Which Way, L.A.?

The African American Church: Intersection of Race, Religion, Politics

Host:

Lawrence O'Donnell

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Race, religion and politics collided in Barack Obama's presidential campaign yesterday as they do every Sunday in many African American churches. Guest host Lawrence O'Donnell talks to the reporter who sparked the controversy, and discusses the roots of the black church in the US and its current role in African American society.

Today's WWLA is a re-cut of this morning's To The Point .

Banner image of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr.: Trinity Christian Church

Yesterday in Philadelphia, Barack Obama addressed the potent issues of race, religion and politics in a speech designed to allow his campaign get past the controversy created by some of the sermons of his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. How did it come to this? We talk to the reporter who sparked the controversy, learn about the roots of the black church in America and its current role in African American society, and hear more about the difference in black and white Christian traditions.

Guests:

Ronald Kessler: Correspondent, Newsmax.com
Melissa Harris Lacewell: Professor of Politics and African American Studies, Princeton University
Brad Braxton: Professor of Homiletics, Vanderbilt University Divinity School
Richard Cizik: Vice President for Governmental Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals
Frank Schaeffer: son of evangelical Francis Schaeffer

Underwriters

Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.

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