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.
I has to be a good day when the preacher can get laughter in a prayer - !!
Posted by: Bob MacDonald | January 20, 2009 at 09:03 PM
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!
Posted by: James Pate | January 20, 2009 at 10:34 PM
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.
Posted by: Nooj | January 21, 2009 at 12:54 AM
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.
Posted by: steph | January 21, 2009 at 03:36 AM
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.
Posted by: JohnFH | January 21, 2009 at 03:28 PM
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.
Posted by: Roma | January 21, 2009 at 11:39 PM