Azizi, you know by now that I hold you in the very highest esteem. Gotta take issue with you on that last one though. While it is true that the songs came out of your tradition of struggle, faith and hope...and I certainly agree that the style of singing these songs is firmly rooted in your cultural background....these songs are timeless because they speak to everyone. Whether we are speaking of the old spirituals, or the new songs about the struggles, what has always touched me about them....and inspires me to be always on the trail towards being a more complete human being ... is that these people, so full of reasons not to be grace filled, are grace filled nonetheless. That is, in my mind, what makes these sung prayers universal, and a lesson that The Greatest One gives us all in the beauty of the words and singing. It is the same in all songs of struggle, no matter the culture. Were I you I would take great pride in the fact that these songs are of my people, but they belong to the ages, and if there is wisdom in this world, they will be claimed by all.

All the best,

Mick