Look for "when white will embrace what is right" to be pounced on by the wingers as "evidence" of the Rev. Lowry's (and, by extension, the new administration's) "reverse racism".

As long as you are explaining the allusions used in some of the rhetoric (party-games for wonks and wonkettes everywhere), you might as well include the lyrics for "Simple Gifts", the music played by the extraordinary collection of classical musicians assembled for the Inauguration:

"'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free/
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be/
And when we find ourselves in the place just right/
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight./
When true simplicity is gain'd/
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd/
To turn, turn will be our delight/
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

It was written by Elder Joseph Brackett of the Shaker and can be found in Aaron Copland's score for Martha Graham's ballet, Appalachian Spring, first performed in 1944. (excerpted from a longer wikipedia article, found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Gifts)

Absolutely correct. The tweo people who did poorly were the top white guys in the program--Warren and Chief Justice Roberts. Both did a poor job. The last three on the program--Obama, the poem and Lowery--were sensational and a fitting tryptich.

I particularly found it offensive that Warren recited the Lord's Prayer as if it was everyone's prayer, which it manifestly isn't. This was close to a violation of the Establsihment Clause in my book. He should never be invited back, ever, to do anything while Obama is Pres.

Horrible news: CNN reports Ted Kennedy collapsed at luncheon in seizures and has been taken away on stretcher.

One of the better prayers I have heard in a long time. Rick Warren should be listening. AMEN

I'm going to be complete inappropriate and I don't care:

fred, STFD. speaking truth to power =/= racist

I hope Steve will forgive the hijack, but it seems that Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd were both forced to leave the inaugural luncheon for health reasons.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/inauguration-watch/2009/01/byrd_kennedy_leave_luncheon_fo.html?wprss=rss_blog

Rev Lowery might not have a great faith in white people, but I don't either. He is not racist.
white boy said that

Not just Kennedy, but Byrd, too.

AMEN! This 87 year old man, with his crackly voice, spoke so eloquently, both as a symbol of where we have been, and a symbol of the hope of what we can be. And his words were pretty eloquent. too.

I haven't been very proud of my country in the past few years. This event restored my pride in it. And this prayer was so spot-on in it's tone, reach, inclusion, and humility.

AMEN!!

Being from Atlanta, I have had to listen to this race card playing fool for a long time. Not a shock that he would invoke it in Washington

Huh. That clears things up for me, I have been doing it wrong for 32years by default...Jackass.

The poet should take remedial reading classes.

Lowery was brilliant.

As SWMBO pointed out, it was nice that Obama included us "unbelievers" in his list of co-religionists, and didn't infer we were going to hell. Take progress where we can.

Warren demonstrated just how ignorant fundamentalism is.

The 87-year-old civil rights leader practically stole the show.

No "practically" about it. I predict his benediction will be bettered remembered than the poem that preceded it.

"If you're white, you're all right.
If you're brown, stick around.
But if you're black, oh, brother --
Get back! Get Back! Get back!"

William (Big Bill) Broonzy's "Black, White and Brown Blues"

Just to pin down the other quote mentioned.

Ed

Warren really needs to go to a decent seminary next time. He said two prayers in a way sure to offend practitioners and non-practitioners alike. Both of them are prayers intended to unify believers of a particular faith tradition with other believers from that *SAME* tradition, not necessarily unite them with with various degrees of non-believers.

The choice of the Lord's Prayer itself is troubling given is long history of misuse as a test for non-believers (who were then convicted of being heathen and a) tortured (Spanish Inquisition), b) burned at the stake (Salem Witch Hunts). I'm not saying that historical misuse is a reason not to say the Lord's Prayer -- I'm just saying its not the first liturgical prayer I would reach for in a setting sure to have a heterogeneous mix of religions.

1) The Lord's Prayer -- is intended to be recited by Christians, with other Christians as a symbol of the unity of their joint beliefs. I don't see how that can possibly apply given our pluralistic society and by reciting it Warren is deliberately using it to sow disharmony. Poor choice theologically and politically -- how he managed to both simultaneously boggles the mind.

2) Earlier in his invocation he quoted the Sh'ma Yisroel. Not being Jewish, I hesitate to speak to its usage and cultural value, but I can say that my Orthodox boss who was sitting next to me as we watched cringed the same way I did when he mis-used the Lord's Prayer. How Warren managed to offend everyone and please no one boggles the mind still further.

It was the sole wrong note in the entire event.

(PS Who doesn't want to see what Miss Aretha can do while singing the alphabet now that she's mastered 'My Country, Tis of Thee'. Damn, that girl can sing...")

I dont care for the black/brown/yellow/red/white stuff.

We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back

Err, the occassion at which you're speaking is one in which a black man is becoming the most powerful man in the world. That doesnt mean racism is over, but Obama was asked to get in front, not in back.

when yellow will be mellow

Are Asians stirring up too much trouble? I dont get it.

and when white will embrace what is right.

The vast majority of white people *do* embrace what's right. Sure, there's still work to be done, but this makes it sound like whites are trying to keep other races down. It doesnt make sense in 2009, and especially not during this occassion.

I mean, even if you disagree with what I'm saying, why give the right an opportunity to harp about racial divisions? What was gained by bringing up this silly rhyming?

The Lord's Prayer -- is intended to be recited by Christians, with other Christians as a symbol of the unity of their joint beliefs.

Not only that, doesn't it immediately follow the admonition in the Gospel of Matthew that Christians should pray in secret and not out in front of everyone like the Pharisees do?

Not that I had any doubt that Warren is a Pharisee. I don't think I've ever said the Lord's Prayer outside of a group of my fellow Catholics and I, too, cringed when he started reciting it as if it were just an ordinary ecumenical prayer.

The vast majority of white people *do* embrace what's right. Sure, there's still work to be done, but this makes it sound like whites are trying to keep other races down. It doesnt make sense in 2009, and especially not during this occassion.

It does if you've either heard the quote before (which I had) or heard the song it comes from. If the right wing wants to act as though his quotation was an original thought of Lowery's, they can go ahead, but they should remember that we're not laughing with them, we're laughing at them when they try and gin up the faux outrage.

TG,

The "silly" rhyming did several things. First, it made us laugh. Second, it reminded us of where we have been. Third, it reminded us of where we are--watching a man from a multi-racial marriage being sworn in as President, and it was the votes of the blacks, the browns, the whites and all the other skin colors that put him on that stage today.

And as for whites trying to keep other races down--though it may not be what you have done, or what your friends have done, but whites have wielded the club of power to keep others out. And in some countries, they still do. Read a little about race relations CURRENTLY in Italy. Or in Germany. Or Britain. Or South Carolina.

If the line about whites offends you, do something CONSTRUCTIVE about it. The next time you hear someone tell a racist joke, don't laugh. Tell them it's not funny. The next time you hear someone say "wetback," don't let them get away with it. No human being can control what color they are born, but every human being can control their character. Do something that makes a difference, stand up for what is right.

Thanks Ed @ 3:28 for the full lyrics. TG, coming from Chicago, you should be aware of this: "Black Brown and White," also known as "The Get Back Blues," was one of the final songs of Big Bill Broonzy, legendary singer and producer and a great presence on the Chicago blues scene long before Chess Records. Broonzy, a dark-skinned black man, must have known what the reaction would be to releasing a song like that in the early Fifties. He was accused of being a Communist and blacklisted, and, apart from appearing with his fellow blacklister Pete Seeger (who performed for Obama on Sunday), did little for the rest of his life. One more great American who'd be very happy today.

Being from Atlanta, and being a white boy, I like Lowery and loved his benediction. And being from Georgia and the South, I hope that one day white will embrace what is right. They often don't down here. You can still be prosecuted for "Walking While Black" if you are in the wrong neighborhoods.

The minute I heard him say that, however, I knew the wingnuts would be all over it.

I find it interesting how each minister chose to end their respective prayers at the inauguration. Rev. Warren closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Rev. Lowery chose to recite a divisive poem. In such a historical day (doesn’t matter how you voted this is a historical day) I found it very disappointing that Rev. Lowery chose this low road.

As a lifelong Methodist I’m ashamed.

So here’s what I’m going to do. Below is Rev. Lowery’s e-mail address at the Atlanta Methodist Conference. Maybe he’ll get the message if enough people respond to him and disclose their disappointment in the way he chose to close his prayer and the inauguration itself. Feel free to pass this along to others.

joseph.lowery@ngumc.net

Mnemosyne: So you're allowed to say things that denigrate people of a certain race as long as it comes from a song or is otherwise borrowed from someone else? I dont think I care for that logic.

cyrki: I dont laugh at racist jokes or tolerate slurs. The thing is, I dont tolerate it regardless of what race is being denigrated. Even if it's whites.

ericfree: What does it matter where he got the lyrics from? I mean, if Rick Warren had said, "There is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will for ever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race" wouldnt it have been inappropriate? Even though he would have been quoting Lincoln?

Hey gttim - I am a white boy from the south as well, please let us know what neighborhoods your talking about. What an idiotic statement ... I mean did you notice who won the Presidential election?
THE MOMENT was not for Joseph Lowery, it was for Obama. All he had to do was stick to asimple prayer, but when cast in the spotlight, the
?reverand?, like most race card players, had to try to sneak somethin' in. I am glad we have the first half white President & think the occasion should be celebrated!

My experience of small town Arkansas, white small town, where no people of color ever ventured onto Main Street was shocking.

I can understand how most of them are likely to feel. Many will likely be deeply offended by a black man who has the gall to use the word "white" to describe them.

"Us vs. Them" and all the "isms" it spawns is alive and well in this country. The playful humor of Rev. Lowery and the dignity of the Obamas opens the door onto awareness and openness about our pain. We will do well to emulate the way they have transformed their pain into strength.

As for Arkansas, Appalachia, and the deep South there is much hope. Many people have seen what it is like to be empowered. The culture will change even if the road there will be rocky.

I am white. I voted for Obama. I contributed half the maximum to Obama when I really can't afford it. I flew to a swing state to volunteer for Obama. I was offended by the "white embrace what's right" comment. It was just pure utter BS. It's not faux outrage. It was a black eye to an otherwise joyous occasion. And it's racism.

It deserves no excuses. It was BS. I do embrace what's right. And I don't need to apologize for the actions of every white person to be a progressive. And I don't need to give a pass to every unfair comment by a non-white person to be a progressive.

"It deserves no excuses. It was BS. I do embrace what's right. And I don't need to apologize for the actions of every white person to be a progressive. And I don't need to give a pass to every unfair comment by a non-white person to be a progressive."

Oh, quit your damn whining. All of you.

Libby B: I find it interesting how each minister chose to end their respective prayers at the inauguration. Rev. Warren closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Rev. Lowery chose to recite a divisive poem.

If anything was divisive, it was Warren's use of an expressly Christian prayer in what is traditionally (and rightly, in this pluralistic nation of ours) an ecumenical invocation.

"Oh, quit your damn whining. All of you."

Are you serious? America, largely composed of white people, just elected a black man as president, and on the day he becomes president, a black man says to pray for a day when the black man isn't sent to the back and the white man embraces what's right.

The black man isn't sent to the back. And the white man has embraced what's right. Who is the real whiner?

Warren's disgusting, partisan, divisive invocation was a scandal. By using divisive Christian prayers, Warren demonstrated that evangelicals are not trustworthy.

You can deliver a prayer which includes all, which Lowery did, and Warren did not.

I voted for Obama and I was offended by it as well. Calling it a "playful" use of humor demonstrates a distinct lack of sensitivity. Listen, unless you're totally ideologically on board with this type of thinking, this is going to offend. No one should be shocked that good people are offended. And one need not be a "right winger" to feel this way. It was a horrid note to end on.

Neither of these preacher dudes did worth a shit. No value added whatsoever. All the more reason why we should work mightily to reinforce secularism and drive the witch doctors out of our public affairs.

So you're allowed to say things that denigrate people of a certain race as long as it comes from a song or is otherwise borrowed from someone else?

Glad to know that every racial problem in the United States was completely solved the day Obama was elected. It's not as though black and brown children still attend substandard urban schools or that poverty and alcoholism are rampant on reservations anything.

Nope, the entire history of racism in the United States was wiped completely clean because we elected a black man, and anyone who dares refer to the struggle that he's spent his life fighting is a horrible, horrible racist.

Jesus, you people are wimps. "Ohmigod, he pointed out that there are still racial problems in the US by quoting some funny lines from an old blues song! How could he be so mmmeeeaaaannnnnn???"

I can't believe the remarks coming from those who claim to be offended by Lowery's closing remarks. As others have noted, his reference was to Big Bill Broonzy's sly "Black, White and Brown Blues," recorded at a far less hopeful time (1956), way back at the very dawn of America's civil rights movement. Anyone who has bothered to educate him or herself about this country's troubled race relations and civil rights struggles would recognize immediately that Lowery's referencing of these words signified just how far America has come by electing Obama president. His remarks were, to this 50-something white male at least, funny, moving and wholly joyous.

To those who choose to be offended -- and yes the choice is entirely yours -- get over yourselves already.

Do they teach logic in schools anymore? How does the fact that Lowery was alluding to an old blues song alter the literal meaning of what he said today? He spoke in generalities about white people and he did so in the pejorative. You think that rings in harmony with the message of Barack Obama? (And who's arguing that racism isn't a problem in this country?)

Everybody say Amen!

Those of you complaining about Lowrey can go suck an egg. He's walked the walk when he could have been killed for it, as were others black and white.

You've got to give the civil rights pioneers some slack today and let them celebrate their success at FINALLY achieving respect from us whities.

I loved his prayer, and I'm not religious.

The best "religious" moment of the day came when PRESIDENT Obama (Say Amen again) recognized us unbelievers.

THANK YOU.

Please listen to what was actually said. This is not about right/ left conservative/liberal. How can we accept these words at such an historic event as just an attempt at a little levity? There is no such thing as "reverse racism" it is what it is and it is ALWAYS ugly and inappropriate. Now is the time of great opportunity for our country and anyone who sincerely has equality as a goal should be heralding this incredible step forward in our national history and NOT using it as an opportunity for retribution. Martin Luther King's dream was about colorblindness not black, brown, yellow, read and white....content of character not color of skin. We can only hope bigotry does not preclude true understanding of and respect for that dream. I suspect that he has many tears in his eye as he witnesses the events of the day....clearly some for the clear progress but also some for the fact that color is still being used as a weapon ironically by the very race he worked so hard advocating for 45 years ago.

Rev. Lowery's prayer was beautiful, and I've half a mind to think that all the people complaining about it are juts trolling the site. Or are all Democrats really forced to be this PC now?

He said what he said at the end because it rhymed, it was clever and pithy for an old preacher to say, and it has a storied history far beyond what went on today. End of story! End. Of. Story.

If you want to read some kind of race card BS into it, go ahead, but the truth will set you free, and I can see you're in chains.

I don't agree with Warren's use of the Lord's Prayer (see my earlier comment). That said, at this moment he was praying not only for our nation, but specifically for the Obamas. And, both of them (whether reflexively or not, whether politically canny or not, whether staged or not) were quietly repeating the words to themselves while on stage with their heads bowed. For them to participate with the prayer in this way means that whether we agree with it or not, it meant something important to them.

Similarly, when Lowery repeated the old (i.e., no longer told because of its obvious ability to offend everyone equally) joke about "If you're black, get back/If you are brown stick around..." but twisted it slightly to meet the events of the day, Mr. Obama had a huge smile on his face -- the kind you wear when your grandfather does something unbelievably uncool while attempting to be cool.

In the past, this little ditty (if you are black, get back... et cetera) has been repeated by one black person to another as a reminder that things just don't change that quickly. It was used as a reminder that some of the inexplicable crap that lands on the plate of every person of color really has nothing to do with them personally and as a defense against simply going crazy trying to fix things that aren't inherently wrong about yourself.

I would be willing to bet that this wasn't the first time our president, Mr. Obama, had heard the tired canard. It may just be the first time it didn't hurt one tiny little bit. Especially not after two years of listening to the combined punditry of America explain why your race would or would not keep you from achieving your goal. Which when you think of it, is just a more educated way of saying "If you are black, get back..."

Although I wouldn't have used this myself, and I would have preferred that Mr. Lowery didn't use it either, I do have to admit that I'm glad the day has come when being black doesn't mean you have to get back and where being brown means you can stick around.

I'm smiling too.

Mnemosyne, you're attacking a straw man. I myself said earlier in the thread that racism isnt dead.

The thing is that Lowrey is talking about divisions based on race on a day that should be about unity.

What he said was a blanket statement about all white people. However, the statement does not, in fact, apply to most white people. So it was a lousy choice of words.

If Warren had told Jews or gays to "embrace what's right", somehow I think most of you would realize that it was inappropriate.

Joseph Lowery is acting like a racist and acting non-Christ like.

Hey S. A. Smith, do you acknowledge that, as you attempt to locate the logic in someone else's statements, that culture might have something to do with it? Do you know anything about the rich culture generated by America's civil rights movement? More, do you even care? If you are arguing that these cultural references are in fact irrelevant, in effect making a principle out of your ignorance, then who cares what you think anyway?

I think part of the message (and example) of Barack Obama has to do with listening to others and trying to understand things through their viewpoint as well as one's own. I see no evidence from your remarks that you've done anything like that as of yet.

Look -- I am willing to consider your arguments, but I am also frankly dismayed at you and the others in this forum who seem to feel mortally threatened by Lowery's words. I wonder if you feel the same sense of indignation at the stream of poisonous verbal abuse that issues daily, hourly, from the Rush Limbaughs & others who have been fouling our political nest for so long, we no longer seem even to notice.

I want my children to be judged based on their character, not the color of their skin. I guess Barack Obama and Joseph Lowery do not share that dream.

I think they should both apologize.

@ cyrki - "The next time you hear someone tell a racist joke, don't laugh. Tell them it's not funny."

That rhyme was not funny, and was divisive.

It made me chuckle in the face of seriousness. Spiced with equal parts of humor, compassion, and sincerity. Hopefully we can all move forward my brothers, and sisters of the human race. Today, January 20th, 2009 brought us closer together than we have ever been. May we continue to be inspired, and focused.
Thank you Mr. Obama and Rev. Lowery.

I loved it so much, I made it into a t-shirt: (NON PROFIT INTENTIONS)
http://www.zazzle.com/joseph_e_lowery_2009_inauguration_speech_quote_shirt-235235849124754262

Did you people listen to Obama? So why the furor from the right over an 87 year old civil rights veteran's remarks, and from the left castigating Warren for repeating the lords prayer AFTER qualifying that it was a prayer to his god? Where's the civility? the unity? Get a life!

Did anyone see the smile immediately fade on Obama's face right after the "whitie" comment? Like a balloon popped out of his head and said "oh s*t" haha

Racism will never go away as long as white people are continually reminded how "racist" we are. It simply reinforces it.

I think Reverend Lowery's comments at the Inauguration of our new President were appalling. If a white "Reverend" at the Inauguration of a white President said anything remotely close to "blacks should embrace what's right", we'd never hear the end of it. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and the mainstream media would be all over it screaming indignation and demanding an apology. Why is it wrong for the white race to expect respect?

It was used as a reminder that some of the inexplicable crap that lands on the plate of every person of color really has nothing to do with them personally and as a defense against simply going crazy trying to fix things that aren't inherently wrong about yourself.

And how is it being used now? To feed the victimization complex of white liberals. Because, as Rush Limbaugh always says, there's no one as oppressed in America today as the conservative white man.

Where are the Asian and Native American commenters to tell us how offended they are to be referred to as "yellow" and "the red man"? There have to be at least a few if what Lowery said was so incredibly racist and offensive.

Double standards breed a backlash. Lowery, in this case, is like many faux liberals who embrace double standards when it benefits them. I feel that I am a true liberal in that my beliefs are based on values rather than selfishness. That comment was petty. Anyone who says "stop whining" is probably a hypocrite who would not tolerate the same thing being said about any protected class of people.

That being said, I don't hold Obama accountable for it. During the coverage, he and another black man in the screen looked clearly disturbed right when the Reverend made that statement. I think that at least proves it was a BS statement to make at a time like that, and anyone defending it is being completely disingenuous, and doing what many faux liberals do: apologize for bad behavior when it's one of their guys.

I think Limbaugh is BS, too. On the other hand, I don't think people should be PC all the time. I look at intentions. I didn't think the Reverend Wright controversy should have been blown up. I also didn't think Imus should have been so vilified. But Lowery's dig struck me as counter to the spirit of the day, and even meanspirited in a way. I felt it pulled the rug out from under white people who worked really hard to get Obama elected from being able to enjoy the event without hesitation.

He should apologize.

I read the comments here, giving some credence to the thought of avoiding such a reference for the sake of unity, but after actually viewing it, seeing the context, I'm decidedly of the opinion that anyone who wishes to make an issue of it....."wishes to make an issue of it."

Racist a-hole. Those yella poeple should mellow out. Them honkies should do what right, ya no?

Racist crap. Sickening and should be rebuked.

HOw dare someone who claims that they walked with Dr. King to be allowed to chant such racist crap.

Shame!

Blacks are 12% of the population, Barack got 53% of the votes of all Americans, meaning mostly white voters voted for him. Stop the rhetoric.

McCain won the white vote

Lowery is a dinosaur from the 60's. He's standing next to the first black president and still feels the needs to play the race/victim card. Obama would have lost in a landslide without the white vote.
It will never end for people like Lowery. If it did he and others like him might have to take responsibility for themselves. Plus they would have to find a real job.
His so called prayer was a diatribe that was equally ignorant and offensive. He should be ashamed of himself, but he won't be.

sockpuppeting deleted -- mod.]

sockpuppeting deleted -- mod.]

Joseph Lowery is not a racist A-hole. He's an 87 year old man who was speaking to the largest crowd of his life after decades of fighting racism when it took more courage than the amount needed to post an anonymous letter on a blog.

At best he made a comment that was coded for others who lived through the sixties, knew the blues song and understood all of the cultural references. At worst, he made a terrible error in judgement. His "error in judgement" used several ethnic slurs and could be considered to have been in poor taste but -- in no way did it invalidate a lifetime spent confronting injustice.

Let's remember what racism really looks like. Racism prevents generations from getting quality educations, or access to the financial, legal and political systems. It keeps you in substandard housing with sub standard educational options. Racists ride up in white sheets and burn crosses on your lawn and sometimes they come around and lynch you or your family member. Racists kill people. Racists travel in packs of ugly mobs and beat strangers for asserting their civil rights.
Racists pass over qualified employees for others from preferred groups. Racists resist the practice of exogamy. They don't sell you their homes. They put your resume on the bottom of the pile. They actively seek to exclude you from their social gatherings.

It's not a word I use lightly.

Old people tell stories that are in poor taste and that fall flat. Does that mean he's not a lion of the Civil Rights movement? Hell no. Does that mean Barack Obama shouldn't have picked him? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe Obama should have picked a pastor that he knew better -- like say his pastor of 20 years. Oh wait. He was a "racist" too.

Stop whining and decide which label best fits Rev. Lowery.

To all the whiny trolls who suddenly showed up to register their poutrage:

Go suck a lemon- it will improve your disposition.

Everybody say AMEN!

And say a silent pray for us all.

There's still work to be done.

I'm one of those "yellow" people who should be "mellow" according to the great Lowery.

But I dig it. It's cool for him to get a pass because he marched back in the day and has been around the block.

Hmmm, let's see, my ancestors who emigrated to the US were dirt poor, pretty much treated as slaves, and actually did work on plantations. I've been called all sorts of racial epithets by blacks, too. So I guess if I refer to BO as President Oreo from now on, no one, especially blacks, should take offense -right?!? I mean hey, I've got that historical experience and all...

See how ridiculous this is? Lowery's comments were utterly inappropriate. Lyrics to a song, huh? Oh, it must be okay then....I'm afraid we're in for 4 years of trashing white people, Asian people, Hispanics, etc., and if you point out the hypocrisy as many have tried to do here, you're labeled a racist, wingnut, or worse.

Remember, Obama is HALF White, and never would have won this election without so many whites "doing what's right." As a matter of fact, Rev Lowery, that day has more than arrived, it has already passed.

Content of character, folks. Content of character. Don't go making a liar out of Dr. King just because you've secured the throne for a few years.

So not only is he a racist, he is also uses plagarism? Nice...

There was nothing laughable nor eloquent about Joseph Lowery's so-called prayer. It was simply ignorant. (By the way....this is a black woman stating this.)

At best he made a comment that was coded for others who lived through the sixties, knew the blues song and understood all of the cultural references.

I really think this is the main problem here. You have a bunch of people who don't know the reference and have never heard the song who don't understand WHY Lowery was using the song (hint: it was a little something about things being better since the song was written, but still needing some work).

This is sounding like the whole stupid controversy over "niggardly," where people got bent out of shape because they didn't understand the word and then couldn't admit they'd made asses of themselves by complaining.

If you didn't understand the reference, you didn't understand it. But leaping immediately to the conclusion that Rev. Lowery is a horrible, horrible racist who mortally offended you is a skydiving-level leap.

I think Lowery's comments were terrible. In Obama's speech, he stated that

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

For those of you who blow this off, know that there are MILLIONS of white people who will not. Is this how Obama wants to begin spending his political capital? There are people who didn't vote for Obama, but they saw the hope and the excitement, and they were kind of getting on board, when Lowery kicks them in the face. There were other people, already angry about the election, just looking for Obama to make that first mistake, and this is gasoline for a fire they are more than happy to let burn. It just doesn't make sense to let Lowery say that. It just doesn't make sense that 30 minutes after he becomes president, the same podium is used to promote racial division. OBAMA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN THAT.

Amazed this thread is still going, and (I'm putting aside the true racists, who seem to have been magically attracted) at the comments from some who don't understand how much sheer guts it took for Broonzy to say it and for thousands like Lowery to work for basic civil rights in this country only a few years ago. BTW, nobody was burned at the stake at Salem, but hundreds, black and white, were murdered in the U.S. for standing up for their rights and trying to extend them to all just in the period from 1920 -- 1970. Yesterday was also a day of celebration and remembrance for all those who worked for civil rights without living to see the results -- for Bill Broonzy, Emmet Till and all those they represent. It also celebrated a long overdue shoving of racists in the face, the reason they're howling.

Here is MY prayer for the world: That God, Almighty, Creator of the Universe, All-Knowing, All-Seeing...would strike us all BLIND; PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO SEE OUR NEIGHBORS...maybe THEN, we will "SEE" the heart of a man, a woman, a child...without even KNOWING what skin color they are...maybe THEN, we will stop judging others..IMAGINE it...LIVE IT! "MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART :)
Ponder THIS: What if you WERE blind, and your neighbor were black as the night...God removes the blindness and YOU discover that your very dearest friend IS INDEED this very man...this beautiful man...whom is quite different than you are...ONLY IN SKIN COLOR, but your two hearts; are ONE...WOULD IT MATTER? I think not...I KNOW.

By the way, if the controversial lyrics were from a Blues song, then "yellow" does NOT refer to Asians but to mulattoes.

I think Lowery's use of the song reminds us of one of the dangers of Obama's presidency -- that his white supporters will now think racism is no longer an issue. Instead, we need to be honest with ourselves and say that even with a black president, we still have a ways to go -- even us white folks.

Why all the excuses? Lowery did NOT preface his rhyme by referring to an old song, or that it is a reminder that "we still have a ways to go."

No. What he said was, "We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back..."

He clearly meant that, at least for him, that day has not come.

If we are to indeed grow as a nation, and unite, then ALL transgressions need to be pointed out, not just when it's the white man doing the bad deed. The apologists need to stop defending Lowery, or they're nothing but hypocrites.

Same as the crowd that booed Pres. Bush, Laura Bush, VP Chaney and Lynn Chaney, Rev. Lowery’s comments were inappropriate, divisive, ill-mannered, embarrassing, disrespectful , insensitive and lacking common sense. As a bi-racial American Indian/European I found the oratory despicable, mean spirited, offensive and lacking of manners. There is a time and place for such dialogue, the inauguration was not one of them. During this historical moment in our history it was a blight. Ugly, Ugly Americans raised their heads and displayed to the world that they really are, a bunch of ill-mannered, impolite and insensitive bumpkins. It points out the selfish “me only” stance of a “deserving” group of people who believe they deserve everything but feel, no demand, that they should be able to do as they please without accountability. Any individual, including the President, who thought this as cute, appropriate, or acceptable should be taken behind the woodshed and have their rear tanned.

I am white and have been victimized by Lowery's blatant racism. I cry foul This is no different than torture in my mind. oppression pure and simple. Don't you read history? Who is Joseph Lowery, really? We know, don't we? I am a white christian and I vote.