Obama and Black Liberation Theology

I'd thought the impact of religion on the 2008 presidential primaries had peaked with Mitt Romney's January speech on "Faith in America" and Mike Huckabee's, an ordained Baptist minister, more recent withdrawal from the Republican race. But tomorrow, when Barack Obama addresses race and incidentally his relationship with his minister of twenty years, the controversial Jeremiah Wright, will be an even higher peak relative to religion and politics.

In my estimation, at issue will be the notion of black liberation theology, a variety of Christianity that preaches self-definition, self-affirmation and self-determination for African Americans, who are posited as historically oppressed by American society. I hope Mr. Obama does not repudiate/denounce/reject this pertinent and challenging take on Jesus's message and mission. That would be a supreme irony during Holy Week.

Mr. Obama's speech tomorrow will be his most crucial speech to date, particularly for the sake of his own integrity.