The Clubdate Singer Speaks! Chapter 1: Plantation Life



Disclaimer: The following story is an actual event, as all of the vignettes in the 'Clubdate Singer Speaks' series are. For 8 years, I was a member of one of the top Orchestras in the nation. Though it was an enjoyable time, it was also at times, quite painful. I took to writing initially to assuage my distress, and this is one of those times when the pen (or keyboard) proved to be a healing tool. I have considered publishing this series, and would appreciate your thoughts...

Chapter 1: “Plantatation life”  - New York City 2001


The old black man in the starched white jacket stands in the cold washroom, towel neatly folded in and by gnarled arthritic hands.
The young white man stands at the sink, washing his hands, appreciating his image in the mirror.

Self-consciously, I fumble with my zipper, as I listen to the exchange between the old man and the young man.

False pleasantries and polite ‘sir’s ring off the white tiles. hitting my ears like jagged shards of broken glass. I am disgusted, yet fascinated.

The towel and the dollar change places. Transaction complete, an uncomfortable silence replaces the uncomfortable conversation.

It is not Mississippi 1957, it is New York City 2001.

I am upset, angry, embarrassed, and not sure why.
I shiver slightly from the cold, (or is it the cold sweat that has beaded on my head) and step towards the sink.

I make eye contact with the old man in the mirror and nod.

Turning towards him, I begin to feel bad because I have no money, and there is no paper towel dispenser, or hand dryer. I reach for, and take the towel extended towards me by the gnarled hand. Embarrassed, I mumble thanks.

I think that it is embarrassment that initially focuses me on the hand. It is old, bent, and I know it must be painful in this cold cold washroom. The old man turns from me, and begins to straighten out the sundry items on the counter, then reaches slowly into the neatly starched white jacket pocket and….
PULLS OUT A ROLL THE SIZE OF MY FIST!

Instantly everything is put in a different context for me, and I stride out of the washroom head high, knowing that he’s doing ok on his plantation, and I head downstairs to mine.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lisa C. Pemberton 1964-2011

Image
Lisa C. Pemberton Obituary O n Wednesday November 23 rd , 2011 at 2:27 pm, at Brooklyn Hospital in Brooklyn, New York,  Lisa Chri stine Pemberton entered into the presence of the Lord. Lisa was born August 5 th , 1964 in Brooklyn, New York, to the late Reuben and Bertie, the third of their four children, and only daughter.   She graduated from South Shore High School in 1981, and went on to John Jay College of Criminal Justice, graduating in 1985. Lisa joined the Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s Office in 1986, rising to a supervisory paralegal position, and was employed there until her passing. Lisa loved to laugh and make jokes, and it was always a joyous occasion when she was around. She was also a gifted singer with a beautiful voice. She sang throughout her life, in various choirs and ensembles, often as a soloist. Lisa was born again and was baptized into the fellowship of the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY, as a child. She remain
Read more

Examining the tithe

Blessings to you dear reader. Thank you for taking the time to read the following. It is my prayer that it will edify, and bring clarity, and provoke thought and a closer walk with our Savior. Please note that wherever scripture is quoted, it is taken from the American Standard Version (ASV) In His service, Pastor.ctj One of the most heavily debated doctrines of the modern church is the doctrine of the tithe. Many Christians generally accept that the law of tithing, as other Jewish laws, was abolished upon Jesus' crucifixion, when he fulfilled the Old Testament law. For the most part, Christians do not follow Jewish community laws such as the extensive dietary restrictions in the Old Testament, for example, and tithing was part of that group of laws. Others believe that because Jesus spoke about tithing, he was instructing his followers to continue the practice, and for many, not only is the tithe still an active doctrine, it is proof of one’s commitment to God. The doct
Read more

Thabiti or T.D. what do 'we' folk prefer?

Blessings all Recently, on my Facebook page, I posted a piece by Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile which concerned the appearance of TD Jakes in ‘ The Elephant Room ’ conversations. ( Read the piece here )  I must also admit to a certain amount of disappointment that to date, only ONE of my many black Christian FB friends have commented on it. Why is that, fam?  It is my prayer that when I post a thing, dialog will ensue, and the Biblical prescription for successful exchange between brethren will take place, ie: God is glorified, and the brethren are edified . It is never my intention to cause division among brethren. I want to be clear on that. One of the biggest problems, as I see this is that for many ‘Black Christians’ TD Jakes is a model to be emulated  ( Let me be clear that I   HATE the idea that the body of Christ which Jesus declares is ONE, should be divided/categorized along ethnic lines, so I do not like the idea of a ‘black church’, or ‘chinese church’ or white church’)
Read more