Something about the name
by Justin Rogers
Jesus
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 It is the rawest name
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 I know 聽 聽 聽The Kool-Aid is sweet
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 when a nigga summons savior 聽 I know
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 the grandbabies gave their lives
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 to sin when granny whispers the Lord
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 over the belt before the beating
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Maybe whosoever calls upon
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 the name shall be saved
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 from diabetes & child protective services
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Maybe we waste our peace
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 praying His name will
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 be a fence where
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 it ain鈥檛 nothing but space & opportunity
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Be a plate on a
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 passover our fridge can鈥檛 afford
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 His mercy 聽 聽 聽 a meal
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 His grace 聽 聽 聽 leftovers for breakfast
Oh聽 聽 I love
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 How the name is exalted
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 by the need of the nigga:
Jesus
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Be a bus pass
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 in the shadow of the valley
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 of Detroit
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Be a nap after wine
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Be a cloud keeping the bullshit at bay
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Something about the Lord
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 always provides 聽 聽 always
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Be our basic needs
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 running over聽
While many of my friends had been raised in the church, attending every Sunday out of obligation to their parents, I had the luxury of choosing where I fit in with God. I didn't begin an intentional journey with God until I became a young adult. Because of this much later, more voluntary engagement with church, I felt a freedom to consult and question theologies and practices rather than just go with the flow. My largest curiosity was not IF God was real, but rather in what ways is a spiritual God present in my normal mortal life? Is God present when I thank him for a particularly cold glass of Kool-aid? Is He really there when I'm $1 short on bus fare?
Through a church based in a Detroit living room and a Pastor with deep connections to his African American roots, I was able to see the first true example of not only embracing, but intertwining these themes. In everyday life in Detroit鈥攅specially among Black people鈥攖he name Jesus is often shouted in surprise, joy, or even despair. It becomes a cry to the Lord to show his presence in a particular situation, good or bad. In the church, "worldly" behavior is often condemned and made to feel like a separate life from that of the church and often comes with an air of guilt. Unfortunately, "worldly" behavior is often vaguely or extremely defined. My goal with this poem and many others in the series is to make a stronger connection between what is taught in the church and what actually happens in the world鈥攏o matter how small.
"Something 91社区 The Name Jesus" is a popular gospel song by The Rance Allen Group. In short, it talks about the power of calling the name Jesus. In my poem, I've spoken His name over some everyday experiences of many Black families to highlight how important having divine intervention is even in the simplest situations.
is a Black poet and literary program coordinator from聽Detroit, Michigan, and an advocate for the amplification of Black voices. With聽InsideOut Literary Arts, Rogers coordinates after-school intensive creative writing聽programming. His work is published in Tinderbox, Verse Daily, The Metro Times,听Detroit Action and on display at Scarab Club Detroit. Rogers is the author of聽Nostalgia As Black Matilda and Black, Matilda.