Ovation greets Wright at festivities for Angelou
Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor surprised a South Side congregation Friday night by showing up at an event marking poet Maya Angelou's birthday.
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright received a thunderous, standing ovation from members of St. Sabina Church, which hosted Angelou as she nears her 80th birthday.
(Courtesy, AP)
"When he came out, people literally went wild," said St. Sabina's pastor, the Rev. Michael Pfleger.
Wright, Obama's spiritual adviser for years, has lain low ever since his fiery past sermons became political fodder in the presidential campaign.
Obama has condemned remarks by Wright that denounced America for allegedly racist and genocidal acts. Wright recently scrapped plans to receive an award in Texas and to speak at Houston and Tampa, Fla., churches.
Wright did not talk publicly about Obama on Friday night. Instead, he gave the benediction at St. Sabina and smiled as the audience sang "Happy Birthday" to Angelou.
Wright attended at the invitation of Pfleger, who called recent criticism of Wright "shameful."
"I wanted him to come here so he could see that people really stand with him and support him while he's under all this attack," Pfleger said Saturday. "America, unfortunately, has been really cheated of knowing the real Dr. Wright."
After giving the benediction, Wright went to a nearby office, and dozens of people lined up to greet him, CBS2 reported.
Chicago School Board President Rufus Williams, who attended, told CBS2 that Wright "looked affected."
"I mean, it's hard not to be affected when that many things are said on a national stage about what you are," Williams said. "It's hard to ignore it, and it's hard to not be affected by that."
AP, with Staff Reporter Monifa Thomas