Inauguration: Ending Prayer/Benediction by Reverend Joseph Lowery

Live blogging of the Inauguration by Kimberly Wilder (one green’s perspective):

Joseph E. Lowery did the ending prayer/benediction.

Reverend Lowery was inspired and entertaining.

He spoke of “inclusion, not exclusion” and “tolerance, not intolerance.” This seemed like a hidden message reflecting on the public attitudes of Reverend Rick Warren. Reverend Lowery’s speech was profound and straight forward. Then, at the end, he got very folksy. He actually did a list of little sayings, hoping for the day when…

“When brown can stick around”

“When yellow can be mellow”

“When the red man can be the head man”

And, when the white can…do right, I think. [Update: The exact quote was, "and when white will embrace what is right."]

It was wonderful. The AP took this to mean that there is still work to be done on racial healing. I am a white person, and I take it to mean that I should reflect on the advantages I have as a white person, and be more sensitive to the struggles of people of color. I read a lot of the comments to this post, and I think an interesting place for white people who were offended to study at would be Erase Racism.]

And, then he did a lot of “Say Amen”s. And, he got lots of Amens back. I liked that because it had the rhythym, positive energy and group participation unique to the Black Church. A nice taste of a new way of being.