Glory Falls | Maya Angelou
by Elouise
Here we are, near the eve of July 4. Though it’s a day to be proud of our nation, so much has gone so wrong. My comments follow Maya Angelou’s poem.
Glory falls around us
as we sob
a dirge of
desolation on the Cross
and hatred is the ballast of
the rock
which lies upon our necks
and underfoot.
We have woven
robes of silk
and clothed our nakedness
with tapestry.
From crawling on this
murky planet’s floor
we soar beyond the
birds and
through the clouds
and edge our way from hate
and blind despair and
bring honor
to our brothers, and to our sisters cheer.
We grow despite the
horror that we feed
upon our own
tomorrow.
We grow.
Maya Angelou, poet; found in Sterling’s Poetry for Young People series, page 47.
Published in 2013 by Sterling Children’s Books, New York, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Editorial material © 2007 by Edwin Graves Wilson; Illustrations © 2007 by Jerome Lagarrigue|
I’m reminded of John Stainer’s heart-rending chorus from The Crucifixion, with its invitation to pay attention to ‘the king of grief’ instead of simply passing by.
From the throne of his cross
the king of grief cries out to a world of unbelief,
‘Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by?’
It’s one thing to celebrate the insight, agony and beauty of Maya Angelou’s poem. It another to understand that most white people in the USA would prefer to walk on by and try to get on with their lives.
A few weeks ago a friend from seminary days recommended a new book. It’s helping me understand our current impasse here in the USA. It’s written by Drick Boyd, and is titled Disrupting Whiteness: Talking with White People about Racism.
The main point? It’s time for white people to start talking with each other about our individual and collective racism. What are our earliest memories about racism? What forms does racism take? When did we start assuming most white people are superior beings? How do we give up what feels ‘normal’ but is not? How can we support each other for the long haul?
As James Baldwin pointed out in The Fire Next Time (pp. 21-22):
White people in this country will have quite enough to do in learning how to accept and love themselves and each other, and when they have achieved this—which will not be tomorrow and may very well be never—the Negro problem will no longer exist, for it will no longer be needed.
Thanks for stopping by.
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 1 July 2021
Photo of Maya Angelou found at usatoday.com
Book covers found at amazon.com
Telling the Truth 
White people in this country will have quite enough to do in learning how to accept and love themselves and each other, and when they have achieved this—which will not be tomorrow and may very well be never—the Negro problem will no longer exist, for it will no longer be needed.
The above is a powerful statement. I could not help but think along the lines, “the Negro problem will no longer exist, for it will no longer be needed”. Oh, I believe the place all these problems will cease is in heaven. As hard as we try to achieve heaven here on earth, we fail often. I think we should keep trying for some lost soul might get saved in the trying. There is no perfect race, only one race is perfect and there is only one person in that race, Jesus. He is the only God man, all God and was all God during His time on earth. And He told us to love God above all, then, I believe when our hearts are tuned into Him will race be put aside for Him. I am tired of being ask to not be white because God made me white just as He made all races. I cannot change the color of my skin but God can change my heart toward anyone of any color or race. I loved the poem. Blessings.
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Thanks for your comment, Betty.
As I see it, it’s time for white people in the USA to focus on our own histories and habits of life. You’re correct, we’ll never be perfect in this life. Nonetheless, we’ve done damage ever since the day ‘we’ (our white ancestors) arrived in this country. It will take courage, strength and grit most of us probably don’t yet have. Not to change other people, but to change ourselves, one white person at a time.
You’re correct. It isn’t heaven down here. It is, however, our shared home for now, where we’re given daily opportunities to deal with the past as well as the present. Every race, ever color has its history and its challenges. My challenge as a white woman is to look into how and I as a white woman have become trapped in my own fears and inherited beliefs about myself and others. In some ways, the sign of perfection isn’t perfection. It’s our willingness to be flawed humans who were made in the image of God and in need of each other.
I don’t believe we’re being asked to be something besides white. We are, however, being challenged now about what it means to be white, in light of our inherited and lived histories, and in light of what we believe as followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
I appreciate the time you took to comment. This isn’t an easy issue to talk (or write) about.
Elouise
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For sure it’s hard to talk or write about Elouise. I tend to think red or black in term of people. By that I mean saved or lost, with no reference to skin color or how much bad has been done to any race. White people did wrong before they came to this country, just as black people did before they were brought to this country. In fact both races have had slaves in the past. History has told us there is not a race of people, white included that has not been perscurted. In every culture there has been and still is somewhat slavery. It has never been right and it all started in the heart, pride of oneself. When Adam and Eve fell into sin and God put them outside the perfect place, the garden, pride came with them. It showed up big time in their two boys, one killed the other. Pride is not an excuse but a sin and that is what causes slavery. One person thinking they are better then another, no matter their race. It happens in all culture, it’s not right in any culture, in any age, or people.
Focusing on the race difference keeps us from looking at our hearts through the eyes of Jesus. He never judge by color of skin or culture, only by the heart, the motive of ones life. Race has become bigger then God, it’s become the motive to judge everything. The tables have turned, now the white race is being judge for every past, present and future ill that hits this life. I just read where it’s the white race that is the cause of global warming as if any race could rule the weather. The enemy of our soul wants us to keep our mind full of all these issues instead of a mind full of the Spirit of God. Fear keeps us from talking about it. I do appreciate you writing about it. and I applaud you for it, no judgement here. There is something we do as Member Care Reps when meeting with missionaries who have been hurt deeply by another missionary or the mission in general. We tell those ones we are sorry for their hurt , even though we did not inflict the hurt but we are sorry for their pain and pray they can get past it and not let it be the center of their life here on earth. Once a person has forgiven the ones who hurt them, they are free to live life without judgement. Thank you also for dialoguing with me, it helps me to write out my feelings. Bless you
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Thanks for your response, Betty.
I appreciate the time you took to write out your feelings. My goal isn’t to focus on race. It’s to focus on myself and do what I need to do at this time in my life to understand my white ideas and behaviors. What am I trying to avoid acknowledging about myself? For example, whatever I’m called to do as a follower of Jesus, it doesn’t include pretending everyone in this world has had the same or even similar opportunities that I have had as a white woman. Nor is it to pretend I’m untouched by everyday racism I see and hear all around and too often within me. For me, this is a spiritual issue, not a political or even practical issue. Thanks for helping me think about this, even though we don’t see eye to eye.
Elouise
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You know I often questioned why God would use us white people to go tell others races about Jesus Christ. After living in two third world countries I realized it was our willing hearts to give the gospel out where ever God placed us. My husband and I had to deal with our white ideas and behavior as we set up residence in foreign countries. The goal of our mission is to learn the heart language of the people we work with. Learning their culture is a full time job but without some understanding you never get to the heart of a person. You are met with drastic living conditions, differences in thinking, and right away you are met with the huge differences in opportunities that are there in the country you live in. Our goal is to, as I said learn their language, teach them how to read and write their heart language, translate the bible into their language so they have one to read. Teach the translated Bible to them and disciple them when they get saved. After there are strong believers in the village, the goal is to fade out. God raises up men and women in their language group who will take the gospel to another village. You are so right, what you are talking about is a spiritual issue. How do we love on others from another race. It’s through the love of Christ for them. Not through our feelings of guilt because they were not born in a white body or in a privileged country. People all over the world can only rise above what ever is handed them. God sent His Son to seek that which was lost, all over the world. Yes, yes, yes, we are all touched by racism and it will never die out completely because all have sinned. All are born with the potential to be a racises or will show racism toward others. It’s a choice, God gave it to us, the ability to treat others fair and good. The choice He did not give us is where we are born. My goal is to tell all I can about the one who died for all races, He loves us all equally, which is why we went overseas to tell others. I love that you are on a search within yourself and want to deal with what you see. I grew up poor white trash and was judged on that as a young person. I too seek to act, respond, and acknowledge who I am without Christ and who I am in Christ. It’s a higher calling to be in Christ then to be white female from American. I love that you will dialough with me too. Honestly we are not too far in our thinking from each other. We both want to do what is right before God. I am sure my white ideas seep into my spiritual ideas. I seek to be like Christ in this issue of race and loving others the way He loves all. It’s not easy, in fact it hards because some would say I use my faith as a cop out for not addressing the issues. I believe there is nothing new under the sun as God said, so if that is really true then His Word has the way to deal with the race issue. He never led any one to destroy property, kill others, burn buildings, ,etc. I love reading Dr. King and would help anyone like him to heal this issue. By the way I just ordered the book you mentioned on your site. I will read any race ideas on how to deal with issues. Just like learning a person language and culture was the key to presenting them the gospel, it can work in race issues too. Tell me how you think but allow me to tell you how I think too, and lets see if we can find common ground to work with. For me, Jesus is that place to meet. Thank you also for reading my long comments, I waited to see what you would respond to me. Feels good to express and not feel guilty for my thoughts and ideas, to be accepted as a part of God creation. Blessings
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I don’t know what to say. We have our own problems here in Australia to deal with and I don’t think we have come to terms with much at all. I am quite sure that the only solution is the changing of each single individual heart. One person at a time relative to one other person at a time.
I was just reminded of the story of the Siege of Sarajevo and a woman who used to write on my blog. https://paolsoren.wordpress.com/2021/07/01/buying-books-in-charity-shops/
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Hi, John.
A big yes to your line about the only solution being “the changing of each single individual heart. One person at a time relative to one other person at a time.” It gives me a bit of hope (at least for myself) as well as direction. We white people in the USA haven’t typically talked with each other about being white in the way Drick Boyd describes.
Your line about the Siege of Sarajevo and ‘the book’ makes me smile! I bought (and read!) her book back when it came out. So well written. I’ve wondered often what became of her, and will check out your link. Thanks!
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Oh Elouise. I never got her book I didn’t know she had written one please send me the details so I can get myself a copy
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I wish I could! I gave it away sometime last year, and can’t remember the title. Do you know her full name (as opposed to a made-up name)? The story line was about taking a trip back to Serbia. It gave her a way of describing her war memories. The goal was to see if she (and her friend) could find her grandmother. I’m pretty sure the book was self-published (Lulu.com?), but after searching their lists without her author name, I’m not coming up with anything. I’m so sorry. If you’ve tried, you already know her blog material has been taken down at her request. Too bad. She was an astonishing writer and human being. I wish I had better news about the book.
Elouise
Hi, again!
I had a brainstorm tonight, and found the info. at Amazon.com (went through all my book purchases for the last umpteen years). Unfortunately, the book now costs tons of money–About $111.00 for regular paperback, and nearly $1000.00 for mass market paperback! A library might be a better place to look for it. Even the used copies were priced at exorbitant amounts. I bought it in 2015.
Title: Golden Valley Silver Flowers
By Sb Selimovic
Elouise
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