Let the church say, “Amen.”

On Thursday, February 19, Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright Jr. brought his controversial message to the Southern University community, his topic: “Injustice, the Poor, and the Continuing Exclusion of Minority Populations in America”.
Wright’s invitation to speak at SU sparked contentious remarks from some, specifically contributing editor for the National Review Quin Hillyer, who stated in an article for The Acadiana Advocate, “Why a black university would want to invite somebody with such prototypically racist views-idiocies that for years were used to brutalize black people-should be beyond all reasonable people’s understanding.”
Wright’s message to those in attendance was “Our help doesn’t come from the government, our help comes from God”. Wright compared the plight of African Americans from the days of slavery until present time to that of biblical stories and characters, quoting specifically Lamentations 4:17, “We looked until we could look no longer, for help that never came. We kept waiting for help from a nation that had none to give.”
Wright chose to speak at Southern because of his love for HBCUs and members of his former congregation who were SU graduates.
“I sat on the board of trustees for Virginia Union, so I love HBCUs and I love what they are doing,” said Wright. “They are performing a task that cannot be done at any non-minority university.” Wright finished.
Although he was promoted and introduced as the former minister of President Barack Obama, Wright remarked that it wasn’t a defining quality of his ministry.
“I had 10 thousand members, he was one,” said Wright. “Nobody talks about all the members who work hard to make our church.”
As for injustice in America, Wright said he finds it occurring more often with African Americans.
“Every year there’s something new,” said Wright. “Last year it was Trayvon, this year it was Eric. Every year, we still suffer under the injustices of this country.” Finished Wright, referencing the controversial deaths of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner.
Ultimately, Wright’s hope for his appearance and speech was a reevaluation of where African Americans place their faith.
“Our story is tied to the biblical story, and our hope and our help is in God.” said Wright. “Governments come and go, politicians are voted in and out of office, don’t put your faith in those things. Put your hope in things that are unseen; God is unseen.” Wright finished.