Joseph Lowery’s Benediction: The Transcript

Here’s the link. Below the fold, a transcript, with comment and links on the great hymn he leads off with, of Rev. Joseph Lowery’s benediction (note how up-to-date Wikipedia is on Lowery – gotta love it):

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand -- true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.

We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.

For we know that, Lord, you're able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.

We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed -- the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.

And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.

And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.

Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.

We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won't get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone, with your hands of power and your heart of love.

Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.

Let all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.

AUDIENCE: Amen!

REV. LOWERY: Say amen --

AUDIENCE: Amen!

REV. LOWERY: -- and amen.

AUDIENCE: Amen! (Cheers, applause.)

For the full text, and historical background, of the cited hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing, go here. For a recording, go here.

Comments

[Bob MacDonald]

I has to be a good day when the preacher can get laughter in a prayer - !!

[James Pate]

I was a little taken aback by the parts that were getting laughter. I mean, do Asians like being called "yellow"? I wonder what would happen if those lines were spoken at a Republican inauguration or gathering. I can't see alternate realities, but I can picture liberals demanding an apology!

[Nooj]

I'm an Asian, and no I don't like being called yellow.

That part of the benediction didn't belong there. Parts of it was I believe, taken from an old protest song called Get Back(Black,Brown and White): http://www.gavagai.de/musik/HHM60.htm

Now I loved the rest of the benediction, and I don't think the Rev. Lowery is a racist, but he made racist comments. He probably meant them in humour, but I thought it was misplaced.

[steph]

I thought it was great. I'm sorry that Asian people might be offended. I hate being called 'white' because of all the bad historical baggage that carries and I'd rather be the opposite of mellow than embracing what is wrong. But in this case it was in the context of a prayer about a new beginning which highlighted the end of racial difference. I thought the prayer was the highlight of what I've seen of the inauguration - something I've found difficult to avoid all day what with it hijacking every news broadcast. That prayer certainly beat "God bless Amerikaagghhhh" and "We will lead the world.." That is the sort of thing I get sick of hearing.

[JohnFH]

I agree with the spirit of Steph's remarks.

However, I have learned how sensitive some people are to ethnic and religious jokes, so I only tell jokes of this kind on myself. I've got lots of good jokes on Methodist preachers. These are the kind I tell in public.

They are also the only kind my teenage daughter, who is a Puritan on the matter, allows me to tell at the dinner table.

[Roma]

Doctor Lowery spoke the words that was put in his heart by God himself. Anyone who wants to challenge it, I suggest go back through time and read your American history. It’s time we face our past, present and future. The future favors those who acknowledges the past. And this was the moment our country has been waiting since it’s long overdue and deliberate delay.

About the last paragraph, take a chill pill people. What's to be offended? I am brown and I'm proud of it and accept the color God has bestowed upon my skin. If I'm not mistaken there's even a children christian song that talks about the different colors of the world.......Jesus loves the little childrennnn all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white we are .........jesus loves the little children of the worldddddddd.

If you have a problem with the color of your skin, take it up with God.