Communion

"But mostly I don't like the way our government is missing lots of other people who also need help...."

Heads were shaking yeses at him, and when he pulled a piece of paper from inside his robe there was a ripple of movement across the pews. This was an unusual event.

"...A few months ago there was a big rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, and Mr. Truman spoke to the Negroes who assembled there. You probably remember that I was there from our own chapter of the NAACP, and talked about it when I got home. So I 'spect you're wondering why I haven't memorized Mr. Truman's words if they are so important. Well, I have, sisters and brothers, and I am going to read them just like Mr. Truman said them and hope you never forget them.

"'Every man should have the right to a decent home, the right to an education, the right to adequate medical care, the right to a worthwhile job, the right to an equal share in making public decisions through the ballot, and the right to a fair trail in a fair court.'

Those are very powerful words. They remind me more than a bit of the Lord telling us to love thy neighbor as yourself. And let us believe that Mr. Truman meant those words 'every man' to include sisters as well as brothers, poor white folks as well as us Negroes, and Indians -leastwise those of them who are still alive.

Oh, those are nice words. Off and on, every now and again, most usually when an election is coming along, some white leaders have been saying them for years. They even appoint committees to study those words as if they were hard to understand...."

Soft laughter lifted from the congregation.

"...but we all know, just like The Lord know, that we's still a long, long lonesome road form any of those things."

He paused, looked up toward the belfry. Thomas got the message. Griff dropped his head an remained silent.

-- Lord, I need a push. Just a little push.

"I have been thinking about that road since yesterday when I saw some of your children trying to play hopscotch on a scrubby old narrow bit of gravel path. I thought about it last night walking over here to pray and there were no sidewalks and no street lights and no policemen lookin' out to help our sisters walking home alone from having worked twelve hours cleaning white folks' houses and feeding them and taking care of their children.

"Those things got me to thinking hard about how we will ever get another step down that long lonesome road. And of a sudden I remembered that big meeting at the Lincoln Memorial, and it came to me that we got to keep reminding our leaders that nice words just ain't enough. It came to me that every yard we've got down that lonesome road has been because we reminded those leaders that the Good Lord expects us to act on those nice words.

"You remember how our brother Asa Philip Randolph planned a big demonstration. That sent a message to Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Roosevelt created the Fair Employment Practices Committee. But it was a committee with a difference because it had all those people ready to walk in the streets, so we got another step down that lonesome road.

"You remember how our brother Lonnie Smith right here up in Houston sent that message through the courts and got us the right to vote in primary elections. Oh, they first sent out the National Guard to stop us, but now they's comin' round asking for our votes. Another step, and a big one, down that lonesome road.

"And just now you know how our brothers and sisters in Carolina and Georgia went out on strike to remind white leaders to act on their nice words. Some of those sisters and brothers got hurt, but they sent the message.

"So, brothers and sisters, it is now our turn to remind our leaders that those nice words just ain't enough."

He stepped back, bowed his head and opened his arms.

Table of Contents

• Introduction

1. Maggie and Mr. Hank
2. The Reverend
3. Squalls Along the Flight Line
4. Flying Home to Church
5. A Visit with The Judge
6. Communion
7. Afterthoughts
8. Monday Morning With The Admiral
9. Into the Dining Room
10. On Toward Walking the Streets
11. Glimpses of An Election
12. The Dream and The Reality of Violence
13. The Admiral Loses More Than a Few Good Men
14. Down That Lonesome Road

• Cast of Characters
• Credits and Acknowledgements