James Cleveland: "Where Is Your Faith In God"

To Muslim Americans, With Love

I, Too

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BY LANGSTON HUGHES

I, too, sing America. 

I am the darker brother. 

They send me to eat in the kitchen 

When company comes, 

But I laugh, 

And eat well, 

And grow strong. 

Tomorrow, 

I’ll be at the table 

When company comes. 

Nobody’ll dare 

Say to me, 

“Eat in the kitchen,” 

Then. 

Besides, 

They’ll see how beautiful I am 

And be ashamed— 

I, too, am America.

Source: Hughes, Langston, Arnold Rampersad, and David E. Roessel. The collected poems of Langston Hughes. New York: Knopf, 1994. Print.

Merry Christmas 2016

One of my favorite Christmas scenes featuring Oprah Winfrey as "Ms. Sophia." This is for anyone who wishes to be home for the holidays. It's for those who miss their parents and loved ones. God bless and comfort you. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. I'm looking forward to a fantastic New Year for us all despite the forecast. Peace~

St. James Missionary Baptist Church of Canton: I've Been Redeemed (1978)

Scroll Down and Click on Love

This morning, I was scrolling the different stories on Facebook and Twitter and just as the title says, I saw the good, the bad, and the ugly. Don't worry, I won't get into Clint Eastwood and his past antics, but the title fits. Anyway,  to no surprise, most of the post were about the presidential race and many were about Donald Trump and his latest comments. As I began to look at the different post, I was also led to other Facebook users who were not "friends." I went to their pages that were based in places like North Carolina, Virginia, and other parts of the south. Many of them had anti-Obama post and other post promoting "Southern Pride" replete with images surrounding the Confederate flag and the "southern way of life."

On the other hand, I went to pages that were anti-Trump. These pages either expressed wanting to do physical harm to Trump and his supporters or post making fun of the presidential candidate. There were other post making fun of southern whites - showing them toothless and smiling about their next president, Donald Trump who "don't use all them fancy words." Honestly, It all left me puzzled.

Then, there are people like me - an American citizen but just looking at all of this and shaking my head in despair. Since all of this mess began, I haven't been writing any post endorsing a candidate, and I have no desire to make fun of the other side. I certainly do not wish to physically harm anyone. Up until this post, I've been mostly silent and to tell the truth, I'll remain mostly silent because I don't know what to say.

I mean, what can I say to make sense of all this negativity? All I know for sure is that this negativity has always been around. It was always there settled like sludge at the bottom of this big so called melting pot. The events over the past few years along with the current presidential election has stirred up this nasty stew. But, I have not completely lost hope. We will just have to continue pressing forward. The solution? The solution is simple. In the end, all this stew needs is a little seasoning and plenty of love. YES - LOVE. Pray for this country. ~Peace

The First Watch Night Service Occurs | African American Registry

Article:  The First Watch Night Service Occurs | African American Registry

Featured painting: 

William H. Johnson 

Going to Church

ca. 1940-1941
Screenprint on paperSmithsonian American Art Museum
Gift of the Harmon Foundation1967.59.1022Not currently on view

Have a blessed and Happy New Year! 2014

Gifts and Goals

What can I say? It was a great holiday; I received a few things that I wanted, and I was able to give a few things that I wanted to give - I'm blessed. I feel most blessed as I look back over 2013 marveling at the things I was able to accomplish. I had tremendous challenges in my life but with the help of the almighty God, I was able to keep my sanity. I'm thankful. So, let us get ready for the New Year to come. Let us write down some goals and set our minds to complete those goals.

So, whether you observe this holiday season or not, I hope that your December will be one to remember. I hope that your days to come will be filled with optimism and manifestation of your goals. Take care. Peace in 2014.

Holiday Letter

 

 

Hello my friend,

 

Gearing up for Christmas?  I need to get a tree. I haven't celebrated with a tree in years.  This year, I want to decorate.  The [above] picture is of last year's Christmas tree at my father's house in Atlanta, Georgia. The big gift you see under the tree was not mine. :-)  Anyway, I will find a more modest tree for our place in Maryland -- one that fits our life.  We'll see. 

 

I can't help but to think of the new year to come as well.  I'm looking to make some positive strides and "grown-up" decisions.  I pray God has a hand in it all.  Otherwise, I'm going to do as the late and great Mr. Frederick Douglass suggested and "pray with my feet."  In other words, I'm going to make moves and trust God.  That's the best I can do.  Well, I hope that you and your family will have a wonderful holiday season. Also, I'm going to make efforts to write on MC.  You know, just to talk.  Peace & Love ~

 

 

Onward and Upward,

 

Stephen





 

 

 

 

 

 

Liquid Lunch: Faith

Faith

Sunday morning snooze

Sunday morning blues

Mama singing in the kitchen

Sunday morning news

Jesus is the top story

Faith is her morning glory.

By Stephen Bess

This poem and others can be found in Stephen Bess' collection of Blues Inspired poetry, Liquid Lunch.  Available on Amazon.com

P.L. Dunbar Hymn: Lead Gently, Lord, and Slow

Lead Gently, Lord, and Slow

Lead gently, Lord, and slow,

For oh, my steps are weak,

And ever as I go,

Some soothing sentence speak;


That I may turn my face

Through doubt's obscurity

Toward thine abiding-place,

E'en tho' I cannot see.


For lo, the way is dark;

Through mist and cloud I grope,

Save for that fitful spark,

The little flame of hope.


Lead gently, Lord, and slow,

For fear that I may fall;

I know not where to go

Unless I hear thy call.


My fainting soul doth yearn

For thy green hills afar;

So let thy mercy burn--

My greater, guiding star!


Sources: esperstamps.org; Dunbar, P.L. (1913). The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company.

Photo: Autumn Prophet

This is a photo of a Praying Mantis I saw on my fence on Thursday afternoon.  I found it to be so beautiful among the tall grass that I immediately took a picture with my phone.  It made the Mantis a bit nervous, but it stood still enough for me to shoot the photo.  In some cultures, the spotting a Praying Mantis is said to bring good fortune. For instance, the Bushman of the Kalahari saw it as a divine being.  The Khoi San people observed its manner and prayerful pose as meditation and reflection; they saw it as a formidable attribute.  Although not directly, It may have something to do with its scientific name, Mantodea, which in greek means "prophet."  However, I don't believe such things.  Besides, my good fortune comes from the One who created the Praying Mantis.  Nevertheless, I did feel fortunate to capture one of God's beautiful creatures on camera.  Have a great weekend and don't forget to turn your clocks back.  I know I won't.  Peace ~

Source:  Andrews, Ted. Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small (2009): 10, 342-3.

Gospel Music: I'm Alright Now

This song came to mind after I felt the earth shake here in Maryland today. Either way, it's going to be alright. By the way, this is a church in Williamston, N.C., which is located in Eastern Carolina. Enjoy. Peace~

Lingering question from Longfellow

The Slave Singing at Midnight

By:  Henry Wadsworth  Longfellow

Loud he sang the psalm of David!

He, a Negro and enslaved,

Sang of Israel's victory,

Sang of Zion, bright and free.

In that hour, when night is calmest,

Sang he from the Hebrew Psalmist,

In a voice so sweet and clear

That I could not choose but hear,

Songs of triumph, and ascriptions,

Such as reached the swart Egyptians,

When upon the Red Sea coast

Perished Pharaoh and his host.

And the voice of his devotion

Filled my soul with strange emotion;

For its tones by turns were glad,

Sweetly solemn, wildly sad.

Paul and Silas, in their prison,

Sang of Christ, the Lord arisen.

And an earthquake's arm of might

Broke their dungeon-gates at night.

But, alas! what holy angel

Brings the Slave this glad evangel?

And what earthquake's arm of might

Breaks his dungeon-gates at night?

Haiku # 9

Today I saw God

kiss winter's bitter, red cheeks

with spring's warm tu-lips

George Washington Carver Day

"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.” ~ George Washington Carver (January 1864 – January 5, 1943)


George Washington Carver was an American scientist, botanist, educator, inventor, poet, and a painter. Carver was one of the key figures we would learn about during Black History month. Carver, along with images of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Booker T. Washington were constant images on the classroom bulletin board throughout my elementary school years. As a youngster, I felt that Carver was brilliant in his discoveries of the peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans just to name a few. He came up with hundreds of alternative uses for these common products, and changed the South from a one-crop land of cotton to a profitable multi-crop land.

It is safe to say that George Washington Carver helped to save the economy in the South – a region of the United States that, at the time, had not given even half the basic human rights to African Americans. Carver also did not make the potential thousands of dollars that he could have made from his inventions. He felt that God and Science were one because God is the inventor of all things. When asked why he never sold his ideas and inventions he replied, “God gave them to me…how can I sell them to someone else?” Carver also felt that Jesus Christ was the answer to race relations in the United States. In the end, those who followed his work took full advantage of his discoveries and inventions, but ignored his remedy for social ills through Jesus Christ. Find out more about this great inventor who was dubbed the "Black Leonardo."  Peace~
Sources:  invent.about.com, wikipedia
Book on subject:

Liquid Lunch T-Shirt

Thanks to Facebook, I've discovered that there are a few people who would like to purchase a tee shirt of my book cover for Liquid Lunch. I've always felt that the image would look great on a tee shirt, but it wasn't until I saw a photo that a friend took of me in New York that I knew for sure.  It's a photo of me with my book poster in front of me.  The way I was sitting and the angle of my poster board made it appear as if I had on a Liquid Lunch tee shirt -- that's a great idea!  So, I decided to make that idea a reality.  If you would like to purchase one they will go on sale next week.  I will get back to you with pricing as soon as I work out the specifics.  As always, thank you for your support and God bless.  Peace~

Tax Day with Scripture

Matthew 22:15-22 (New International Version)
Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him [Jesus] in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

"Caesar's," they replied.

Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Source:  Bible Gateway.com

Liquid Lunch: Supplication

Supplication

The rising sun warms me
The moon cast shadows on the night

But nothing in this world compares
To Your Grace, Your Love -- my Guiding Light

Lead me, Oh Lord
Lead me to that Righteous Place

Let Your Will be done -- not mine
So that one day I might see Your Face

Amen

This poem is featured in my book, Liquid Lunch.  Now available on Amazon.com

Note:  This is a repost from Aug 2008.

Photograph and Poem

Reflection and Memory

The day is cool and misty like memories

I am uncertain about what lies ahead,
but

my sunshine is my faith in the Creator,

and His Promise of a Love Supreme

Photo Source:  Dupont Circle Subway (Wash., D.C.) by S Bess

Happy Autumn!

Autumn...she has always been muse

I love Autumn! I love the air; I love the landscape; I love the taste of juicy pomegranate, and I love wearing my favorite hats as the air grows cool. My writing usually increases during this season as well. There's something very inspirational about Autumn. I see it as the artistry of the Creator; He is truly a great and wonderful God. Enjoy your week everyone. Peace~

Photo: Fallen leaves in Maryland (By Stephen Bess)