Communication senior Zachary Parker got an unexpected call early this summer. On the line was the personal secretary of Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Parker, the coordinator for For Members Only, had spoken out against the university's decision last spring to rescind an offer of an honorary doctorate to Wright, whose videotaped sermons drew national attention.
The two met at the pastor's home late last summer, Parker said, and talked politics and religion.
Then, Parker proposed an idea: What if the reverend spoke at Northwestern?
Wright offered to do it for free.
He'll deliver the keynote address Nov. 7 at FMO's "State of the Black Union" event at Cahn Auditorium.
"He was very humbled and honored that students at Northwestern wanted to give him this honor," Parker said.
Wright is best known as the former pastor of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee. Clips of his sermons, in which he stated "God damn America" and suggested the AIDS virus was developed to infect blacks, were replayed constantly on cable news.
The ensuing uproar led University President Henry Bienen to withdraw Wright's invitation to June commencement, where he was set to receive an honorary doctorate in sacred theology.
"In light of the controversy surrounding statements made by you that have recently been publicized, the celebratory character of Northwestern's commencement would be affected by our conferring this honorary degree," Bienen wrote in a letter to Wright at the time.
Bienen did not respond to an e-mail late Tuesday seeking comment.
The decision was panned by Parker and other students in For Members Only, as well as other students and professors.
FMO began a campaign to persuade the administration to reverse its decision. At the same time, Parker began to communicate with Wright's personal secretary, who would pass messages back and forth. The two spoke for the first time this summer at Wright's home in Chicago.
There, Wright agreed to visit Northwestern, but only after Election Day on Nov. 4, Parker said.
FMO worked with Associated Student Government and university officials to schedule the event. They also secured an undisclosed honorarium for Wright.
His speech will focus on the theme of the event, "Redeeming and Reclaiming Our Community." The event is open to all students. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and Wright will speak for about 30 minutes at 7 p.m. before taking questions.
"Rev. Wright is a very esteemed scholar in his own right," said African American Studies professor Carol Lee. "I think it could engender some useful conversations."
Staff writers Emily Glazer, Renee Lee and Danny Yadron contributed to this report.
n-merchant@northwestern.edu
2008 Woodie Awards
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
El Goodo
posted 10/01/08 @ 10:16 AM CST
Nice to see racism and kooky conspiracy theories are what passes for "esteemed scholarship" on university campuses these days. Public, open racism IS alive and well in the U. (Continued…)
Jenn
posted 10/01/08 @ 7:52 PM CST
I'm pretty excited to hear this guy speak. After all this is one of our country's most infamous racists! Now if only I could go back in time to hear a Hitler speech too. (Continued…)
Jenny Underhill
posted 10/02/08 @ 8:47 AM CST
It's pretty bad we try and teach our kids not to be racist and love one another because God loved us enough to give His only Son,
but then you have a so called man of God using God's name in vain
and making racist remarks all over the place. (Continued…)
William Smyth
posted 10/02/08 @ 1:34 PM CST
I think it is a great opportunity for the NU community.
Rev. Wright from his NAACP speech [CNN transcript].
I believe addressing your theme. I believe a change is going to come because many of us here tonight, at least 11,900 out of 12,000. (Continued…)
deroy
posted 10/03/08 @ 2:09 AM CST
as an NU alum who totally disagrees with the way colleges have isolated themselves. what do you have in common with WRIGHT?
god damn america while taking $14M? or bill was riding her dirty in front of the children in the church service? that refers to bill clinton and intern monica lewinsky. (Continued…)
fidel
posted 10/03/08 @ 8:09 AM CST
I am an alum of the law school and many family members attended Weinberg. We are disgusted with NU. The Wright thing was nauseating and the school only pulled back when it came under public scrutiny. (Continued…)
buffoonery
posted 10/03/08 @ 10:45 AM CST
Comparing Wright to Hitler is rather unfair. Rather, Wright's behavior is a reflection of just how thin is the black leadership in this country. Wright, Jesse Jackson's love child, Al Sharpton's unpaid slander judgement, the list goes on. (Continued…)
West of Weden
posted 10/04/08 @ 4:30 PM CST
Thank you, "fidel" and "buffoonery," for linking the Wright invitation to the NU employment of Bernadine Dohrn. I see the continuing employment of Ms. (Continued…)
Just a typical white woman
posted 10/05/08 @ 7:21 PM CST
Fidel and the other like-minded posts are RIGHT ON. This, and the Dohrn hiring are an abject disgrace. Wright is an avowed racist and lunatic, and Dorhn, as so aptly described by the other posts, an unrepentant terrorist, with no proper qualifications to teach in the Law School. (Continued…)
Ruth H-L
posted 10/25/08 @ 3:45 PM CST
I am grateful that Northwestern University will honor its tradition of intellectual integrity by welcoming the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. Dr. Wright has been my primary mentor and "spiritual father" for 19 years. (Continued…)
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