Building Campaigns or Beloved Community? A Reflection on the 2008 Presidential Campaign and Its Implications

by SaToya Truss and Wesley Morris

Apr. 15, 2008

[DISCLAIMER: The following statement represents personal views from one individual and in no way represents the endorsement of any political candidate or initiative by the Beloved Community Center of Greensboro. This article is printed to promote ongoing dialogue about the opportunity and responsibility for promoting an equitable and democratic society for all.]

The scene was ripe with anticipation, this Wednesday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum. There was a Town Hall Meeting with Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. As the diverse Crowd began to take its seat, my friends and I engaged in a conversation that would not have been possible during the previous Presidential election. We talked about the issues of race and gender and how this debate could have a truly meaningful discussion that has not taken place in this country for some time.

As Sen. Obama fielded questions from the audience that covered many issues including education, healthcare and immigration. My mind turned towards the community and how the work that I have been involved with at the Beloved Community Center thus far has been a struggle with local city officials and leaders as opposed to the President. This is not to say that the President and his or her agenda will not free—or limit—the waters of change, but it is an example of where the focus of citizens should be. A serious undertaking for communities across America could be that of educating one another about local, state and federal government policies and how to effectively organize within the laws of the land. This is not to deny our right to radically protest and to push the limits, but it is a warning that we should know exactly where that line is drawn.

In this recent turn towards entrepreneurship and non-profit organizations, communities are becoming more connected than it may seem. The lack of awareness of our connectedness seems to stem from not addressing some of the key points brought out in this election. The denial of women’s rights, both politically and socially. As a country, America has still not healed from the racial wounds that it suffers from, and in many cases deepens them every day. This historic election can and will be a part of American History. Sadly, American History is often taught from the top down and not the bottom up, deepening the cynicism some have towards the hope this election appears to offer. This is reflected in the tendency to tell of a great leader or person of great standing, without telling the story of the millions of people who made the changes possible. Nonetheless, the voting season has stirred the pot of complacency for some, so the measurement of change should wait until the stove cools off.

Much of the work here at the Beloved Community Center comes from the deep rooted belief that God is forever on the side of the dispossessed, the hurt, harmed, and those in danger. Senator Obama echoed this belief after he was asked, “what role has Jesus Christ had on your decisions?” After a drawn out silence, the senator responded by declaring that he is a Christian that believes in a gospel of not words, but deeds. He also stated that he treats people with dignity and respect because they are children of God, he cares for the poor, and he is no respecter of social divides, practices the golden rule of doing unto others as he’d want them to do unto him, and treats the world with kindness. Obama went on to say that although other Christians may differ from him in this aspect he does not believe that in order to be moral people you have to be a Christian. He supported that belief by stating that some of those that practice other religions are more moral than he.

This exchange made me think about the work of building beloved community right here in Greensboro. In our weekly community meetings a newcomer is liable to hear stories ranging from a movie night with friends, to the philosophical debate between globalization and democracy. The idea is that through sharing of traditions and cultures, people can see the commonality of us all and work towards authentic relationships across racial, gender and cultural divides, while respecting each other’s relationships within his or her primary community. A great deal of the spiritual work that I have witnessed as a part of the Beloved Community Center has come by the way of education, relationships and outreach.

When the energy generated by the presidential campaign is gone, we will be left with the task of continuing the work of building beloved community. The question for us in the meantime is: how can we shape the energy and conversation emerging from this campaign season to make our local organizing efforts more effective in the long run? We ask this question realizing that the movement for beloved community is built inside of and among each of us as we work together, and no presidential candidate can do that work for us.

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