Interviewer: Jeremiah Wright
Interviewee: Bill Moyers
Date: May 06, 2008

Rev. Jeremiah Wright is one of the most sought after and controversial black preachers in the United States. A former pastor of Barack Obama, Wright shot to national prominence when his sermons and speeches were closely scrutinized by the media in relation to Obama’s presidential candidacy.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright is the Pastor Emeritus of the Chicago megachurch Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC). Known for his charisma and persuasive public speaking, Rev. Wright remains an acclaimed and respected member of the American black community. Ebony Magazine considers him one of the greatest preachers of all time.

Born on September 22, 1941 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a pastor and a schoolteacher, Rev. Wright initially pursued a career in the military before going into the ministry. He graduated valedictorian from his class at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in 1963 and served as cardio pulmonary technician from 1964 to 1967. He became the recipient of three Presidential Commendations from President Lyndon Johnson.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright obtained a Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School and earned a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio in 1990.

In 1972, Wright was hired as pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. From just 87 members, he transformed the church into the largest United Church of Christ congregation in the country with more than 8,500 members and a comprehensive program on community service. A passionate and progressive minister known for his fiery sermons, Rev. Jeremiah Wright believes that religion, social outreach, and activism work hand-in-hand. This has made him a vocal critic of government policies involving the Iraq War and social issues such as AIDS, education, and poverty.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright is author of several books, among them are Africans Who Shaped Our Faith, What Makes You So Strong? and Good News! Sermons of Hope for Today’s Families. He also holds several honorary doctorate degrees from different universities.