im　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