A wagon rumbled up a sun drenched trail. A black preacher drove the team of horses. You would know he was a preacher because, seventy or so years ago, nobody but preachers wore black suits in Florida in the middle of a weekday afternoon.
Two little boys were in the back of the wagon. Twins. They looked just alike.
Then there was the sound of other horses. Momentarily three riders galloped up to the wagon, guns drawn. The preacher quickly pulled in the reins.
The men were laughing.
The preacher climbed down from the wagon. The little boys, wide eyed, huddled in the back. One of the riders shouted, "Dance, N........, dance" and they began to fire shots at the man's feet.
The dignified looking black man in the black suit began to shuffle his feet and they shouted "Faster, faster" and shot the guns two or three more times.
I first heard this story about thirty years ago when I was facilitating a racism seminar. It was told to me by one of the twin sons who was in the wagon.
Last Tuesday I saw him and asked if I could tell the story here. He agreed. He, along with his twin brother, became United Methodist ministers. In fact, he's celebrating is 50th year in ministry. They have made a tremendous contribution to the Church and to the state of Florida in their long, distinguished careers.
In fact, he's a very distinguished man. When I saw him last Tuesday, he was wearing a black suit.
***
Two little boys were in the back of the wagon. Twins. They looked just alike.
Then there was the sound of other horses. Momentarily three riders galloped up to the wagon, guns drawn. The preacher quickly pulled in the reins.
The men were laughing.
The preacher climbed down from the wagon. The little boys, wide eyed, huddled in the back. One of the riders shouted, "Dance, N........, dance" and they began to fire shots at the man's feet.
The dignified looking black man in the black suit began to shuffle his feet and they shouted "Faster, faster" and shot the guns two or three more times.
I first heard this story about thirty years ago when I was facilitating a racism seminar. It was told to me by one of the twin sons who was in the wagon.
Last Tuesday I saw him and asked if I could tell the story here. He agreed. He, along with his twin brother, became United Methodist ministers. In fact, he's celebrating is 50th year in ministry. They have made a tremendous contribution to the Church and to the state of Florida in their long, distinguished careers.
In fact, he's a very distinguished man. When I saw him last Tuesday, he was wearing a black suit.
***
