In celebration of African American History Month, the School of Religion's Humanities Program Presents Take 6 on February 14, 2010 at 6:00 pm at the Loma Linda University Church on the campus of Loma Linda University located in Loma Linda, CA.
I keep playing these words in my ears. And, indeed, I feel at rest. These are African American male childs. They are the "Strong Men" that Sterling Brown honors. I imagine they will sing in the tradition of their fore parents. I imagine in their sound we will experience the middle passage. I imagine they will sing in honor of the 60 million and more Africans who are still at the bottom of the sea. I imagine they will remember, as they sing, the sorrow songs of Dubois. I imagine they will drag a linguistic lyric like Langston Hughes does in his poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers": "I've known rivers. . . /My soul has grown deep like the rivers."
I also imagine, because they are Christian, on the evening of February 14, 2010 these sons-brothers-fathers will set a spiritually provocative standard. Their jazz-styled religious and secular a Capella sound will stir our souls into a deeper relationship with Christ and a celebrated commitment to family.
I am looking forward to this Valentine evening. It will be bathed in a tradition that is honestly American. Have mercy!!!
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