The informal definition of sellout on www.dictionary.com is “a person who betrays a cause, organization, or the like; traitor”, and "a person who compromises his or her personal values, integrity, talent, or the like, for money or personal advancement.”  I was shocked to learn that in certain circles among my own people and culture, because of my written opinion of the controversy surrounding Sen. Barack Obama’s former pastor, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, I am a “sellout”.  I must say that though I knew that any opinion that did not promote the victimization of black people, and actually put forth some logical thought as to a possible reason for Dr. Wright’s comments, would not be welcome among those who make their living off the hurt of those they claim to represent.

Since the time that my comments were printed, I have had opportunity to reason that perhaps shock should not have been my first response to the label of sellout.  In fact, a more reasoned and logical response would be sadness.  I have become sad by what inevitably continues to be the ruin of honest and perhaps logical debate in the black community, our emotion.  All too often, we assume the emotional response without clearly seeing how that response affects our hopes in the end.  It is true that emotion is one of the gems of being human, but it can also be an albatross when it interferes with clear thinking.  Just ask any person who has followed their heart into a love relationship, while their head pointed out the obvious red flags.  My concern is that many of my people have embraced the role of victim because it is an emotionally satisfying position.  As a victim, one can always look for someone else to rescue or come to the aid of the cause, while we tend to expect little of the victims in uplifting themselves.

If I am to be a sellout, I should perhaps begin to share that to which I am sold out.  As a Black man, I am unconditionally sold out to the uplift of all people, regardless of their skin color.  That being said, I do see the lion’s share of my efforts being spent among my own community as I try to convince my brothers and sisters not to live as victims of this society, but as those who take advantage of the tremendous opportunities for advancement not available to our fore parents, and for which they shed their blood.  It is to this end I am committed; the injection of reason into the argument of race relations in America.  Apparently, this is offensive to those who seem to have no real desire to solve our problems and foster understanding between all people of goodwill.  Instead, they find some twisted honor in attacking the character and legitimacy of those who fail to share their beliefs.  As evidence, I offer the castigation of Bill Cosby by Professor Rev. Michael Eric Dyson, who lambasted Dr. Cosby for saying there were some problems we need to address in the black community before we start blaming whites for all of our problems.  Again, this type of thinking by a professional intellectual as Dr. Dyson amazes me because it assumes the victim mantle proudly, which is his right, but it also refutes as illegitimate any who disagree.

Furthermore, I confess to selling out to the day when we as black people begin to use the power of our vote to advance an agenda that actually benefits us.  This is a lesson that seems easy for some groups to embrace for other ethnic groups, but difficult for those of us who use our heart to determine what to do with our vote.  This all too often is nothing at all.  The election of the next president serves as example to this painful reality.  Moved by the emotional appeal of Senator Barack Obama is where I find myself because of the tremendous sense of history and pride for all Black Americans.  The opportunity for my children to connect to the President on a new level is not lost on me.  Yet when I examine the policies of Senator Obama, the reality is that many of his proposals will not bring the uplift needed for black Americans, especially those in economically challenged areas.  For example, Senator Obama is opposed to school choice for parents.  This means that parents who are unable or cannot afford to move from communities with failing public schools have the unfortunate and often catastrophic choice of sending their children to chronically underperforming schools.  In Gary, this means that there are very few options for parents, yet Senator Obama’s position page on education mentions nothing about opening up choice for parents like those in Gary.  In fact, most of his proposals concerning education require additional government spending on education.  In addition, to those who believe money is the problem with schools in economically challenged areas, the fact is that in 2005 Gary Community School Corporation spent $2000.00 more than the state average per student in operational costs. (Source: www.schooldatadirect.org)

In addition, I am sold out to using the pulpit for the express purpose of preaching a gospel that does not poke fun or ridicule those who may have different political or social ideas than me.  The recent comments by St. Sabina Catholic Church pastor Father Michael Pfleger have cast a dark shadow over the role of religion in discussing social policy.  If the best we can do with our preaching is mock candidates that we do not support, then perhaps it would be best to remain silent.  The honest discussion of the positions candidates have publically declared is helpful and informative, but insensitive personal attacks belittle the high calling of the ministry.  Rather than encourage people to take advantage of opportunity, Father Pfleger bought into the victim mantra and oiled the machine that maintains the pain of a people needing to embrace freedom.

Finally, I will proudly wear the label of sellout if it means that I am committed to introducing and maintaining critical thinking as an element of uplifting people.  This not only applies to black people, but all of God’s children.  If we are truly to explore issues of race in America, then fellowship of all humankind must be our ultimate goal.  This is the goal to which Dr. King was committed and for which he gave his life.  Those of us left to uphold this honored legacy must refrain from labels such as “sellout”, “Uncle Tom” and “oreo” in reference to those whose real desire is to see all advance to their full God-given potential.