Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon

Write a post related to Black History Month? The challenge for me is how to keep it short (and speaking of short, how did the short, cold month of February get chosen for this honor?) So I will not take on the semi-fashionable question of whether we live in “post racial” America (don’t get me started!) and I’m not going to take on the broad sweep of 400 years of unreported, undocumented, disrespected black history. For you young folks, yes, I even remember the olden days, back when we only had white presidents! And a whole lot more.

Earlier this month, Michelle Obama invited a group of schoolkids to the White House for an hour-long workshop, titled “Music that Inspired the Civil Rights Movement.” Social activist and songtalker Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, (you may know her as founder of the a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock) a Freedom Singer, talked about her childhood and learning to understand the meaning behind the protest song This Little Light of Mine (I’m Gonna Let it Shine).  The message is for everyone, and especially important for girls and women.

All cultures, all religious groups have talked about the phenomenon of light in the context of religious or mystical experience. Buddhists say that all sentient beings are imbued with a spark of inner divine light. Jewish mystics speak of the inner spark or the spark of God. The Koran, referring to humankind, talks about the little candle flames burning in a niche in the wall of God’s temple. In this clip I found on NPR’s website, Dr. Reagon says it so purely, “Think LIFE.”

This Little Light of Mine is easy, even for preschoolers to sing, but it is no baby song. It is strong, seasoned, and penetrates to the bone. When I was a kid, the school day started with the Pledge of Allegiance and a patriotic song. How much better it would be — exponentially better — to skip them both and instead sing “This Little Light of Mine.” Together. Let it shine.