Last month, President Barack Obama delivered a eulogy in honor of Clementa Pinckney and in memory of the nine murdered at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C.
His account of those executed convened around themes of grace, both as a religious concept and as a light those killed found. Obama’s eulogy was easily one of the finest oratorical instances of his presidential career.
Toward the end of his speech, the president did something that surprised myself and many others.
He broke out into song.
“Amazing Grace,” Obama sang. Seconds later the shout chords chimed in, and the crowd stood, singing in concert.
It was arguably one of the Blackest moments in American history.
I remember abruptly jumping out of my seat. Me, an American Muslim. When the organ bellowed, I was up in front of my television proclaiming, “I once was lost!” And from the room over I could hear my father humming in unison.
Christian or not, the Black church has historically served as a central communal space for the Black populace.