KW: Since the election of Barack Obama, it's been said from the pulpit of many black churches that African-Americans are now without excuse regarding their lack of responsibility, high school drop-outs, high crime, illegal drug usage, and other social ills. Reverend Thompson wonders whether you find any truth to this statement.

CW: Not at all. It’s just right-wing jargon which suggests that somehow we’ve never wanted to be responsible. And those folks who haven’t been responsible, should have been. They didn’t need to wait for Obama to win. The greatest critics in terms of black responsibility has always been the black community itself. So, I think we’ve always had black responsibility. One election doesn’t make a difference in that regard. Besides, a black face in the White House doesn’t mean that the fight against racism is over. There’s still white supremacy, police brutality, and discrimination in the workplace, in housing and so forth to deal with.

KW: Some have said that President-elect Obama was "God's candidate" and that he was divinely appointed. Do you believe that?

CW: I don’t think God is in the business of selecting candidates. God is a God of justice. All of us stand under divine judgment. So does Barack. Where Barack is on the side of justice, God is for him. Where Barack is lukewarm towards justice, God is suspicious. And where he’s against justice, God is critical. That’s true for all of us.

KW: Anthony Noel, a Muslim brother says, “You, as a person of faith, have made it a point to criticize those of us who condemn homosexuality and its behavior, as being homophobic. What is your basis for such a criticism?”

CW: As a Christian, I’m Christ-centric, and Jesus did talk about the quality of love and the quality of relations, and I think that it is possible for there to be mature love between same-sex brothers and sisters.

KW: Tony also asks, what is your impression, thus far, of Obama’s appointing so few blacks to positions in his administration?

CW: Give him time, but their color is not as important as what they stand for.

KW: Yeah, look at Clarence Thomas.

CW: Exactly!

KW: And Tony asks, does Obama's support of Planned Parenthood, an abortion advocacy group, in your view, put him in contradiction to his claims of being a person of faith.

CW: No.

KW: Marianne Ilaw asks whether you think that Obama is more palatable to whites because he doesn't carry the legacy of slavery and all its uncomfortable baggage, and whether his election will usher in a new era where whites opt for exotic-looking blacks, African and Caribbean immigrants and biracials, over those folks whose ancestors toiled in the fields?

CW: No, Obama is a gentle brother with a sweet disposition that doesn’t constitute a threat to white brothers and sisters. Malcolm X was full of rage and righteous indignation. I’m with him, too. I love all different kind of black folks. Malcolm X was a different type of black man from Obama. That doesn’t mean Barack is not honorable. We can appreciate them both.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

CW: I do have a joy in my soul for my faith, and friends and family.

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

CW: Sure.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

CW: Shadow and Act by Ralph Ellison. I read all 330 pages of it last night.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

CW: No.

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What’s music are you listening to nowadays?

CW: Thelonious Monk.

KW: My mom grew up with Monk and was lifelong friends with his sister. During my brief stint as a jazz musician back in the Seventies, I played on an album with Bob Northern, aka Brother Ahh, who had played with Monk in the Fifties. Also in our group was saxophonist Pat Patrick who is the father of Deval Patrick, the Governor of Massachusetts.

CW: I didn’t know Deval’s father played.

KW: Yeah, Pat Patrick’s a giant. He played baritone with Sun Ra for years. He was the cat with the dark glasses. He also played with Monk, Coltrane and Duke Ellington.

CW: Is that Deval’s father? Wow!

KW: Yep, well, thanks again for the interview and I hope to chat with you again soon about your memoirs which I understand you’ll be publishing next year.

CW: Thank you. You’re welcome to come right on in anytime.