Reverend Wright Character Analysis

Reverend Wright is the imposing, charismatic reverend of Trinity Church in Chicago. He and his church have a reputation among Chicago’s clergy for being too radical, too focused on scholarship, and too upwardly mobile—but Barack discovers that Reverend Wright’s practices are nevertheless highly effective. The church has around 4000 members, a variety of clubs, and a diverse congregation, all major achievements in a religious landscape that seems increasingly fractured. And most importantly, Barack recognizes that the socioeconomic diversity of the congregation means that the many Black professionals who attend are forced to learn about and worship with people they might otherwise write off, like former gangsters or Muslims. This, Barack sees, creates a sense of Black unity. And part of Reverend Wright’s philosophy serves this purpose: he believes that it’s unacceptable to become middle class and then think of oneself as superior to others who have less money. Though many attribute the success of Trinity to Reverend Wright’s charisma and warmth, Reverend Wright believes that he’s just an accessory to a devout and community-focused congregation. Barack finally attends a service at Trinity right before he leaves Chicago and cries during Reverend Wright’s sermon, which is titled “The Audacity of Hope.”