This whole church needs to be on the “sick and shut in” list
on June 4th, 2007 at 1:23 pm(charlotte.com) GASTONIA — Local black leaders are decrying a recent performance by three white men at a church who wore blackface while pantomiming traditional black hymns.
The performance at Pilgrim Baptist Church was meant to honor gospel music history and was not meant to offend anyone, said the Rev. Thomas Holbrooks Jr., pastor at the church.
“It was in no way making fun,” Holbrooks said. “Lord knows we love the old spirituals they sing. That’s why they did it.”
Stephen York, an S.C. resident who attends Pilgrim Baptist, said he dressed in overalls, a flannel shirt and painted his face black for an event last month that featured lip-synched performances to prerecorded hymns by black singers.
York said he’s not a racist and knows that white actors in black makeup often portrayed racist stereotypes. His church performance didn’t do that, he said.
“I have some real good black friends,” York said. (more…)
This story reminds me of something that happened to my wife and I about 7 years ago.
When we were living in Georgia, my wife wanted to attend this presentation for vacation property that was being sold somewhere way north on the Georgia 400. For me the country is one thing and the sticks is another. Ladies and gentlemen, this was the sho’ nuff sticks. After driving for about 2 hours or so we arrived at the location where future homes were to be built. Now don’t get it twisted, we were newly married at this time and did not have enough money to buy a pot to piss in. The only reason why we decided to go was because of the free gifts that there were offering (mind you, “free gifts” that we paid for in gas getting up there). Anyway, while on the tour, the White woman who was leading us turned to us and asked the following question:
“Is it true that Black folks shine in the sunlight?”
On one hand, I became angry, but then I realized that for someone to ask such a question in the manner she asked it told me that she had been in the sticks for too long. I put my slap hand down and told her that we “shine” just as much as White folks or something like that.
While I am not excusing the actions mentioned in this article, I do believe that you have some people in this day and age that are really that far out of touch with reality. Just sad!
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