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　　I　am　the　son　of　a　black　man　from　Kenya　and　a　white　woman　from　Kansas。　I　was　raised　with　the　help　of　a　white　grandfather　who　survived　a　Depression　to　serve　in　Patton's　Army　during　World　War　II　and　a　white　grandmother　who　worked　on　a　bomber　assembly　line　at　Fort　Leavenworth　while　he　was　overseas。　I've　gone　to　some　of　the　best　schools　in　America　and　lived　in　one　of　the　world's　poorest　nations。　I　am　married　to　a　black　American　who　carries　within　her　the　blood　of　slaves　and　slaveowners　…　an　inheritance　we　pass　on　to　our　two　precious　daughters。　I　have　brothers；　sisters；　nieces；　nephews；　uncles　and　cousins；　of　every　race　and　every　hue；　scattered　across　three　continents；　and　for　as　long　as　I　live；　I　will　never　forget　that　in　no　other　country　on　Earth　is　my　story　even　possible。
　　It's　a　story　that　hasn't　made　me　the　most　conventional　candidate。　But　it　is　a　story　that　has　seared　into　my　genetic　makeup　the　idea　that　this　nation　is　more　than　the　sum　of　its　parts　…　that　out　of　many；　we　are　truly　one。　。。

更完善的联邦（7）
Throughout　the　first　year　of　this　campaign；　against　all　predictions　to　the　contrary；　we　saw　how　hungry　the　American　people　were　for　this　message　of　unity。　Despite　the　temptation　to　view　my　candidacy　through　a　purely　racial　lens；　we　won　manding　victories　in　states　with　some　of　the　whitest　populations　in　the　country。　In　South　Carolina；　where　the　Confederate　Flag　still　flies；　we　built　a　powerful　coalition　of　African　Americans　and　white　Americans。
　　This　is　not　to　say　that　race　has　not　been　an　issue　in　the　campaign。　At　various　stages　in　the　campaign；　some　mentators　have　deemed　me　either　〃too　black〃　or　〃not　black　enough。〃　We　saw　racial　tensions　bubble　to　the　surface　during　the　week　before　the　South　Carolina　primary。　The　press　has　scoured　every　exit　poll　for　the　latest　evidence　of　racial　polarization；　not　just　in　terms　of　white　and　black；　but　black　and　brown　as　well。
　　And　yet；　it　has　only　been　in　the　last　couple　of　weeks　that　the　discussion　of　race　in　this　campaign　has　taken　a　particularly　divisive　turn。
　　On　one　end　of　the　spectrum；　we've　heard　the　implication　that　my　candidacy　is　somehow　an　exercise　in　affirmative　action；　that　it's　based　solely　on　the　desire　of　wide…eyed　liberals　to　purchase　racial　reconciliation　on　the　cheap。　On　the　other　end；　we've　heard　my　former　pastor；　Reverend　Jeremiah　Wright；　use　incendiary　language　to　express　views　that　have　the　potential　not　only　to　widen　the　racial　divide；　but　views　that　denigrate　both　the　greatness　and　the　goodness　of　our　nation；　that　rightly　offend　white　and　black　alike。
　　I　have　already　condemned；　in　unequivocal　terms；　the　statements　of　Reverend　Wright　that　have　caused　such　controversy。　For　some；　nagging　questions　remain。　Did　I　know　him　to　be　an　occasionally　fierce　critic　of　American　domestic　and　foreign　policy？　Of　course。　Did　I　ever　hear　him　make　remarks　that　could　be　considered　controversial　while　I　sat　in　church？　Yes。　Did　I　strongly　disagree　with　many　of　his　political　views？　Absolutely　…　just　as　I'm　sure　many　of　you　have　heard　remarks　from　your　pastors；　priests；　or　rabbis　with　which　you　strongly　disagreed。
　　But　the　remarks　that　have　caused　this　recent　firestorm　weren't　simply　controversial。　They　weren't　simply　a　religious　leader's　effort　to　speak　out　against　perceived　injustice。　Instead；　they　expressed　a　profoundly　distorted　view　of　this　country　…　a　view　that　sees　white　racism　as　endemic；　and　that　elevates　what　is　wrong　with　America　above　all　that　we　know　is　right　with　America。
　　As　such；　Reverend　Wright's　ments　were　not　only　wrong　but　divisive；　divisive　at　a　time　when　we　need　unity；　racially　charged　at　a　time　when　we　need　to　e　together　to　solve　a　set　of　monumental　problems　…　two　wars；　a　terrorist　threat；　a　falling　economy；　a　chronic　health　care　crisis　and　potentially　devastating　climate　change；　problems　that　are　neither　black　or　white　or　Latino　or　Asian；　but　rather　problems　that　confront　us　all。
　　Given　my　background；　my　politics；　and　my　professed　values　and　ideals；　there　will　no　doubt　be　those　for　whom　my　statements　of　condemnation　are　not　enough。　Why　associate　myself　with　Reverend　Wright　in　the　first　place；　they　may　ask？　Why　not　join　another　church？　And　I　confess　that　if　all　that　I　knew　of　Reverend　Wright　were　the　snippets　of　those　sermons　that　have　run　in　an　endless　loop　on　the　television　and　You　Tube；　or　if　Trinity　United　Church　of　Christ　conformed　to　the　caricatures　being　peddled　by　some　mentators；　there　is　no　doubt　that　I　would　react　in　much　the　same　way。

更完善的联邦（8）
But　the　truth　is；　that　isn't　all　that　I　know　of　the　man。　The　man　I　met　more　than　twenty　years　ago　is　a　man　who　helped　introduce　me　to　my　Christian　faith；　a　man　who　spoke　to　me　about　our　obligations　to　love　one　another；　to　care　for　the　sick　and　lift　up　the　poor。　He　is　a　man　who　served　his　country　as　a　；　who　has　studied　and　lectured　at　some　of　the　finest　universities　and　seminaries　in　the　country；　and　who　for　over　thirty　years　led　a　church　that　serves　the　munity　by　doing　God's　work　here　on　Earth　…　by　housing　the　homeless；　ministering　to　the　needy；　providing　day　care　services　and　scholarships　and　prison　ministries；　and　reaching　out　to　those　suffering　from　HIV/AIDS。
　　In　my　first　book；　Dreams　From　My　Father；　I　described　the　experience　of　my　first　service　at　Trinity：
　　〃People　began　to　shout；　to　rise　from　their　seats　and　clap　and　cry　out；　a　forceful　wind　carrying　the　reverend's　voice　up　into　the　rafters。。。。And　in　that　single　note　…　hope！　…　I　heard　something　else；　at　the　foot　of　that　cross；　inside　the　thousands　of　churches　across　the　city；　I　imagined　the　stories　of　ordinary　black　people　merging　with　the　stories　of　David　and　Goliath；　Moses　and　Pharaoh；　the　Christians　in　the　lion's　den；　Ezekiel's　field　of　dry　bones。　Those　stories　…　of　survival；　and　freedom；　and　hope　…　became　our　story；　my　story；　the　blood　that　had　spilled　was　our　blood；　the　tears　our　tears；　until　this　black　church；　on　this　bright　day；　seemed　once　more　a　vessel　carrying　the　story　of　a　people　into　future　generations　and　into　a　larger　world。　Our　trials　and　triumphs　became　at　once　unique　and　universal；　black　and　more　than　black；　in　chronicling　our　journey；　the　stories　and　songs　gave　us　a　means　to　reclaim　memories　that　we　didn't　need　to　feel　shame　about。。。memories　that　all　people　might　study　and　cherish　…　and　with　which　we　could　start　to　rebuild。〃
　　That　has　been　my　experience　at　Trinity。　Like　other　predominantly　black　churches　across　the　country；　Trinity　embodies　the　black　munity　in　its　entirety　…　the　doctor　and　the　welfare　mom；　the　model　student　and　the　former　gang…banger。　Like　other　black　churches；　Trinity's　services　are　full　of　raucous　laughter　and　sometimes　bawdy　humor。　They　are　full　of　dancing；　clapping；　screaming　and　shouting　that　may　seem　jarring　to　the　untrained　ear。　The　church　contains　in　full　the　kindness　and　cruelty；　the　fierce　intelligence　and　the　shocking　ignorance；　the　struggles　and　successes；　the　love　and　yes；　the　bitterness　and　bias　that　make　up　the　black　experience　in　America。
　　And　this　helps　explain；　perhaps；　my　relationship　with　Reverend　Wright。　As　imperfect　as　he　may　be；　he　has　been　like　family　to　me。　He　strengthened　my　faith；　officiated　my　wedding；　and　baptized　my　children。　Not　once　in　my　conversations　with　him　have　I　heard　him　talk　about　any　ethnic　group　in　derogatory　terms；　or　treat　whites　with　whom　he　interacted　with　anything　but　courtesy　and　respect。　He　contains　within　him　the　contradictions　…　the　good　and　the　bad　…　of　the　munity　that　he　has　served　diligently　for　so　many　years。
　　I　can　no　more　disown　him　than　I　can　disown　the　black　munity。　I　can　no　more　disown　him　than　I　can　my　white　grandmother　…　a　woman　who　helped　raise　me；　a　woman　who　sacrificed　again　and　again　for　me；　a　woman　who　loves　me　as　much　as　she　loves　anything　in　this　world；　but　a　woman　who　once　confessed　her　fear　of　black　men　who　passed　by　her　on　the　street；　and　who　on　more　than　one　occasion　has　uttered　racial　or　ethnic　stereotypes　that　made　me　cringe。　电子书　分享网站

更完善的联邦（9）
These　people　are　a　part　of　me。　And　they　are　a　part　of　America；　this　country　that　I　love。
　　Some　will　see　this　as　an　attempt　to　justify　or　excuse　ments　that　are　simply　inexcusable。　I　can　assure　you　it　is　not。　I　suppose　the　politically　safe　thing　would　be　to　move　on　from　this　episode　and　just　hope　that　it　fades　into　the　woodwork。　We　can　dismiss　Reverend　Wright　as　a　crank　or　a　demagogue；　just　as　some　have　dismissed　Geraldine　Ferraro；　in　the　aftermath　of　her　recent　statements；　as　harboring　some　deep…seated　racial　bias。
　　But　race　is　an　issue　that　I　believe　this　nation　cannot　afford　to　ignore　right　now。　We　would　be　making　the　same　mistake　that　Reverend　Wright　made　in　his　offending　sermons　about　America　…　to　simplify　and　stereotype　and　amplify　the　negative　to　the　point　that　it　distorts　reality。
　　The　fact　is　that　the　ments　that　have　been　made　and　the　issues　that　have　surfaced　over　the　last　few　weeks　reflect　the　plexities　of　race　in　this　country　that　we've　never　really　worked　through　…　a　part　of　our　union　that　we　have　yet　to　perfect。　And　if　we　walk　away　now；　if　we　simply　retreat　into　our　respective　corners；　we　will　never　be　able　to　e　together　and　solve　challenges　like　health　care；　or　education；　or　the　need　to　find　good　jobs　for　every　American。
　　Understanding　this　reality　requires　a　reminder　of　how　we　arrived　at　this　point。　As　William　Faulkner　once　wrote；　〃The　past　isn't　dead　and　buried。　In　fact；　it　isn't　even　past。〃　We　do　not　need　to　recite　here　the　history　of　racial　injustice　in　this　country。　But　we　do　need　to　remind　ourselves　that　so　many　of　the　disparities　that　exist　in　the　African…American　munity　today　can　be　directly　traced　to　inequalities　passed　on　from　an　earlier　generation　that　suffered　under　the　brutal　legacy　of　slavery　and　Jim　Crow。
　　Segregated　schools　were；　and　are；　inferior　schools；　we　still　haven't　fixed　them；　fifty　years　after　Brown　v。　Board　of　Education；　and　the　inferior　education　they　provided；　then　and　now；　helps　explain　the　pervasive　achievement　gap　between　today's　black　and　white　students。
　　Legalized　discrimination　…　where　blacks　were　prevented；　often　through　violence；　from　owning　property；　or　loans　were　not　granted　to　African…American　business　owners；　or　black　homeowners　could　not　access　FHA　mortgages；　or　blacks　were　excluded　from　unions；　or　the　police　force；　or　fire　departments　…　meant　that　black　families　could　not　amass　any　meaningful　wealth　to　bequeath　to　future　generations。　That　history　helps　explain　the　wealth　and　ine　gap　between　black　and　white；　and　the　concentrated　pockets　of　poverty　that　persists　in　so　many　of　today's　urban　and　rural　munities。
　　A　lack　of　economic　opportunity　among　black　men；　and　the　shame　and　frustration　that　came　from　not　being　able　to　provide　for　one's　family；　contributed　to　the　erosion　of　black　families　…　a　problem　that　welfare　policies　for　many　years　may　have　worsened。　And　the　lack　of　basic　services　in　so　many　urban　black　neighborhoods　…　parks　for　kids　to　play　in；　police　walking　the　beat；　regular　garbage　pick…up　and　building　code　enforcement　…　all　helped　create　a　cycle　of　violence；　blight　and　neglect　that　continue　to　haunt　us。
　　This　is　the　reality　in　which　Reverend　Wright　and　other　African…Americans　of　his　generation　grew　up。　They　came　of　age　in　the　late　fifties　and　early　sixties；　a　time　when　segregation　was　still　the　law　of　the　land　and　opportunity　was　systematically　constricted。　What's　remarkable　is　not　how　many　failed　in　the　face　of　discrimination；　but　rather　how　many　men　and　women　overcame　the　odds；　how　many　were　able　to　make　a　way　out　of　no　way　for　those　like　me　who　would　e　after　them。

更完善的联邦（10）
But　for　all　those　who　scratched　and　clawed　their　way　to　get　a　piece　of　the　American　Dream；　there　were　many　who　didn't　make　it　…　those　who　were　ultimately　defeated；　in　one　way　or　another；　by　discrimination。　That　legacy　of　defeat　was　passed　on　to　future　generations　…　those　young　men　and　increasingly　young　women　who　we　see　standing　on　street　corners　or　languishing　in　our　prisons；　without　hope　or　prospects　for　the　future。　Even　for　those　blacks　who　did　make　it；　questions　of　race；　and　racism；　continue　to　define　their　worldview　in　fundamental　ways。　For　the　men　and　women　of　Reverend　Wright's　generation；　the　memories　of　humiliation　and　doubt　and　fear　have　not　gone　away；　nor　h