Burnell Taylor

It is such a joy to see this young man, Burnell Taylor, talk about his experience of enduring and subsequently surviving hurricane Katrina, and moving on with life, and to hear him sing “I’m Here,” the song that Celie in The Color Purple sang when she achieved one of the best realizations of all: that no matter who or what considers itself above… Continue reading →

Fullness of Heart
 (For the people of Bab Al Shams, Gate of the Sun encampment
in Palestine).  Watch the video below and glory in the magnificent voice of Bernice Johnson Reagon formerly of Sweet Honey in the Rock.  When this voice is raised, pray it is raised for you.
I have learned today that this is not Bernice’s voice; the singer is… Continue reading →

Aloisea Inyumba, presente

Aloisea, my younger sister,

it was love at first sight.

For there you stood

in the garden of the presidential

compound

along with its sister occupant

and you were both giggling

like Spelman girls

at a Morehouse tea.

I saw in you my roommate

from Uganda

with her proud and honest

gaze;

her stoic lack

of pretension:

I saw my other… Continue reading →