Michelle Obama in Winston-Salem

Some of us were not around in the harshly segregated south--when the boycotts began. We are too young - then. Or, perhaps we turned our eyes - or watched from afar.

But...,some of us were in Mobile, and Selma and Charlotte and Tallahassee and Valdosta and Birmingham. We know about dogs and fire hoses and much, much worse.

Sometimes it is shocking in 2008 for us to be reminded that everyone in this country does not share our views of its great strengths and its several serious weaknesses. Some of us would rather forget the inequities and injustices that persist in the greatest nation on earth.

Despite that naïveté, we are well on our way toward electing an American who will lead us toward the high ground of honesty and a post-racial society.

It is very unfortunate that Barack Obama's pastor and friend, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, still has within him the anger and rage, and yes, the intolerance born during years of civil rights struggles and injustice. We pray that he will see someday that his is a generational bias that must give way to a new America.

That he still sees injustice in America should not shock us. Rev. Wright knows that under apartheid in 1993, South Africa imprisoned 851 black males per 100,000 of its citizens - while in this country in 2006 the ratio is 4,789 black males imprisoned per 100,000 Americans.

Facts like these prison population numbers tend to outrage some deeply committed African-American preachers - especially a man like Rev. Wright who himself defended his country for 6 years as a U.S. Marine and U.S. Navy enlisted man. He fought for his country and now he sees continued injustice. There is no doubt that Rev. Wright feels righteous when his anger takes hold.

But that anger does not show the way to a better place. And, his remarks do not reflect the views of his entire 6,000+ member congregation in Chicago.

Obama says quite humbly that his friend, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright was the person who brought Jesus strongly into his life. He did not bring hate to Obama.

I take him at his word. There is no reason not to. Many of us have sat for many years in church and have not followed the specific teachings or fiery sermons that we've heard -- there are other forces in our lives that teach us other ways. Preachers may make us think - but they do not control our lives.

Do they? Do preachers control your lives?

Sometimes the wisdom of the older generation - isn't wisdom at all. It does not fit the changing times - Obama's never embraced Wright's angry message - his whole public career is testimony to a different path. He may love the old man - but he has clearly rejected his message.

Obama has moved onto a different road. This old white man is going with him. We need to put aside the anger and help Obama build a post-racial America. All of us need to do it - and -

yes we can.