Talking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship Since Brown V. Board of Education
By Danielle S. Allen
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Archbishop urges battle with racism - Tutu also praises St. Sabina pastor
Chicago Tribune - February 18, 2002
Author: Sabrina L. Miller, Tribune staff reporter.
Just as Archbishop Desmond Tutu inspired others to fight oppression in South Africa, he brought an equally strong message Sunday to St. Sabina, urging “people of faith” to confront racism and injustice in America.
Tutu’s appeal for reconciliation set the stage for the announcement of a partnership between St. Sabina and the University of Chicago that will establish an annual forum on racism and human rights.
The forum, which will bear Tutu’s name, is scheduled to take place this fall at the university , officials said.
Danielle Allen , an assistant director of the university ‘s Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, said she hoped the gathering would facilitate collaboration between the “faith community” and the “academic community.”
“Think of how greatly enriched this country can be, will be, when all its people have the opportunity to develop at the fullest possible extent,” said Tutu.
“People of faith can never be neutral in the face of racism. People of faith cannot stand on the sidelines.”
As an overflow crowd snaked down 78th Street near Racine Avenue, some waiting up to two hours to hear the Nobel Prize winner, there was scarcely any talk of the controversy that surrounded Rev. Michael Pfleger.
Cardinal Francis George announced last week that Pfleger would be allowed to stay a few more years as parish priest at St. Sabina after already serving three six-year terms, one more than church policy permits.
Parishioners in the predominantly African-American parish on the South Side were angered by the prospect that Pfleger might be removed.
The only time Pfleger mentioned the issue during the three-hour service was when he joked that as happy as he was to hear Tutu, he was happier “that I was still pastor when I woke up this morning.”
Tutu, 70, made a point of praising Pfleger for the very thing he has sometimes been criticized for: taking a vocal stance against racism.
“I have heard of your courageous witness ... I have heard,” Tutu said. “Now I know from personal experience.”
Tutu, who is making a handful of U.S. speaking appearances, said he agreed to appear at St. Sabina because of the persistence of church leaders.
(snip)
“Danielle Allen , an assistant director of the university ‘s Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture”
Wait a sec... Danielle Allen’s another U of Chicago Hyde park liberal *and* a black, and is in the same article that talked about Rev Pfleger, working with him on a ‘forum on racism’ ... in 2002!?!
Small world indeed.
WaPo should ask Danielle Allen the ‘genius’ (sic) what she knew and when she knew it about charlatans like Wright and Pfleger. Clearly she was there in the midst of the morass of racist preachers on the south side of Chicago — maybe she knew and noticed a bit more than Obama managed to notice in 20 years of listening to Wright?
Since Danielle Allen is a confirmed dishonest flack and campaign contributor for Obama she should be required by the media to explain her links to his campaign and her knowledge of the blatant racism and depravity that have forced Obama to distance himself so dramatically from the likes of Wright and Pfleger.