Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [75]
"Yes, Lord, as clear as a crystal stream in the Bible," one choir member said, drawing chuckles from the congregation.
"But there's another thing I want to tell you today. You've all heard me preach about civil rights, and many of you have contributed to the movement, either on the front lines in Mississippi or in the background here, housing and feeding the workers. That fight is vital, one of the most important struggles in the history of the United States, to win our people the fundamental human right to social and political equality.
"But there is another right we don't talk about as much, and that's the right to economic equality, ensuring that Negroes can lead prosperous lives—and just as importantly, feel worthy to lead prosperous lives. Maybe you're thinking that I sound like Rev. Ike . . ."
Laughter erupted here and there in the church, but most people were listening expectantly.
"That's right. I have to agree with Rev. Ike on those points—I believe that Negroes are entitled to some good living while we are here on God's earth. For Rev. Ike, prosperity might mean six Cadillacs and a twenty-room house, but to me it's more complicated than that. True prosperity means knowing in your heart that God will help you and meet your need whenever and whatever that may be. Of course it's also a good thing when you are in your right mind, being loved, feeling good, eating good food—having spiritual well-being as well as a little more money than just enough to get by. It's good to have a comfortable home, a good woman, a few good suits, a reliable and decent-looking car—"
"Like that purple Cadillac," one of the old men cackled.
"Yes, like that," Theophilus said. "But most of all, to be prosperous, a man needs to have the Lord, not material goods, planted firmly in the center of his heart."
Chapter Seventeen
AUGUST 1963 AND THE TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE rolled around so fast, Essie and Theophilus found themselves scrambling around at the last minute, struggling to get ready. It seemed like their entire church was going, and both of the rented buses had filled up fast. For Theophilus, the conference would be a professional and a personal watershed. Sister Willie Clayton was now waging an all-out war against him—which couldn't hurt him as long as he had the protection of Bishop Jennings— but it was hurting Rev. James, his mentor, who was running for bishop. Willie had invested a considerable sum to defeat Rev. James and was backing Rev. Ernest Brown, Marcel's father.
With all the trouble that was brewing, Essie and Theophilus decided to drive down to the conference alone, in her car, rather than with the Thomases or other members of the congregation. They needed to pull together their spiritual resources.
One consolation was that the conference was being held in Theophilus's hometown, Richmond, Virginia. Essie's folks—Lee Allie, Uncle Booker, Mrs. Neese, and Mr. Pompey—along with Mr. D.S. and Mrs. Coral Thomas, were all staying with his mother and father. He couldn't imagine where they would put everybody, but Larnetta, his mother, put his mind at ease. "Baybro, we are country folks. We'll manage just fine. In fact, with good company like Coral, D.S., and Essie's people, I'd say we'll be doing better than just fine."
Essie and Theophilus were going to stay with his sister, Thayline, and her husband, Willis. But they were still an hour away when Theophilus, exhausted from preparing for the conference and from driving most of the way, felt too beat to go another mile. He switched places with Essie, and by the time they reached Thayline's house, he was sound asleep.
Essie turned off the engine and pushed on his shoulder to wake him up. He didn't budge. She pushed on him some more and then poked him with her