was to proclaim America’s present situation and progress from the past, I was truly hurt.
I have never supported the decisions that the White community had made in the past. However, I cannot say what I would have done had I been alive during the period of American History when slavery was socially acceptable. I’m sure it was as difficult to change society then as it is to change it now. Few people in the world stick their necks out for the benefit of others when it comes to racially sensitive issues. It is unfortunate that some people still just join the first racial bandwagon they find and ride it wherever it is heading. We have seen this in people's views and in racially slurred comments like in Lowery's speech.
It is also unfortunate that society has considered reverse discrimination as somehow acceptable for past sins. However, people need to realize that this activity would only be acceptable (or even deserved in some situations) if the ones that made and followed the laws then were still alive now to see the struggles they helped created.
I was so disillusioned by our "modern" society when people hearing Lowery state that whites should "embrace what's right" and yellow’s will be “more mellow” and I was even more shocked that some people saw this as NOT racist. Well, Rev. Lowery, I did think your speech was discouragingly racist as I DO embrace what's right. What's more is that I also REJECT what is WRONG. Your speech was as blatantly and disrespectfully wrong on MANY levels. It was just as wrong as thinking that a respectful black woman should have to move to another seat to make room for a white rider in 1955 Montgomery, Alabama. But Rosa Parks stood high for what she believed in, sir. She did not stoop low as you did on the day of your speech! Racism was wrong then and it's still wrong now. Please rescind what you said in your speech and apologize to ALL races. Then please join us in the 21st century so we can all celebrate TOGETHER!!!

this speech is the most amazing work of art i have ever experienced. thank you.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHAT REV.LOWERY WAS RACIST. LOOK SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE BLACK I HAVE NEVER LOOKED AT THEM ANY DIFFERENT AS A MATTER OF FACT SOME OF THE SHOWS I HAVE WATCHED ABOUT HOW THE BLACKS WERE TREATED MADE ME VERY ANGRY.REV.LOWERY IS FORGETTING ONE THING MARTIN LUTHER KING GAVE HIS LIFE IN HOPES OF THERE NEVER BEING A PROBLEM BETWEEN COLORS BUT LOWERY JESSE JACKSON CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS A PROBLEM THEY DO NOT LIVE BY THE BIBLE AS THEY CLAIM IF THEY DID THEY WOULD NOT ALWAYS BE TRYING TO START SOMETHING ABOUT THE WHITES.I WANT TO SAY ALSO I AM HAPPY THAT WE HAVE OBAMA FOR OUR PRESIDENT EVERYONE SHOULD TREAT EVERYONE WITH THE SAME RESPECT THAT IS WHAT MY GRANDMOTHER TAUGHT ME AND THAT IS WHAT GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS US TO DO.ITS TIME FOR ALL OF TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE IN OUR COUNTRY.

Rev. Lowery is an embarrassment and I want Obama to stop sitting around when these kinds of things happen. He knows what a disgrace these words were, but he doesn't do anything about it. Step up to the plate dude.

To everyone who thinks this was "the most amazing work of" blah blah blah...I hope you're exaggerating. He clipped pieces of other speeches into it and then made broad, sweeping statements, some of which were just inherently racist, regardless of what he meant. I'm not even sure if he knows what he meant, he sort of seemed like he was trying to joke. He didn't though, and I am offended that the administration continues to let this type of reverse racism penetrate into one of the most official and important ceremonies there can be. Lowery should be ashamed of himself, as should the administration for continuing to tolerate this behavior.

"Black man shot by a white man in handcuffs".
Well, I can't tell you how many white people have been shot by black people. In the 1990's, two black convicts shot and killed a white police officer, and I don't recall the white people burning down their neighborhoods and causing an uproar. Come on people get real. Black's have killed blacks, whites have killed whites. I remember a black police officer shot and killed a black prisoner, and you could hear crickets chirping. But the very minute a black person gets killed and it's on the news the first question is, "did a white person kill them?" Any crime that involves murdering someone is a hate crime, no matter what color the skin. The very minute you stop using your skin color as an excuse to be a victim, you will feel free to live in the present. I know several people turned down for a loan, and they were white. Everytime I've applied for a loan, I've never been judged by my skin color. As a matter of fact, the people making a decision whether or not to grant me the loan, didn't even meet me and didn't know what I looked like. This is not 1960 people, it is 2009. Stop seperating yourselves by your skin color because you are contributing to racism, the very thing you want to go away. If you don't want to be judged by your race, then don't judge others by their race.

Rev. Joseph Lowery was on-target, informative, and artful (African-American verbal agility)in his remarks on one of the biggest days in American history, January 20, 2009, the swearing in of President-elect, Barack Obama.
ONLY TRUTH IS ANTI-RACISM. And when it is that "whites accept right", the world will become a better place. Yeah, simply just that. America's legacy through to the present day, is one of systemically and systematically thwarting the lives and quality of life of non-white people. Rather than pressuring schizophrenic denial by knee-jerk, reactive tears and anger--forgiveness for whites and "a new day" is weighted on whites truthfulness and forgiveness of themselves; taking on as vested interest (self interest) to "stop the(ir) madness"; stop it systemically and upon whimsy, i.e., rebuke of people crying out.
Oh and racism is a thing of power + prejudice. Everybody is prejudiced. But everyone does not have the systemic bequeathed power to be racist. Racism controls one's ability to afford and/or have life and its pursuit of happiness. Whereby having a "better mouse trap" truly gets you the "cheese" or greater "cheese" and its attendant delights of well-being, prosperity.

I DO NOT KNOW WHY ALL OF YOU PEOPLE ARE CALLING REV. LOWERY RACIST. I BET ONE PERSON JUST SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HIM BEING RACIST, AND ALL YOU LOSERS WHO COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY SO ALL OF YOU JUST COPIED WHAT THAT PERSON SAID.

I THINK REV. LOWERY WAS JUST TRYING TO GET A LAUGH AT THE END, AND I AM 98% SURE THAT HE WAS NOT TRYING TO BE RACIST.

What is it with all the claims that the speech was "racist"? He we had just celebrated a moment where the first black man to be elected to the highest office in the nation took his oath. Why would a civil rights leader, who was next to Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights Movement be racist? I understand that people are saying that he was being racist against whites. However, I believe he was just trying to invoke the ideology behind the Movement and tie it into what had just occurred. To say that is racist is ignoring the circumstances.

I dont understand the people who sed he was racist! How is he...Black and White People came to that speech and all enjoyed. Also i think he knows that he isnt in 1960 or summit all he is doin is reinforcing what black people who were in thoses times are trying to say. I think this message trys to put across a message about peace so all those who are saying it is racist or whatever LEAVE THE WEBSITE. You obviously dont know what a 'moral' is. All my family watched this (half Black, Half White) and they all found it funny so stop kicking up a fuss.
Oh and 'Charley' You didnt have to go through what black people went through years ago and it really wouldnt suprise me that somebody would say that. So if we are goin to split hairs and go into every single detail... what skin colour is the KKK?? right so dont u dare tell me that black people cause most crime cos the majority like me acctually want to be something in my case a lawyer soo think again...

The Reverend wasn't being racist. I believe he was simply quoting a) a song and b)was alluding to the Civil Rights movement.

Please, don't judge him. He's white himself. Would he have put down his race on purpose? I believe he was simply alluding to points in history and giving a benediction. Don't read past what is obvious and face value.

It seems that many whites do not understand the sufferage of the black race in America. I don't believe for one moment that Dr. Lowerey was being racist but trying to bring some humor to a somber time. If you are not a racist, why would feel he was speaking to you. He said "Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen." The crowd responded in kind. You who complained obviously were not there because you are McCain supporters. The benediction/pray was wonderful. The last paraphrase was just a light attempt at humor from an 80 year old man. Sorry if you're too thin skinned and narcissistic not to be able to take a joke. If you voted for Barack then you know that he stands for bi-partisanship. If you didn't then you don't. Slamming every black minister that makes a misstatement and linking them to Barack in an attempt to slander him is just ascinine. I was brought up to respect my elders and cut them some slack, never talk balk. Barack would never reprimand Dr. Lowerey out of the greatest respect for his accomplishments in the civil rights movement. I think White's should learn the respect that has been instilled in other cultures throughout history. First Cardinal Rule, never talk back to your elders. Respect for elders, women, children, family and self. Oh my bad that was in the 1960s, respect is dead.

Racism is always blaming the white man just because you cannot get a loan, even though you may have horrible credit and don't have a job. Racism is Black people being allowed to kill white people and its ok, but it is a huge issue if a black person happens to be killed by a white person. Racism is two people applying for the same position, and one of those people is more qualified for the job based on their experience, but gets turned down because they are white. Racism is a racist old man claiming to be a man of God, who makes ignorant racial remarks about all races and he’s allowed to get away with it in front of millions of Americans. Yes, this is 2009 and not 1960. Reverse discrimination is alive and getting worse. Bill Cosby is my hero. He has more words of wisdom than that racist old man Lowery.

Racism is always blaming the white man just because you cannot get a loan, even though you may have horrible credit and don't have a job. Racism is Black people being allowed to kill white people and its ok, but it is a huge issue if a black person happens to be killed by a white person. Racism is two people applying for the same position, and one of those people is more qualified for the job based on their experience, but gets turned down because they are white. Racism is a racist old man claiming to be a man of God, who makes ignorant racial remarks about all races and he’s allowed to get away with it in front of millions of Americans. Yes, this is 2009 and not 1960. Reverse discrimination is alive and getting worse. Bill Cosby is my hero. He has more words of wisdom than that racist old man Lowery.

First off he is not being racist at all he is just saying that one day all races no mattter what shade of color will come together and get rid of racism...and the quote on quote sayin "blacks get back"????? Come on now after years and years of being sent to the back of buses and restaurants to get food and being segregated and not allowed to be in the same place as whites and have to drink from seperate water fountains and being called the quote on quote "n" word we will not be in the back no longer. The bible says the first shall be last and the last shall be first. We will be above what we use to be and where we use to be at and not beneath where we were and refuse to go back and go lower. If you all are to racist or not educated enough to know where he is coming from that is your problem but dont down him or all black because of your downfall and misinterpretation of what he is saying and what it means. This society is so mixed up today on racism that it is pitiful. Im only 18 years old and im thinking if it is like this now how will it be when my kids are here and better yet when my grandkids are here. It makes no since to be the way we were in the times of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks we have long been ahead of that. WE and i do mean WE meaning all races have been joined together in schools, jobs, and also homes yes even homes, so why are we still on racism. When everyone looks back on those times we should smile be happy that we are no longer in that time and grateful that we had people brave enough to change the world because we have enough choas now with the army in iraq and being in a recession...dont you think??? There are more issues we need to be worried about now than racism, not saying put it on the backburner but to worry about bigger issues that are affecting us now. Yes there is still racism in the world today as you all have displayed on your comments but it shouldnt be and one day you will get what you deserve in return for hating people that are not the same color or race as you and teaching others to do the same. God does not and i repeat DOES NOT like ugly and what you all are displaying and saying is very ugly to society and you should be ashamed of yourself but not only yourself your actions and words that you display towards these people. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image,in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God did not make racism and discrimination. In his eye we are all the same no matter what color, shape, or size. When he looks at us he should see himself looking at him as if he was looking in a mirror. So when God looks at you what does he see? If you are racist he doesnt see himself and i guarantee you when you pass on and come before him he will deny you as ever knowing him and you will see what happens next. I think i have said enough but let me tell you somethin...I am an 18 year old African American and i have all the same rights as all of you do. I sit in a classroom full of different races, i work with people of many colors on a daily, i shop in the same mall as you and your family plus many more and i will not be deprived of my rights as a American Citizen or black citizen of the United States of America and i will walk down the street with my head held high knowing that i have that right and no one will take that from me...Thank you and God bless you all...

If we are to take everything so serious in life, we will miss out on many opportunities to laugh out loud - which I must say is a good internal exercise that is visible on the outside (a face with little or no wrinkles even at the age of sixty). Rev. Lowery's benediction was one with a difference and those of us who attend church would attest to that. For those of you who focus on racism, I suggest that you all examine the entire picture (the benediction)and you will notice that there's more to it than racism. The response from the audience was amazing - (black, white, brown and yellow laughed). God's blessings to everyone.

i would just like to say that this wasn't meant to be racist. it was a joke, white people have been racist to black people from the begining of american culture and to all of you that haven't ever been racist the revrend wasnt trying to target or hurt you. it was supposed to be funny.. and most of the crowd enjoyed it!! i happend to be at the inaguration and the crowd went wild for this. it was well written and put together. and everyone that left those nasty comments against it should learn to take a joke and move onnn! (:

"A Nation of Cowards"
by Walter E. Williams
Attorney General Eric Holder said the United States is "a nation of cowards" when it comes to race relations. In one sense, he is absolutely right. Many whites, from university administrators and professors, schoolteachers to employers and public officials accept behavior from black people that they wouldn't begin to accept from whites. For example, some of the nation's most elite universities, such as Vanderbilt, Stanford University and the University of California, have yielded to black student demands for separate graduation ceremonies and separate "celebratory events." Universities such as Stanford, Cornell, MIT, and Cal Berkeley have, or have had, segregated dorms. If white students demanded whites-only graduation ceremonies or whites-only dorms, administrators would have labeled their demands as intolerable racism. When black students demand the same thing, these administrators cowardly capitulate. Calling these university administrators cowards is the most flattering characterization of their behavior. They might actually be stupid enough to believe nonsense taught by their some of sociology and psychology professors that blacks can't be racists because they don't have power.
What about Holder's statement that America is "voluntarily segregated"? I say, so what. According to the census, in 2007, 4.6 percent of married blacks were married to a white; less than 1 percent of married whites were married to a black. While blacks are 13 percent of the population, they are 80 percent of professional basketball players and 65 percent of professional football players. Mere casual observance of audiences at ice hockey games or opera performances would reveal gross voluntary segregation. What would Holder propose the U.S. Justice Department do about these and other instances of voluntary segregation?
Attorney General Holder's flawed thinking is widespread whereby people think that an activity that is not racially integrated is therefore segregated. Blacks are about 60 percent of the Washington, D.C. population. At the Reagan National Airport, which serves D.C., nowhere near 60 percent of the airport's water fountain users are black; I'd guess blacks are never more than 5 percent of users. The population statistics of states such as South Dakota, Iowa, Maine, Montana and Vermont show that not even 1 percent of their populations are black. Does that mean Reagan National Airport water fountains and South Dakota, Iowa, Maine, Montana and Vermont are racially segregated? If Holder does anything about "voluntary segregation" at the state level I hope it's not court-ordered busing; I'm not wild about their winters. Just because some activity is not racially integrated does not mean that it is racially segregated.
The bottom line is that the civil rights struggle is over and it is won. At one time black Americans didn't share the constitutional guarantees shared by whites; today we do. That does not mean that there are not major problems that confront a large segment of the black community, but they are not civil rights problems nor can they be solved through a "conversation on race." Black illegitimacy stands at 70 percent; nearly 50 percent of black students drop out of high school; and only 30 percent of black youngsters reside in two-parent families. In 2005, while 13 percent of the population, blacks committed over 52 percent of the nation's homicides and were 46 percent of the homicide victims. Ninety-four percent of black homicide victims had a black person as their murderer. Such pathology, I think much of it precipitated by family breakdown, is entirely new among blacks. In 1940, black illegitimacy was 19 percent; in 1950, only 18 percent of black households were female-headed compared with today's 70 percent. Both during slavery and as late as 1920, a teenage girl raising a child without a man present was rare among blacks.
If black people continue to accept the corrupt blame game agenda of liberal whites, black politicians and assorted hustlers, as opposed to accepting personal responsibility, the future for many black Americans will remain bleak.

To those that say, he was talking about the past, not the present, re-read the end. It says, "we ask you to help us work for the day" - meaning future, not past. Racism is bad no matter who does it.
To those who say it's time for whites to stop racism, I say racism is not exclusive to one people, but all. Reverse discrimmination is as wrong a discrimmination. Liberals say we must stop it while their programs foster it.
It will not end until finger pointing ends. This was a racist speech, not a prayer. It is time white people quit bashing themselves and vote according to your core values, not guilt. We cannot undue what happened in the past, we can only do right now, and I mean all races, not just whites.

He is only telling the truth people...and if you want to shun him because of the truth, then shame on all of you!
Sure hits pretty close to home when the shoe is on the other foot.
So what if he mentions other races in his prayer, and yes it is a prayer....I am not offended, I am proud for he said what has not been said for a long time and I give him credit for that. I totally agree with Black Chick.
Have a sense of humor, but in the end...be honest.
Instigators is what I call to all the people who considered this prayer an outright call of racism. Racism hurts only if you deem it to hurt and I for one do not see or hear of any racism in this prayer, and I 'll give one big AMEN to that!

Racist?

"When white will embrace what is right?" Can't stop now...Equality? No...That would be too good. How can we remain victims? How can we continue to blame others for the cards we've been dealt? The only way to judge a man is not by the content of his character but by the color of his skin. So let us condone hidden messages of hate and racism. Let us preach racism in our presidential invocations. 2009...we're off to a good start. And hey at least, "now I don't have to worry about my mortgage or gas." On second thought maybe we should look within. Maybe it is time to take responsibility. Maybe we should stop expecting the hand out and make our own opportunities. Maybe we should have to earn what we call "ours".

From my point of view this benediction created some of the most moving moments of the whole inauguration ceremony and even after two months I think of it with joy and gratitude. It makes me feel well to see how America has changed and is still changing, finally leaving the dark shadows of your country's past behind and hopefully becoming the land of the free, at last. I'm wondering how paranoid someone needs to be to read racism out of Rev. Lowery's words. Some of the comments are simply pathetic. I can tell you, here in Germany a huge majority of people, no matter which political party they belong to, are thrilled by what is going on in the U.S.A. and we are hopeful that America is becoming again what it symbolizes in the eyes and minds of many over here: Liberty and justice. Weiter so, Amerika!!!

Rev. Lowery started out ok...
His ending sounded racist to me too and frankly I am tired of this double standard of racism. I am Hispanic/Indian, this is my land and I was here before the whites and the blacks. If you don't want people to be racist, then stop acting racist and stop making racist remarks in front of your children. And yes President Obama, should definetely assign someone to review all the speeches his invited guest(s)make in public. May we truly listen to the words of the Lord (bible), so that we can emulate him in all our actions and when we are not sure...ask ourselves "What Would Jesus Say/Do"
Peace...to all.

People are still talking about Reverend Lowery's benediction. That's America. But he should have been allowed to remind us were we have come from as a nation. In other words, what was deeply sown into him (slavery, racism, and discrimination) was and is not easily removed. This is not saying his prayer was racist. It is saying that the pain of the way blacks were treated was and still a part of his existance. Many Americans were not a part of the American Revolution or Civil War, but embrace it. Lowery lived with the effects of slavery, Jim Crowism, and blatant racism. There is a difference and some Americans are close minded to acknowledge the two. They say we have changed. Only because (while they stood on the sidelines) others took up the mantle to bring change in our nation. So they attack Lowery rather than embrace his understanding of how he has seen America.

It's been over 2 months, and I am still rejoicing! If they would'nt let Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or Presidents Abraham Lincoln or John F. Kennedy thru asassinations; speak whats on they mind; Reverend - Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, the Dean of Civil Rights, can. And he did it on January, Inauguration Day 2009 for our President Barack Obama. It was not racist, it was straight to the point of what we: "ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN", need to hear. I applaud you Joe! Keep on, Keeping! May God Forever Bless these United States, and mankind every where.

I can't believe people think this is racist. It really shocks me that people interpret a clever rhyme about different colours of people to be racist. It's not malicious at all, and no we shouldn't forget about race, we shouldn't just be labled as one thing because at this moment in time, we're not just one thing. If we're black we're more likely to die young, we're less likely to go to college, we're more likely to be put in prison we're less likely to have healthcare. You think we should just ignore those differences and carry on as if nothing's wrong? The first way to solving a problem is to identify it in the first place. Lowery if from a time when blacks were spat on for sitting in at woolworths. when bricks were thrown at black students attempting to integrate in mississippi college. He has experienced racial discrimination, he knows fully well what he's talking about.

Shame on you if you critisize this speech. It is fantastic!

C'mon people, have a sense of humour!

Hi All..

We too are no strangers to "segregation" here in SA. Although some would say it doesnt exist it does and maybe till our childrens children?

The benediction was more profound(reflective) more than anything, as to where you as a nation comes from, to where you are today.

Having read some of the posts above, it seems some of the people are merely just looking for an excuse to continue this long debate about a passage that was adapted in the 1900's. I feel that, that is the same attitude as the previous oppressors who did not want anything "provocative"(stimulating) to be said only because they chose to see it from their point of view. You were supposed to walk away from that speech with a renewed sense of inspiration that some day, because lets face it it still exists(racism) that some day Colour will no longer be an issue.. I hope that the comments I have seen above are from a small percentage of the population who feel that way, if not I would really be dissapointed to find out that everyone feels that way.

This is just my few cents worth, in my eyes your country is a role model too many because yes you have overcome alot, regardless of COLOUR.

Together you have done it..

Cheers

Over the past month I've been reading through many of these comments trying to understand the ones in support of what Rev. Lowery said. I'll have to give you the benefit of the doubt and take you at your word that he wasn't trying to said anything controversial. However, for a man as accomplished as Rev. Lowery is he certainly missed making that very clear. In fact, from many of the above comments I can't make out what he was trying to say, or who he might have been saying it to. If what many of you are saying is true, then he was speaking to just black Americans instead of all Americans. To me, it sounded just like what most people hearing it said it sounded like.
It was a very nice benediction until it became a speech on race relations. I read several of comments saying that Rev. Lowery was just speaking the "truth". The truth is that the controversial part of this speech was probably written forty or fifty years ago when it had a great deal more relevance in America, when it was a justifiable statement to make. The history of what blacks suffered in this country--and others, is well documented and acknowledged by virtually everyone.
The kind of poetic charge he made simply has no justification in America today, in fact it is down right insulting. Despite what many black people in today's America thinks and feels about racism and the prejudices of white society, the truth of the matter is that black society needs step back and take serious look in the mirror. The vast majority of what you "think” is racism or prejudice is no where near what your leaders and educators, like Rev. Joseph Lowery, Prof. Henry Gates, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and Van Jones among many others, have conditioned you to believe. I'm glad the Gates-Crowley incident occurred. It should provide plenty of help in holding up that mirror for the black community to look into. Both Prof. Gates and Obama, two very bright men, jumped to a conditioned response from "seeing something" that JUST PLAIN IS NOT THERE. These leaders should be assisting the healing rather than inflaming the injury. It is their duty to help you move on, to concentrate on the things that will get you beyond thinking you see a racist behind every slight you receive--what ever it is!
And now, there's the Democrats and liberal press throwing around the race card at people who don't AGREE with Obama's polices!! Stop trying to whip up racial controversy where there JUST PLAIN ISN'T ANY. It's beginning to back fire on you, like a child crying wolf.
So, Rev. Lowery, I don't think you are a racist, and in spite of the way it turned out, I'll respect the possibly that you may have been trying to say something other than what it sounded like. But, the TRUTH is, you should have left your ONCE relevant poem in the bottom of that deep lower desk drawer where he put all those years ago. The next time I hope you do.

this is one of the most beautiful speeches i have heard in my 25 years of existence. i believe the rev was only stating the fact and the obvious; let's not kid ourselves here. whether we keep silent over it or not, it does exist. i rather think his comment sought to provoke a deep thinking on every body's part. go on lets start pondering every it and not be quick to condemn it. plus its a very lovely piece of writing, go on, admit it. there you go, that's a start.......

As long as there are races, there will be racism.

Am from South Africa and would like to say to all those who are saying the Rev's speech was racist, get over yourselves. The Rev is merely pointing out that those days seems to be over, Obama wouldn't be president if white didnt embrace what is right. It seems as if it's a white thing to feel guilt whenever issues of racism are brought up, even here in South Africa is the same, whenever you speak about racism, they jump and become defensive. So guys get over yourself and move-on, there was nothing offensive frm the Rev's speech.

I do not pretend to know what life was like during the time of Jim Crow and yes, I'm black and yes, there is still racism in America but for the most part, I enjoyed the Rev's take on racism. I live in America and you don't know what it is like until you have been discriminated against.There is racism in the corporate America, in American justice and in all fabrics of American life. Will things get better ? Ofcourse! Not only that they, (Whites )should accept what is right but do what is always right so the world can be a better place for all of us
The younger generations of white Americans will be better than their parents and grand-parents with respect to race relations in America.

How do you tell an ancient, grey haired man who lived through Jim Crow, knew people who were injured during the civil rights movement and may have even attended funerals of the lynched and murdered....How do you tell him to "Get over it"? He's a walking history book and should be appreciated and respected. There was nothing wrong with what he said. If the shoe doesn't fit....in other words, if you embrace what is right...then what's your problem?