“Let America Be America Again” is not only a compelling poem by Langston Hughes, it has also become my prayer to God. Our society has lost its dignity. Now, I may be growing old, and therefore, slanted in my view, but there’s been such a deviation from courtesy and reverence for our neighbor, I strongly feel we need to build back the decorum.
Yesterday, I was alone on my morning errands, the Professor tied up on an appointment. It was my first time out on my own since my knee replacement, but I felt ready. I pulled up to a parking spot not too far from the entrance of the store I needed. I parked the car and slowly exited. Three spaces over from my car stood a tower of a black man. Upon seeing my measured pace, he hollered over “Could you use a hand?” to which I replied, “Why yes, I …” Without hesitation but with a lovely genuine smile on his face, he came and took my arm walking me to the front door of the establishment. After I thanked him profusely, he smiled and walked away like it was nothing. It was something. It was an act of goodness bestowed unconditionally.
This is the kind of humanity I am speaking of – acts of pre-thought; see-a-need; reach out; lend a hand without forethought. This is what we need more of. We had it once, surely, we can resurrect best behavior and good manners again. Now, maybe this friendly giant of a man saw something in me that reminded him of someone elderly in his life, or maybe he recognized the tentativeness of my gait and recalled an old football injury of his own, regardless, he acted without pause.
The rhetoric we have seen in the media in recent times brings me to my knees. I cannot understand mankind turning on one another in such a hateful and sorrowful way. So, I pray to God to heal our broken country and bring back a semblance of respectability and propriety. Give us back the America we once knew, Lord. Help us heal from the stains of blood spilt. Deliver us more angels, like the beautiful black man who saw me yesterday. Oh God, please hear our prayer.
Amen.