But people who knew him didn't know him that way...not even those who heard the other sermons. Really he wasn't known as some kook (before) and the church had a good reputation. Some examples
MSNBC's Tamaron Hall who said on Hardball April 30
"this is a type of church when you move to Chicago and you‘re a young African-American, you‘re often told, Listen, there are two churches you probably need to join. It‘s Apostolic Church on the South Side of Chicago, or Trinity Church also on the South Side. There you can meet people. You can network and kind of get your feet in the water of Chicago and learn.... the life of Chicago. And that was my experience, and I went—I can tell you, Chris, I never heard this type of language. I‘ve called a dozen or more people who regularly attend this church, and they say they didn‘t hear this type of language. But the tape is out there. We know it exists."
Or Cynthia Tucker who said on "This Week" March 30th that her brother has attended, his friends are members and it's pretty mainstream conventional, nothing like the clips. That the sermons are sort of "Pull yourself up, family responsibility . (George changed the subject)
Or Jay Carney of Time on the same show who said they had reporters going through all the o;d sermons and they hadn't found anything controversial so there wasn't really a story. (Since the truth is not a story?)
Ask this lady
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=0e1cf4d3400e38e4f0022adba4725faaI am a white, middle-class, middle-aged woman. I chose to attend Trinity because of Rev. Wright – because of the breadth and depth of his biblical knowledge and wisdom, because of the love and caring he extended to his congregants, and because of his message of the possibility of a polity connected in love and compassion.
The Rev. Jane Fissler Hoffman, Interim Conference Minister of the Southern California-Nevada Conference, is a member of Trinity UCC. She states:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=jane+fissler+hoffman&btnG=Google+Search" I have spoken with several reporters about our experience at Trinity but am never referred to in print, I presume because my experience is POSITIVE! Milt and I are members there very intentionally because it is a Christ centered, Spirit filled congregation where the worship is powerful; the preaching is spiritually insightful and prophetic; the welcome to all is warm and embracing; mission is both local and global ; tithing is encouraged and expected; members bring and read their Bibles; and disciples are nurtured in the faith…Do I agree with every word from Rev. Wright's mouth? No. (No more than I agree with every word my husband says! ) But I have seen and experienced the dominant direction of his whole ministry which is toward love and justice and peace for all people in the name of Jesus Christ. That is what I respect."
Rev Hoffman is white too if that is extra credit She speaks here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioaChVw_pUw