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I wrote Crazy Willie the Godman three years ago. It was a poetic celebration showing my love and respect to and for my grandfather. He was my first male role model. As a man, he was very masculine while being liberated with his wisdom and compassion. He was a driven man of purpose and an artist of high integrity.
As a teacher of acapella gospel, he weaved narrative and sound into a living expression of the human story. He understood the importance of knowing and being your voice. As a child and his grandson, I stood in awe of him, his passion and presence. He treated me with such tenderness and nurturing ways which gave me a grounded confidence in my personal worth and my personal story. He taught me to respect myself and my God-given gifts.
In his ways of being, my grandfather taught me how to be an honorable man. So, when I had a chance to present a shorter seven-minute version of the original poem for Black History month for my church, I jumped at the chance. (Video below.)
Being a member of Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach has brought back memories of me watching my grandfather work his spiritual magic. I watch the minister, Rev Rod, speak his progressive Christian truths and I can hear the echoes of my grandfather’s words of wisdom. I am not saying they are the same person, but both are visionaries of social change.
Our sense of purpose to be agents of change and facilitators of love are our unified quest for working together. I feel as if I am walking with my grandfather’s spirit as I do my community work with my church. My grandfather always told me to leave a community in a better position than it was when you first arrived.
I wanted to become famous, so I could have money to save the world. Now my intentions, rituals of living, and being are my pathway to awareness. I believe in being a person of service. I believe in being a spiritual happening every second I have breath, in gratitude for my gift of life. I give because I have been given. I give love because I want love. I am peaceful because I want peace.
I have come full circle from running from who I was supposed to be, to be who I really am, a Man of Love. I have embraced my gifting as a Sacred Artist in Modern Times. I am my grandfather’s son.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images