Obama's Mysterious Black Value System

Trinity United Church of Christ's senior pastor Dr. Jeremiah Wright retired last weekend, he continues to influence the black community nationally and his teachings have left an indelible impression on thousands.  One particuarly notable TUCC member is Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama, who has attended the south Chicago church for the last 20 years and who named his book "The Audacity of Hope" after a phrase Wright used in a sermon several years ago.

Although Trinity has moved its controversial "Black Value System" from easy access on its website (once here), one of the most mysterious "Black Value System" teachings (now hidden here) is the one that encourages the "disavowal of the pursuit of 'middleclassness.'"  Because this teaching and others will most certainly influence a Barack Obama Administration, what exactly could this doctrine mean for the future of American civil rights? 

The definition below is found on pages 2 and 3 of the church's online explanation here.  Perhaps Illinois Review readers can help us decipher the meaning by reading on:

Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”
Classic methodology on control of captives teaches that captors must keep the captive ignorant educationally, but trained sufficiently well to serve the system. Also, the captors must be able to identify the “talented tenth” of those subjugated, especially those who show promise of providing the kind of leadership that might threaten the captor’s control.

Those so identified as separated from the rest of the people by:
Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another.

Placing them in concentration camps, and/or structuring an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.

Seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which while training them to earn more dollars, hypnotizes them into believing they are better than others and teaches them to think in terms of “we” and “they” instead of “us”.

So, while it is permissible to chase “middle-incomeness” with all our might, we must avoid the third separation method-the psychological entrapment of Black “middleclassness”: If we avoid the snare, we will also diminish our “voluntary” contributions to methods A and B. And more importantly, Black people no longer will be deprived of their birthright, the leadership, resourcefulness, and example of their own talented persons.

Suggested explanation: 

One can read the above words and only come away with an ominous sense.  Are they suggesting someone like Barack Obama could be one of those "talented tenth" the "captors" identify, who "show[s] promise" of "providing the kind of leadership that might threaten the captor's control"? 

With this being a part of the "Black Value System," who are considered "captives"?  Most likely those who have been "victimized" over the years -- the black community, originated in African countries and being brought to America as slaves.  That, we'd deduct, would make our Caucusian ancestors "the captors."

According to this explanation, those who adhere to the Black Value System would expect anyone (including Barack Obama -- most assuredly one of the "talented tenth") to be "separated" by unbelievably 1. killing them off directly; 2.  cultivating at environment that encourages those talented leaders to "kill off one another"; 3.  placing them in concentration camps; 4.  inducing those "talented tenth" into jail or prison; 5.  seducing them into selfish materialism; or 6. mesmerizing them into excluding their community from their bounties. 

In other words, African-American "captives" must resist the trappings of career and economic success laid by  non-African "captors" who will inveribly use those enticements to "separate" high-achieving blacks from their community roots -- "middle-classedness." 

Is this a warning to Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Condolleezza Rice, and other high achieving blacks that "the captors" will do all they can to stop their leadership and end their example of achievement to fellow blacks who may have the audacity to attempt success as well?

How could this effect an Obama presidency and the black community's expectations for such an experience?

What are your ideas about this Black Value System teaching and its impact on America's future?  Is it meaningless demagoguery or does it give ominous insight into the enduring antagonism some blacks hold towards Caucusians?

Comments

[Jerry]

It's fascinating to me how old fashioned racists have devoloped these new and complex defense mechanisms and rationales for racism -- proudly proclaiming it good and righteous, rather than evolving into decent people.

Equally fascinating is that people I never suspected to be such rank racists applaud these racists and encourage their racism with their own bizarre rationales.

How sad.

[Kate Absher]

I think the establishment of the Black Value System was created out of a racial imbalance that does indeed exist in our country. It is an unspoken and silent predator, but it does lurk. My only problem is that Senator Obama will be representing all of us in the this United States of America. To have allegiance pledged to the black community first, is this a bias that could interfere with his presidency?
I am white, I would want him to care equally for me.
After reading the Black Value System, I was applauding for the concerted effort to escape the conditions often placed upon African-Americans through generations of repression. Evolution is often slow and old habits die hard, racism being no exception. I still am overwhelmingly feeling that it is not compatible with representing "We the people."
I hope it doesn't become "We the people, after the black people come first."

[Chelsea]

The only real way to stop racism is to acknowledge it is there and find a way to educate people that no matter what race you are you are still a creation of god with thoughts and feelings and dreams. This "black value system" sounds like it stands for getting revenge for what had happened in the past by blaming people who had nothing to do with the problem to begin with. I am white and I am not wealthy or powerful or trying to hold anybody back. Making generalizations about white people is just as bad as making generalizations against black people. Racists today are generaly seen as ignorant, So it goes both ways. Instead of lingering behind and reliving the past we need to find a way to break down the racism that still exists. We most definately should not promote a new kind of racism. What I just read made me think that Obama may be an ignorant racist.

[Jay]

I feel that this so called 'Black Value System' is an attempt to foster an urgency and emphasis of empowerment and responsibility in the community, which being composed of a mostly black membership, can relate bacause of a common historical background and context, of slavery.

In trying to explain in some pseudo-psychobabble that I think the whole world would be better off without, the attempt is made to relate the circumstances by which racism and slavery were allowed and encouraged to go on long after it had been identified by many as something counter to the American ideals of the Constitution.

While it can be contrued to sound racist in some circles, I believe that it's really just speaking to a certain community in it's unique language which has specific needs that must be addressed in certain ways in order to be successfully brought to fruition. In the same way La Raza speaks to its needs, NAACP speaks to its needs, the Republican party speaks to its needs, they are speaking to a certain demographic that have certain values systems in place, which may sound exclusional at times, and maybe perhaps appropriately so, but I don't think its maliciously so.

Some people have said if you replace 'white' with 'black' it would sound very racists, and perhaps that is true. But it's only because the negative connotations have already been established with 'White Power' and other charged racists language that had been used historically.

modern society must take responsibility and accept the consequences of the mistakes of the past, although I do think that if people aren't careful the day may come where brown/black/asian emphasis like that is viewed equally as negative, if it isnt already.

I do think it's a prettty paranoid and weird collection of values, coming from an outside non-member point of view, but if you think about it churches all over the world have a bunch of weird and paranoid set of beliefs that we don't all necessarily agree with, even within the churches, but for reasons of community and family, we may still hold membership with. I hope this is true of Obama, because I am a supporter, and I really think this wold be a liability to the overall campaign if seized upon by the Republicans or Hillary, which ever comes first.

for the record, I am an African-American and a Christian (I just say black guy) but it really shouldnt matter should it? And that's my point about all this, it's about the content and character of the man... tho i do see the relevance, because what goes into a man can account for his character... so maybe I contradicted myself! ha I'm complicated

[Morgan]

Some people say that the Black Value system is not racist, but it it simply a target audience. If that's true then I think that Senator Obama should run for the president of the NAACP instead of the president of the United States of America because all people need to be represented equally regardless of race

[Kevin Cecil]

This is so anti Patriotic and racist I have not heard anything like this since Hitlers Storm Troopers. There is no justification for this that can be made. It answered the question why Obama does not salute The American Flag.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU9iCANi02o
He has said the Pledge of Allegiance to this Black Value System. He is sick and I will Vote For Hillary!

[tom]

When will cnn,abc,nbc cbs ask B.O. if he still holds to the BVS? Answer: NEVER
Why has B.O. never mentioned
the system in ANY political speech? Answer:It would be the end of his campaign.
Why do not ANY of his advisers(including axelrod)ever explain to the public the true meaning of the system?Answer:Same as above.
The same could be said of Hardball(C. Matthews)Huffinton Post,Moveon.Org.
We could include M.O. but B.O.said,"lay off my wife"
sssNeed I say more?

[Joe G]

"Racist" is a meaningless term. Blacks are very race conscious, like every other race on the planet, except whites (European descent).