Thanks for the discussion, people. I really appreciate your candor, Azizi. Keep it up.

I am fresh back from the march, and post-march church celebration.

I have to report that the crowd was far smaller, and the singing thin, sad and unmoving compared with previous years. Why, I wonder? Despite my frustration, you will be glad to know that I didn't swipe the bullhorn.... though I dearly longed to ; )

At church, there were plenty of good thoughts, prayers and speeches, but very many mixed messages. Lots of talk about unity, forces for change, working together, etc, but it was still a celebration by, of, and for a small handful of black churches. They referred to the lovely, spirited children's choir as the 'community choir', and that bothered me a little bit since only a few churches were represented. Guess different people have different ideas of what makes up a community.

Speeches that won the oratorical contest (that only those few churches knew about) were read; amazing, wise thoughts from brave, smart children. Again, from only a few churches. I've heard white children at these occasions wonder how their classmates knew of these contests, but they didn't.

And while some speakers made me feel very welcome as just one in the number, without picking out or finger pointing, there were just so many references to this banquet, that meeting, such-and-such a committee, where "you all are needed and welcome", it's clear to me that the rest of the community is NOT welcome to plan for and participate meaningfully in the event. Which is all fine and good, unless you are CALLING it a community celebration, open to all.

So, it is a little painful, but whatever... I go anyway, because I believe a) my children should know the racial and social history of their hometown, even as it plays out today among their and my peers, b) people should march to commemorate the sacrifices of the civil rights movement, and c) King's legacy should be remembered, taught, lived out.

And, it is absolutely important to know the provenance of a song or style of music. Azizi is right, but I can't imagine she means the rest of us shouldn't sing them. Spirituals are one of the most important kinds of music in my life. Plus I can and will sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" with the best of them, and wish the kids (both black and white) I saw out there today would, too.

Dani (an im-patient woman)