"There's white racist DNA running through the synapses of his or her brain tissue. They will kill their own kind, defend the enemies of their kind or anyone who is perceived to be the enemy of the milky white way of life."
About Jeremiah Wright
Jeremiah Wright — Life and Legacy
Jeremiah Wright is a significant figure in American religious and social discourse, recognized for his role as the former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. His sermons often intertwine themes of faith, justice, and racial equality, challenging both congregants and society at large to confront uncomfortable truths. One of his notable ideas is the 'audacity to hope,' which reflects a deep belief in the potential for change amidst systemic oppression. This phrase encapsulates his perspective that faith must be active and engaged in the struggle for justice. Wright's quotes reveal a worldview that is deeply critical of societal norms, particularly regarding race and justice. He has stated, 'The church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners,' emphasizing the need for compassion and activism within the faith community. His approach often challenges the status quo, urging individuals to take responsibility for social issues rather than remaining passive. This perspective has made his work both influential and controversial, as he navigates the complexities of faith and activism. Today, Wright's quotes resonate with those seeking to understand the intersection of faith and social justice. His emphasis on community and collective action continues to inspire movements advocating for equality, making his insights relevant in ongoing discussions about race and justice in America.
Quote collection
Jeremiah Wright quotes (page 1 of 2)
28 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"White folk done took this country. You're in their home, and they're gonna let you know it.You are not now, nor have you ever been, nor will you ever be a brother to white folk and if you do not realize that, you are in serious trouble."
"No, no, no, not God bless America — God damn America!"
"Them Jews aren't going to let (Obama) talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he'll talk to me in five years when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when he's out of office. ...They will not let him talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is."
"The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. The government lied."
"Jesus was a poor, black man who lived in a country and who lived in a culture that was controlled by rich white people. The Romans were Italian - which means they were Europeans, which means they were white - and the Romans ran everything in Jesus' country."
"In the 21st century, white America got a wake-up call after 9/11/01. White America and the western world came to realize that people of color had not gone away, faded into the woodwork or just 'disappeared' as the Great White West kept on its merry way of ignoring black concerns."
"(The United States) is the same as al-Qaeda, under a different color flag, calling on the name a different God to sanction and approve our murder and our mayhem!"
"Don't tell me about heaven. What about in this life, that there is a better way, that this is not in vain, that it is not Edward Albee or Camus's absurd, the theater of the absurd, it is not Shakespeare - "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" - that life has meaning and that God is still in control, and that God can, and God will, so people of goodwill, working hard, do something about the situation? We can change."
"We [people] need to stop lumping folks together and start living together. Otherwise, we're going to kill each other off because you don't believe what I believe. That's crazy."
"White folks' greed runs a world in need."
"It gets to be a problem when I decide one position should be the law for everybody. In public life, we [people] have to find a way to live together even though we disagree - and some things we will never agree on. But we've got to leave this I'm-going-to-kill-you-because-you-don't-believe-what-I-believe attitude behind."
"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing "God Bless America." No, no, no, God d*mn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people. God d*mn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God d*mn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."
"A woman decides about her body and her God is her business. Women who are pro-life can be just a good a Christian as a woman who is pro-choice and vice versa. You can be a good Christian and be pro-life. You can be a good Christian and be pro-choice."
"Faith should be pulled into the public arena when it affects how we live. If it doesn't, it does no earthly good. What does my faith say about the fact that a girl can't be a nuclear physicist because she's black and from the inner city? My faith says, no, that's not what God intended. It pulls it back into the public arena the idea that there's got to be something fair for all of us."
"Faith in public life does not mean that God tells you to bomb another country or to go get Saddam Hussein. Faith in public life means that every child, regardless of their religious belief, should have health care and be able to go to school. Because my faith saying I can bomb Iraq is the same as your faith saying you can take over a passenger plane and fly it into the World Trade Center."
"Price above Principle makes you a Prostitute."
"The stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back into our own front yard! America's chickens are coming home to roost!"
"America is still the No. 1 killer in the world."
"Being at odds with policies is nothing new to me."