"conclude my posting"... I surely hope not, Azizi! I'm really enjoying this thread, and can't wait to come back and explore more when I have time.

Our community's annual MLK celebration yesterday was wonderful, with a gifted (and very young) preacher SO much in the traditional style, but fresh and new, with a real gift for speaking to every heart in the house that would hear. A treasure. He listened to the young winners of the oratorical contest earlier in the day(another tradition to explore!) and quoted them back, weaving them into his sermon.

Thanks for this work, to help point up some very important aspects of a unique and irreplaceable culture.

Ironically, good Mr. Moore was there yesterday too, sitting 2 rows in front of me, and didn't move a muscle, while the rest of us were singing, clapping, etc. : )

Dani