I'm reading a new six hundred page bio of James Baldwin and he describes attending a church service in Alabama at which King preached - and he notes how glorious the experience was. And it made me remember the time when I did a radio series for the Salvation Army and realized why the Black church was so important, almost like the equivalent to therapy for Whites. Black families can and do abandon their members. The Black Church does not. And when my father died, a reverend I hardly knew who was interviewed on the program sent me condolence and a peace lily. It had an impact.

and I love the image William Styron depicted when Baldwin stayed with him and his wife in conn for an extended stay ... "this little black figure would walk across our land blanketed with deep snow and come inside and after dinner with a drink raised in his hand he'd pronounce to our ultra liberal dinner guests - we're gonna burn all your mother fucking houses down." and they were enthralled.

balls.


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