I can’t recall a moment when the church wasn’t a part of my life because the church is a huge part of American Black Culture. There are a ton of phrases you use in church – that you just know like, God is good all the time and all… well if you are reading this you probably know the rest.
My American black church experience included Easter speeches ruffled socks, itchy stockings when I got older, Christmas plays, packed houses for Mother’s Day, fresh hair presses the day before church (and I don’t care what my mom said she burnt me with the hot comb it wasn’t the grease). Those were staple holidays known as – CME.
My mom was super active in the church so we had to go to Sunday school because my mom was the teacher, YPWW (Young People Willing Workers), Bible Band, choir rehearsals (although I can’t sing 😩), revivals, and district meetings. I pretty much lived at the church. Services were long and the Pastor often said he wasn’t going to be before you long but…I’m, sure he got happy and someone would say take your time. 😂
I remember a mother in the church would bust out with a song during testimony service and say, “Have you tried Jesus?”, well when they hit the organ, the drummer kicked in and the bass guitar player made the guitar talk, you couldn’t help it but to grab a tambourine when someone broke out in dance.
Big events at church were stapled like 3:30 pm services because there was also good punch and food to follow! As I talk to others my church experience may seem a little outlandish, but we had similar church experiences that are now a core of the American Black culture. Because the church is American Black culture.
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalms 139:14 NLT