Wisdom and Resilience I Learned from African Americans - Part 1
(It is not only African Americans who have such wisdom; for example, Native Americans who have been severely oppressed like Black people also have their own wisdom. But since it was Black Christians from whom I happened to receive life-changing tools at a crucial time in my life, I will describe what I have learned from them.)
Although slavery was supposedly abolished in 1865, African Americans are still oppressed in a variety of ways. They, who have lived while being persecuted in every respect for over 400 years, use all kinds of powerful counterstrategies to survive without losing heart.
For example, one of the most beloved hymns of the Black Church is “Precious Lord” composed by Thomas A. Dorsey.
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am so tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on by the light
Take my hand, Precious Lord
Lead me home
Another favorite hymn of mine is “Come Ye Disconsolate” written by Thomas Moore. In the chorus, it says:
Here bring your wounded heart
Here tell all your anguish
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal
There also is a saying “God sits high and looks low.” It means that God who is most significant watches over us who are insignificant.
In addition to such lyrics and sayings, I also frequently heard testimonies of church members saying, for example, that when they didn’t have rent and were about to get evicted, money was sent to them from an unexpected source, or when they had no money for food and were worrying about what to feed the kids for dinner, a neighbor happened to stop by with a casserole, saying “I made extra. Would you all like some?”
From listening to such personal experiences as well as sermons and Bible Study, I came to understand that God who rules the universe very much cares for these people who are treated as unimportant by mainstream American society. And I have witnessed and still frequently see people who, based on this understanding, believe firmly that regardless of what the world says, they are beloved children of God and act boldly in society with self-esteem and self-confidence. What is often taught in sermons and Bible study is that in order to help those around us who are struggling, it is important for us to straighten things out in our own hearts so that God can heal our struggles and sorrows. In other words, paying attention to one’s own suffering and concerns is not necessarily selfish.
It took me several years to understand that I, too, was one who is dismissed as unimportant by society and is being cared for by God and to be able to say that regardless of what parents or society says, I am allowed to honor my own feelings and dreams. But as I continued to listen to gospel music and preaching that proclaimed that God is this kind of compassionate Person, my heart was gradually being healed.
Back then, I often listened to Luther Barnes and the Sunset Jubilaires. Their gentle singing voices eased the tension in my heart.