Communication senior Zachary Parker got an unexpected call early this summer. On the line was the personal secretary of Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Parker, the coordinator for For Members Only, had spoken out against the university's decision last spring to rescind an offer of an honorary doctorate to Wright, whose videotaped sermons drew national attention.
The two met at the pastor's home late last summer, Parker said, and talked politics and religion.
Then, Parker proposed an idea: What if the reverend spoke at Northwestern?
Wright offered to do it for free.
He'll deliver the keynote address Nov. 7 at FMO's "State of the Black Union" event at Cahn Auditorium.
"He was very humbled and honored that students at Northwestern wanted to give him this honor," Parker said.
Wright is best known as the former pastor of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee. Clips of his sermons, in which he stated "God damn America" and suggested the AIDS virus was developed to infect blacks, were replayed constantly on cable news.
The ensuing uproar led University President Henry Bienen to withdraw Wright's invitation to June commencement, where he was set to receive an honorary doctorate in sacred theology.
"In light of the controversy surrounding statements made by you that have recently been publicized, the celebratory character of Northwestern's commencement would be affected by our conferring this honorary degree," Bienen wrote in a letter to Wright at the time.
Bienen did not respond to an e-mail late Tuesday seeking comment.
The decision was panned by Parker and other students in For Members Only, as well as other students and professors.
FMO began a campaign to persuade the administration to reverse its decision. At the same time, Parker began to communicate with Wright's personal secretary, who would pass messages back and forth. The two spoke for the first time this summer at Wright's home in Chicago.
There, Wright agreed to visit Northwestern, but only after Election Day on Nov. 4, Parker said.
FMO worked with Associated Student Government and university officials to schedule the event. They also secured an undisclosed honorarium for Wright.
His speech will focus on the theme of the event, "Redeeming and Reclaiming Our Community." The event is open to all students. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and Wright will speak for about 30 minutes at 7 p.m. before taking questions.
"Rev. Wright is a very esteemed scholar in his own right," said African American Studies professor Carol Lee. "I think it could engender some useful conversations."
Staff writers Emily Glazer, Renee Lee and Danny Yadron contributed to this report.
n-merchant@northwestern.edu
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