Black Church
cold air
stung his face
on his way
to the Black Church
boy walked a country mile
to get where he thought he belonged
boy heard the sangin’ and the carryin’ on
heard them laughing … heard them happy
such a beautiful sound
comin’ through the cracks of that ol’ Black Church
every Sunday mornin’ … then again that evenin’
found him walkin’ by
the Black Church
boy could smell some cookin’
in the crisp country air
mixed with the scent of pine
some kinda hog
some kinda greens
sho’ smelled good
to this unfed boy
up in the Black Church
so he just kept on walkin’ by
again and again
so he could hear ‘em sangin’
and hollerin’
‘bout that fella … Jesus
up and again down the hill
in the middle of the gravel road
kickin’ rocks like he didn’t give a care
but he did …
onliest reason he was there
was ‘cause of the Black Church
boy never did tell nobody
‘bout going down there
to the Black Church
weren’t nobody to tell
Granny was old
and mama was gone
on business
was what he was told
boy lived all week fer the mornin’ of Sundays
didn’t have to be woked up
didn’t have to be gettin’ yelled at
to get up and go
on his way
to the old Black Church
he just went
on his very own
didn’t matter none ‘bout no rain
didn’t matter none ‘bout no cold
didn’t matter at all ‘bout no sweatin’
long as he got to get to walk by
the Black Church
sometimes they sang the same songs
other times they’d try a new one or two
sooner than he knew, though,
he could sang every word with ‘em
and sang he did
on a summer Sunday mornin’
inside the Black Church
in the middle of a song
the Reverend James raised his hands
and lowered them
hushing them quiet
and bent a curious ear t’ward the outside
as they settled
they all heard it
they heard what they could not believe
they could hear someone sangin’
out there on the road
the voice of an angel
a voice like they’d never before heard
surely the voice of God in Heaven
the door slowly opened
and the Black Church emptied
they saw him
he was there
just ‘cross the yard
out in the road
walkin’ and kickin’ rocks
and sangin’
sho’ nuff sangin’
the dirty faced white boy
hadn’t yet seen ‘em
so he kept right on sangin’
the Black Church black folk were stunned
by what they heard
tears filled their eyes
they’d seen the boy before
some of the sisters worried ‘bout him
but they was told better not to meddle
so they just prayed for him
but now …
here he was
sangin’ their song
word for every blessed word
in a voice that was as sweet and pure
as the whisper of Jesus
boy finished the song
and as if he felt their presence
he turned to them
as saw them looking at him
and he became frightened
like he done did somethin’ wrong
so he started to run
Reverend James bellowed in a hearty voice
“stop there, boy … do not run!”
and he stopped
Reverend James spoke to him
“boy, please come inside … you are welcome here”
the boy was not sure he ought to go in there
up in the Black Church
he had not been told not to
but he didn’t know ‘bout them black folk
he’d been told by his grandfather
that white folks ought stay away from black folks
it was just how it should be
so he said to Reverend James,
“but I’m white”
the Reverend James walked to the boy
slow as not to cause him fear
the Reverend reached to the boy and took his hand
and as he led the boy to the Black Church … he said,
“yes, that you are … you are white … and yes, we are black …
we are different … but we are the same … but inside of this church we are all of but a single color … ”
the boy interrupted,
“what color is that?”
“well son … it is an indescribable color … you cannot see it but you can feel it … it is warm and it is comforting … this color that we are is the most magnificent color on earth … it is radiant and it is of peace … the color we are is soothing of the soul … it pleases all who feel it … it is healing … it is bright when you need light … it is dim when you need rest ... this color is for everyone … it does not hurt you … it does not distress you … it does not judge you … contrarily it wraps you in tranquility and gives you great ease …… son, we are the color of love”
and with that
the dirty faced white boy walked into the Black Church
and he was accepted
with wide open arms
he was loved
for he had not been before
he was fed
he was cleansed
he was happy in his heart
and on every Sunday thereafter
he walked that country mile
wearing a great big smile
and he sang among them
because he was one with them
and one of them
… in the Black Church