NTENTS DEPARTMENTS: FEATURES BEAUTY WRITE ON! a | REAL ESTATE SIMPLY VOLUPTUOUS CONSUMER CONCERN 7 | by Robert Price The more you have, | Sweet Money Conservation Part three of a series the less you need. by Frances D. Lawrence. designed to give you SRS TEDOWN FRONT. 6 | the right financial bearings. CONTEMPORARY LIVING Manufactured White Racism oe COA VENY THING ROOM G Gi x \ 9 by Carolyn Greene by Rta J. Falkener 4 Using space to the max. It’s not how much but how. FICTION BROTHER ISOM by Hortense Spillers Having and loving children had become his art. In his lifetime he saw and felt more growing pains Childhood Immunization: “Antibodies for Everybody bby Lawrence D. Robinson, MD. ‘ON THE AISLE: Part 1 2 Spotlight on Marge Eliot by Maurice Peterson | ENTERTAINERS: = 4 The Isley Brothers: 3 & 3 than he could tell = Super Succes ROMARE BEARDEN by Vernon Gibbs by Bil calawell ‘SIGN TIME 19 f ‘An art great, Bear- by Wanda Sterling. den’s medium is the TRAVEL 22 | collage; his perspective, Black. Take a Tp in Your Tlemetorn and Beyond by Ben F,canthers FASHION ESSENCE WOMEN. op | wz RIDE INIDENIM |): Semiseraene = 30} (0) Sbeeosee sae Deltas Go Hollywood scene-stealing den- Maurice Peterson ims for a trip to Oz. SeINDSeak soci an aa Changing Up R&B THE RETURN OF THE |, cuuebecaet VOLUPTUOUS WOMAN | =TTING DOWN = na beat | Spann Ais ene 5A a POETRY 2 by Carolyn M. Rodgers FOOD by Carlyn M.Redgers | nesigeROF THE MONTH SHOW-STOPPING FONDUE 6 ‘Mother-to-be Nancy by Venezuela Newborn ‘Wilson dons Lester T ‘A bubbling pot hits Hyatt’s very unconventional the spot when sum- maternity clothes, mertime friends come to call.ctober was diemal and sulking this year, the year of Bro. som’s death, Who remembered Oc- tober with is bate, brown buds and threat of winter, an alien child of thirty-one days between the beginning fof school and Thanksgiving? No one in the Isom family had ever been born this month, but the family would always fecal the October of '57 when the ice Storms came early and Bro. om died He hada’t been ill, nor had he suffered mournful old ages oblivion. Early one tmoming, when the sun was late coming tp, andthe air bore an aspect of sorrow, he pulled the covers up around his Shoulders, closed his eyes and was si- Tent Before noon, everyone was. saying: ‘mje. passed. Brother Isom is, gone.” Bro, Isom had fifteen children—sie sons and nine daughters—and some fors-cight grandchildren, Having and Toving children had become his ar. He was expert at watching them grow. In his tighty-seven years, he sa and felt more froving pains than he could tell “Miss Bertll, his wife, would-be more than lonely without him. Now that he'd fone, she'd lost a plece of her heart Some of her eyesight, part of her hearing No one suspected that they were stil Tovers. Of the, vintage kind, their love hhad mellowed into sof, musty leather and become tough sinewy and pliable. It had withstood three wars, 2 major de- pression and more trivia than she cared {o recall She'd setled dowe into their fncient affair with a confidence and Finesse akin to laziness. He was her man tuntil death, she his woman. The combi- ration exuded such joy that It was like 2 favorite picture. Folks looked at it, but ddide’t have to say any more since al the praise was ssid out by now, Quite sim- ply, it was a favorite thing, tucked Somewhere in a narm pocket of the mnind, that could be remembered in times of trouble, It Blessed her children nnd grandchildren and their children Exen those too young t0 know about these old lovers felt very warm in Oc tober when they came to "Big Mama” Berell's [As was customary, she'd gotten up this morning at hal past six No reason row thatthe children were gone, but it vas peaceful this ene of day-—rno cars in the street=and good to say prayers with Bro, Isom "I was glad this morning to see the rising sun.” Then they'd wait for mercy "to, open the petale of the blooming day,” for only then could folks be about thelr business, This morning when she touched him to rouse him for their ritual, he was silent. A pin had Fallen in the universe. To Miss Bertel cternity’s great clock had ejected one of Sts hands, I fell ike 2 plank across her heart, and for several minutes she was faint, the blood rushing to her head. She lay still, praying alone in the early morning, Soon, she recovered her strength, dressed herself and stood tal Te was going tobe a long day. ‘The list people to arrive were her son, Handsome Eddie,” her daughter, Mis Mildred. Miss Mildeed's husband, Elder Lacey, and thele son, Tyree Lacey, Je Giherswece coming tomorrow from Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, St louis and smal, rural places in’ the Mississippi Delts. Another daughter, [Almadee, and her family were expected from Detroit later on in the day. No one could recall any event of such import that lt had brought all the Isoms together ‘Miss Bertell, in imagining the numbers about to descend on her, grew anvious and irtable. She didn't mind the kinsfolks as much, though they were pest rumerous, as she did the “funeral ongers,” the tear-cavengers of curios ity who'd come and out-ery, outsmoan Sand outeat the relative, then disappear Until the next funeral, Three of them came in behind the first arrivals, plopped themselves down in the living oom and got very comfortable ‘When Miss Bertell came from the kitchen, the women greeted her “Honey, you got to be strong nov. Bear ‘up! We knows is hard.” They huddled ound her in the middle of the living room flogr"We came soon as we heard” ‘Mis Bertll looked tired, but tried to miler “Vm gon do the best I can.” She turned from the trio to her family "Come t0 breakfast now. The food's setlin’ cold.” She offered breakfast to the old women, but they refused, hoping shed insist. When she didn’, they de- Cided fo leave: “We'llbe back, but inthe ‘meanwhile, pray to God. He's the oliest When they'd gone, Eddie sighed: “Damn, you can. count on those old women always being around when somebody dies” Miss Bertell looked at her son: “You watch your mauth ‘round yo old mame, Sont” She assumed the head ofthe table with a dignity and grace bordering. on the imperious, then bowed her head ‘Gracious Lord, we are truly thankful for what we are about to receive: nourishment for our bodies, for Christ's Sake, amen.” The solemnity that accom panied thei brief prayer always puzzled Eddie His father had sald this grace forat least thirty-seven years, and_ always always, the children were too hungry tO feel gracious toward the Lord or anyone cle for that matter, “This moming, Edie bowed his head, bt didn’t take his eyes off his mother ‘When she looked up, he was looking at ‘She smiled at him: "You never did close your eyes son, when the grace was being said, even when you was small What you lookin’ at yo mama for?” "Tliketolookat you, You're cute gl Mama ISOM BY HORTENSE SPILLERS 1 weed t be a cue gal, but Laint now. My eyes so old now, they're wrinkled like tattered pocket “Daddy didn’t think so.” She laughed, remembering meals with Bro. Isom. “Old eyes see old things as beautiful Mr. Timmie's eyesight nas gray, t00.” “Trey ate in silence, and the memory fof Bro. Isom warmed them. Twelve year-old Tyree, Jr, munched his bacon Vrith relish and requested more than two Or three glasses of orange juice from his ESSENCE: WAYnapped, pinching his |- looking at Big Mama to defen: Hie ‘You have eaten be ded his head with its freshlyfone pound. Always tall and rail like. I femember when he was court’ me Every Sunday, hed come up to our house with the preacher, They was the two eatinest men in Shelby Count, Papa would go out and ring ahen’s neck for Sunday dinner. Mama would clean it dress it and get out that big old wash pot in the beckyard for cookin’ it. We Rad two rooms and a back porch, and me nd my sisters would open the back door to get fresh air and get over that wood Stove and cook up peach pes fried apple pies and everything. Me. Timmie would ome nalkin’ up with the preacher long pout sundown, grinnin’ from ear to ear, rubbin’ his belly, We would all crowd ‘ound the kitchen table and Lord, Lord! Collard greens and black-eyed peas laced with onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, comm and butter beans. All that from the garden. Okra, beets, mashed potatoes, Summer squash and chicken! Lord Mama did more with a chicken than the law allows. Fey it boil it, bake i stew i raise it from the dead. Everything! I'm fells you, we would eat ‘il the glory of the Lord come down! “Folks don’t eat ike that now with all, thisetfied food! I's plumb pitifull Folks $0 sinfl, the Lord don't even let the food. Jgrow right no more, Have to punch holes In chickens to make em look right 13 2 shame.” ig Mama, your cookin’ is still su- perb even ifthe food don’t grow right.” Everybody laughed a¢ Elder Lacey wiped hhis mouth and pushed back from the table “Thank the Lord and bless the cook. All that aint got enough sit and look.” “Well buh," eaid Big Mama, “that was cone of Mr. Timmie’s sayings. Held sit tnd look plenty mes—look ugly, pre- fendin’ he was sll hungry!” “Niggers from the country made eatin’ an art and science!” Eadie laughed, "Well, Yd rather be a full-up nigger from the country than 2 hungry nigger from the city” Big Mama sei this with reat conviction, Laughter filled the foom: She continued to their delight "The worst thing a Black man can do is go North, Leavin’ his roots. 1rd to tell I yo sisters and brothers so, but they just had to. go up North. Now, they Complainin’ about the cold, and the thieves, and the high rent’ and chillun ‘with no place to play. You make more money, but money aint everything, you nov. Anyway, you spend it tein’ to live big. Lard, my Folks ant got the sense they was born with, They bettercome on buck down here and ery to make it better ‘Cause i sho aint nothin’ wp theze in that cola” "Daddy almost left the South when wwe were small,” Eddie said “Yeah,” Big Mama answered. “But he changed his tune right quick. He always wanted yall to have some litle piece of land that you could call yo own. You cant call no skyscraper yo own! Nobody ‘ins them things.” Big Mama spoke of Skyscrapers as if they were a plague ‘ePhey. too high for me. Pearl nem come takin’ us to the Empire State Build’, fol em: Let me down from here! My feet was made for the solid earth. IF God had intended for man to Stand that tall over the ground, He ‘woulda made him a giant, But He didn’t Take him nothin’ but a mana Title ‘anand tol him to be faithful in tha! But man done forgot what God tol him. He can't hear no more. Who tola man he Could stand ‘bove the trees? You tll me tat!” “Rap, Mama, rap!” Eddie was enjoy ing Big Mama, She hadn't talked this tmuch in weeks, he reflected. She and Bro, Isom would sit evenings by the furnace in cool silence, Their children thattered and equawked in their pre~ Sence, but they listened and nodded and wwere at peace. “So, I'm glad I'ma litle person. Lan wax and wane in eternity’s good time.” Big Mama pushed back from the table and dried her eyes with a napkin. She Said quietly to herself “just wish youds Jet Mr, Timmie stay here a litle while longer” ‘Bro. kom was usually his ovn best svitness. He knew his efory better than nyone—its ingoings and outcomings Like the commas and semicolons of a convoluted, twisted sentence, they were intricately known to him. One version of his story, the obituary in the evening paper, had left the in-betweens oxt— Enty the old ones knew about the cracks in the cup and what they portended, or had any inkling of te sly, sharp corners that he'd suddenly been forced to turn ‘when the main roads ran out "As Mildred prepared the evening ‘neal, Miss Bertell read about Bro, Isom: ISOM, Timathy lee, Died Weanestay, (Ger. 17,1957, Born on April 9, 1870 in Red Bank, Miss. Timothy low died carly Wet relay morning ab hs home at 327 Supreme ‘Aves Menps, Mr. lam, the 30 of former Slavs, spat hie youth in Memphis and St Loni A founder ofS. hn Baphist Church, ‘Orange Mound, he sas active in Masonic Ledge No. 37, the Deacors’ Alliance of Memplis ard trons other churckrelated his ani hie sai death, He i sr ied by hs widow, Mrs. Bevel Isom si Sons: lta, LS. a Jasper som, residents of Chicago: Edie Peboy, O'erra end Uless Toon of Menehis nine daghters: Mrs Pear! nie, Mrs. Ether Derry, Mrs. Deb tvah Hubbard Mrs, Sara Jackson, all res tlnts of New York City: Mrs. Almader Ballo of Derit, Mrs. Genoa Stony nd Mars. Ruth Ripe af Los Aagees: Mrs ‘Apanline Webster Neon of Se Lous und Mars, Milred Lacy of Memphis forty ight igindchildrn, thre bothers, '00 sister, Fighter nites and nephews and host of ofher relatos and friends to maura hs pasing. Funeral services wil be bel on Sunday, On 21 a Sh John Baptist Church with Reo. LD. MaWaver ifcatng (Freak, see farther Miss Bertell closed her eyes, laying the paper in her lap. She thought of how things, changed. This time yesterday, hnad’t they cead the paper together? And talked of inflation and war? Hadn't they noted, too, man’s short time on earth? ‘And that the oldest man around was an infant in the interstices of stars? ‘And hadn't they said that it was good to be alad and alive and well? And that it ‘nas good also to have loved se long, 50 many? This time yesterday, they re joiced in exch other and in their having come a long, mellow way. Somewhere between Eddie, the last Isom, and this time, the pall of mystery which veils the arth and man’s time had fluttered Sometimes and rased its hem, Together, they saw the details behind the perspec- tive, the Fhythms that give shape to the language of longing and suffering and the mocking mirrots and gnarled floor- boards of agony’s many mansions. They hhad wept when they aa these things, heving remembered how long they'd been in acauring grace. Now that they'd acquired it, they knew that suffering is ‘ot lost eis ultimately useful “You know,” Miss Berteil said to Eddie, “your father always worried about you not having a family nd gettin’ fo be an old man by yoursell.” Eade laughed at the thought. “Well, rm doing all aght for mysel.” "Well, Mr. Timmie thought you could do a litle better. He say a handsome rman like you oughtta be makin’ little {eeil” Ede chuckled, remembering that Bro, om had told him the same things. "Me. Tirnmie loved nothin’ better than gettin” all the ehillun ‘round him and tellin em stories. They would just grin like ole Junior at the table this Iornin’ [think it surprised em that 2x ‘ld man like Mr. Timmie could talk so! ‘And could remember! Lord, that man {ould remember like an elephant. "He did funny thing Tuesday night before he died, He called me over tothe Bedside and acked me if felt the blood ESSENCE: VAYee ee ee breakin’. say “Go on way from here, “Was that the last thing he talked done it When he worked on the Missis- Tlimmie, you aint talkin’ boutnothin Tt about?” Eddie asked ‘ippi loadin’ cotton, he say the crackers i scared me, though. He never talked “Yes, suh, it sure was. The last thing. was always playin’ with him, jokin’ and fanny like that without reason. The ast Look to me now like he was a well-used cartn’ on like they wes kiddin’ “bout lime he talked like that, his mama was candle gon out. That light sho did burn a wantin’ to throw him inthe rive! He say dying. 50, [ tried not to pay lm no longtime. The people in Timmie’s fam- they was damn fools ‘cause he knowed rention, lly must had an extra lease on life, {they wasn't playin’. Timmie worked "Then, he did the next funny thing. He believe. Yo grandma, Miss Rubed, lived there long time il the Depression called every one of the grandchillan by ‘Ul she was eighty, and was stil walkin’ come, Then he started workin" at the name. Every once ina while, he would ‘ound good and everything. One day, V.A. Hospital. Them was tough days Inugh that old deep laugh. He said though, she just folded up. We went then sho ough me: ‘Now, Isaac's chillan got ehillun down to Red Bank fr the faneral.T=aw "Women in them days would now.There is Timothy Tarael and his your Uncle Shaka then forthe first time straighten theie own hait, but Timmie ‘ister, Caldonia, Then Esther's boy, Roy, in years. Shaka had been on the run for did't lke for me to use no hot combs in Je, Debbery and Jaspers sons, another sometime. Bout fifty yearsago, he killed mine. One day, he come inthe kitchen ‘Timothy Issel another Jasper, Harvey, 4 mn in Red Banka white man Right where I had the combs hot on the old Nathaniel and Harsie Mae. They got after Shaka killed that white man, the woodenstove. You were about five years ctillun oo now. Then Oferro's got five. night-ridin’ white men come up there to old then, and when you come in the ‘There's another Tim, Calester, Johneta, Miss Rubed's house to get him, But he room, Timmie had me whislin’ inthe aie Deborah and Linda. I don't know why _ whupped em off the land over his head, comb and all When he that boy had all them gals’ he say, but "One day soon after that, Shaka brought me ack down, he pressed me to LS. beat him out with four boys, Let me knocked at the front door. We wa livin’ his frontside and just spanked me hike fee now, he say, there's Iky-LS. then in Memphis, and we had six chile was one of Yall. I commence 9 wailin’ always did love big Iky—Jonathan, John lun. Timmie had just come beck from and screamin! He covered my mouth itlington and Charles Cecil Then Uest trying to find work in St. Louis. He and just kept on whuppin’. When he got did the best with his six sons!’ Mr. thought he could tap-dance his way to through, he say I couldn’ straighten my ‘Timmie really like that! He went on: heaven, but every young Black fells hair ‘cause T would tum it out, He “UlessnamedhisboysTim again David, could tap-dance then, so Timmie had to showed me pictures of Mama Rubed Shaka, Tohn Henny, Toller end Johas__ find somethin’else todo. Well sayway, She use to wear her dark, thick hair— fon Taylor, Now, Peasy, he say, ‘id's Shaka come i, sat right down and told great piles of hai! She weared i caught litle something. with four daughters, the story and say he was leavin’ the up ikea great big nappy knot on top of Bere Peat Ins Joy and her two boys, South her head. Timmie say he remember his Manson, Jr, and Malcomb, Lord! tore,’ Timmie say he dida’t see Shaka grandma, Cambs, right well. And Miss the man faily shouted, Now, my poce 50 for many years Shaka could read Camba’s mama, Okona, ate bit, Mist | lite Mily just got ols “Long Time.” Some-buthe coulda write.S0,he didn’t Comba and Miss Okona told Mama Thatenhat heeded Tonion Bat Geneva setd no letters. But Mama Rubed told lubed how to. do her hair, and Mama tld to make up with to gals, Geneva, Time se always Kaew when Shaka Rubed tld her Gouger 0 do thels was gettin in touch with her Before she [ike she was told Nonr Seey Rae hivt'de mach eiher died. she fold em to hold her out the SorTimmie fold me to wear my haic Mer pecker aca nike berncutGed ground il Shaka come, Everybody cay like all the old-time, patriot women in int dead yet suk! Lordy, my cute lille Re were dead. They was wrong, Cause his family. He had this picture of Mama the day we got down there from Mem- Rubed. He kept makin’ look tit, and phis for Mama Rubed's funeral, Shaka Ikept sayin’ ‘Who? Long as say that, he fore the next day. He say t were tine just helt the picture fo my eyes! Lord for him to come back. We ask him how that Timmie wae a kllaia! he knowed she were sick, That man sey "Well, 1 soon got tired of him fusi somethis’Lwon't forget. He say: Mama so I slip and press i. Just a lite bit, puter hands on me and connected the ‘round. the roots, you know! Then 1 blood just felt the link breakin’””" wold take it backoff my forced, right Going over matters in the heart's Hark like. Thought Timmie would”? awareness, Big Mame jerked back sud- know the difference. Well sho ‘nough den teas, realizing that Timmie would he dia’, so thought. He told Isaac nem want her to be sttong inal things. The he knoved what bwse doing! That as memory of his laughing eyes and heart one of his secrets fom me. Jt. and Fenny and her one boy, William Rothie gal did the most with her eight! Timothy, Farol, Solon, Marcus Garvey, Sojourner, Denmark, Phillip and In- nana the baby! Lord, call the roll! Then Deby Mae commence to fall off again withherone boy, Lloyd. Aintrone of em fon catch my old Ruthie gal, Here come iy babies now, Big Pauly lookin’ ugly and my Deedy wantin’ somethin’ from her old papa with their two apiece Apauline’s boy is another Shakie, and ‘hat ga’s rame is Kambilongo, then my Deedy’s got Irma and hi old Lanier, Jr Whenkednemedtiemel neloskedat Testored her, Eddie sensed it as she “I remember now the right he told me eshikin Nehen®-Ween'yos reckon Safed talking again. he knowed. I ean hear him laughin’ in le Eddie gon hold up his end?’ I fost ‘Timmie use ogo to Red Bank oncez hat old, deep way of his. He say: Mist ANE month by the Greyhound. But when Bertell, you aint the fox you thinks you ‘Saka told him ‘Bout them night riders, ig. knovr what you doin’ to your hall he started goin’ once a week. Isaac) That man sho surprised me. And he just Esther and Jasper would go with him commence to laughin’ in that old deep sometimes. I was scared for em, ‘spe-* way! Yes, suhl He sure did, He was cially the chillun. But Timmie would always unveiln’ tricks. But Timmie were always say Mama Rubed nem needed the trickster himself, so he knowed all him. He say the Red Bank crackers was the best ones of the trade fvil people. | knowed it already ‘cause “Thenearest we ever ome to breakin’ the Memphis crackers was they cousins. up for good wat when {found out ‘bout Timmie weren't afraid of no crackers his chillun by ther women. To this day, though! Naw, suh! He say the onliest that don't set with me too well. But tell thing he worried over was a fair fight. As you one thing, son, your papa taken care hhe saw it, a white man would kick you of ever last glory-lovin’ one of em. 1 sander the table, then make like a ghost [Continued on Page 78] laughed. He shook his head i seemed to close his memory book. “| ISOM {Continued from Page 3] guess you can’t hold it gin a man if he {akan eave of his own. Time sho did “Lshall never forget the day when Queenesther Alexander come over to the house and told me Timmie were the father of Geneva and Ruth! Lord ha ‘mercy! I couldn't hold nobody’ peace! [ Forgot Iwas a chile of the Heavenly King that day! I picked up the nearest thing { could find-that black skillet Mama Rubed give me when me and Timmie Iarried: Iwas gon bash that woman's brain back to the Great Flood! She just ‘Stood there, to, darin’ mete do it, When | [threw it, she ducked, Then Timmie ‘come runnin’ through the back door! Lord, lit in on him! I called him every- thing but 2 chile of God. I was seein’ stars Iwas so mad!All the chillun come funnin’ when they heard the ruckus “Pretty soon,Timmie got us quieted ddowa, He say Queenesther just wanted toaresomethin’ butshe didn't have no | Cause to be doin’ that. He ray he catied roceries over there all the time. But ‘atiallyT raised all is chilun for it “it look to me like it were just a burden at fist. | couldn't understand what Thad dic so weong that Tere bein’ punished like this. I had enough chillun Ef my own without havin’ to take care of Somebody else's. Ttalked to everybody | bout it, My sisters and my brothers, foo. Course now, Mama nem was dead, So coulda’ talkto them. And, Teouldn’t trust the preacher. Isay I wasi’t gon tll nobody, but Icouldn’t keep i to myself. Twalked these floors a many nights talkin’ to myself. Thea, I remembered What my old mama say-tell Master Jesus! Hel fix i! Then, Tfourd out ‘bout this other chile! A litle boy named (ferro, That one come to mie by the ftopevine, Theard his mama was Louise Eitehouse. A sweeter woman never ‘walked this earth, T know that now. But then, in the heat of my passion over ‘Tammie, T wanted to Kill her! T just couldirt get no peace nowhere! Look like God Himself was off the throne. What could Ido? All these chilun, and ‘couldnt work "My oldest sister, Emma Lee, were in Caro. So, | thought about takin’ the chullun and runnin’ away there. But Emma Lee and Mr. Buck wasn’t doin’ so hot inthem days, And look like she were gettin’ dawn vith a chile near “bout very year, go [vas finished, thought. couldnt stan %0 have Timmie nowhere ound me. was shame, too, for the ther people to know ‘bout my disgrace "Then, one night, [had an evil thought. I wanted to hurt Timmie real bad, Since I Figured he had been a dog to me, I decided to give him what he Aeserved, So, 1 pleted. I thought it ze ‘wouldn't be right if killed him cause of the chillun, But 1 was gon make him burl Leave him with a scar so he mwould’t be ‘trackin’ no more women! | twas gon seald him inthe face while he sleptand slumbered! That would fix him ff unfit I'l never forget. He had {gon to St.Louis again Lookin’ for work. 1 expected him back on a Friday night. When he dide’ show up, [commence to worry, Then,long about midnight, this telegram come, Lord! I thought he were dead sho ‘rough. As it was, he had been shot by the poleece in some dive er futher, He was in the hospital and was Comin’ home soon as they released him. arly Sunday mornin’ hecome in. He had all them bandages ‘round his leg. Lord, he vas so pitiful my heart just went out to him, He was the pitfullest fan you ever saw. When the doctor in ‘Memphis taken the bandages off, Tim- Iie linge He limped for the est of his Iie “Lever got the whole story ‘bout the shootin, but ae near se T can put it together, Timmie was dancin’ in this club, That wae the time of the Great Pro'bition. So, the poleece was breakin’ in this elub tryin’ to find peoples who was drinkie’ Ucka. That broke Timmie Up from dancin’. Lord, that man could tho dance a hole inthe flo. I broke hit ‘up from lick, too, if he ever did have the inclination, “When the Great Pro‘ition ended, the Great Depression had done started Look to me like we was pressed, de- pressed, oppressed and wareed to death in them days! Every time you looked up ‘then, there was some kind of great com= ‘motion goin’ on! White men was Kili inthe South, and Black men was movin’ ta the North. Every day, look to me like somebody alse had done taken to the tracks headin’ to the North! Tha’s when ‘Timmie got the ot foot to try hie luck up there, too. But [believe that shootin’ kee his sprit for that, “By then, my anger had cooled down. Inever did really stop lovin’ Timmie, bt my evil got stirred up in me, Don't never stir up a woman's hell ide, son. Do, you got the very devil and his mama to pay. I Tart then to have lite more patience IRwon'teost you so much inthelong run, ‘specially when it's ‘bout your people. "Well, sul, “sound "bout that time, Mis Louise died without a cent to her name, leavin’ that lil ole sweet boy. Timmie went ‘sound and got enough money 10 bury her, then ke taken ‘Offer in, He become my son and yall’s brother ten years after he was born. To this day, we call him ‘Brother Man’ fuse ne was naar grovm when he be- come yall's brother, ""Them years was so hard, son, I cant fell you! The winters would come os hard as ice. No.let up. My faith went ‘through some changes,hen. Why would God let peoples suffer so? Lite chillun who hadn't done nothin’ but been bora, ‘And they dida’t ask to be born. Why, God, why? You know that old real that they sing inthe honky-tonk? ‘Why was Thorn so Black and blue? Lord, Tse to ask you that daily I just could’ get no peace. Look to me like every time the Sun break through, oop! Here come a coud! ‘kept on inguin’ of God, but 20 answer come, He tint give me no answer for It all these years neither. I stil wonders. But I guess the onliest thing, the bravest thing 2 person can do, is 9 keep on workin’ and lovin’ and servi’ Wwherezoever he can, T found out that happiness aint money. Course now, if my happiness depended on money, | wouldnt be happy eight now! So, I quit {hat tune. [just don't think people is ever gon be happy in this world, don't care what they do, Things don’t got not abit better. They just change. Thats al. You umn 4 comer, move on another street. Make more money, but that aint better, just different. Don't ever get it mixed up, son. You can play like it’s better, but, in ‘Your heat, know the difference. “The onliest thing is my life that got beter wae my own understandin’ of what I was supposed to be doin’ here. 1 (guess that was to have many cullun and bring em up in the knowledge of life. Then [could leave ito em to handle the sir order things ound, gwore upa lite higher, That means not bein’ scared of noth’. Walkin ike a man suppased t9 ‘walk and bein’ proud and in dignity lke “"Most of the Black folks my age missed that part of it, Some of us Couldn't read our name ifwe seed iton a Sign board! Course now, that were not ‘our fault, Everybody know whose fault tht as! But don't you never worry. ‘Those of yall who can read and write row, can walk and talk. Can't aobody do Yyou nothin’, But where you can beat the ther man out is knowin’ what you suppose to be doin’ here!” “Through the windows of the living room, Miss Bertell watched the night Come, Then, she looked atthe clock on the wall above Eddie's head; it was lect and the cord stretched doven the ‘wall, behind the lamp table, tothe sock ci It had been crooked for a while; Someone had broshed against it while ‘getting up or sitting dow. “That clock just ean’ get upright for roth’ Always fallin’ over” she sai. Eadie reached up and adjusted it. "Bout time for Dee #0 get here, isn't it” he asked lazily, ‘Shell be here after awhile. She sho Aid love her pa Miss Mildred joined them. “Whew! Feel like I've been on my feet all day. Where's Lacey?” "Yo husband buen sleep, chile. He be ln here ina minute rubbin’ his belly like [Continued on Page 80]ISOM [Continned from Page 73] Mr, Timmie!” Big Mama laughed. She and Mise Mildred went othe kitchen to tt the table ready for supper. "Though the dining room was large and ew, the family. preferred the kitchen nth it old odors and faded white chairs. More than that the kitchen was preemi- nent since i was the first eating place. ‘The dining room was something new and glittery, only ueeful during holidays and a a typing place for the grandchil den, But tvs the kitchen that held all the best secrets. From the window, Miss Bertel looked across the backyard. She imagined herself Forty years ago, straw hat down over her eyes, arms akimbo, watching the corn come wp. "Last night night before, twenty-four robbers at my loot! I got up, let em in, hit em in the head with rollin” pin! All hid?” Chile dren's voices were all around, echoing across the countryside. Their joy and high wonder rose in waves, then receded and bul again, The days melted, Fusing into new ones which in their turn be- fame the seasons past, The eyesight ged. Weinkles, jolly old play things, rept up around the mouth, dimpled the Cheeks more than once. Yet, to the self, this aging and turning about was an alien matter, a surprise, since it affected only the body, In the felings and crowded, Fluid comers of the mind, you were about the same as you were yesterday except for your longings, which grew Slowly away from things of matter and touch Twenty, thiety, forty, fifty, sixty, sev centy, eighty-an interminable passing— “Happy birthday to you!” But, really, it had nothing to do with speed or rrumbers, One had a tough, private dark ore inside-it was this elusive, subtle, ragnetic,anful thing, weighing and let- {ing go, winning and losing alternately that was ageless. ‘Miss Bertell heard voices outside and car doors slamming. "That must be Dee" she said ab she ran to the door, Miss Mildred took off behind her Opening the door, they saw two black taxie ith red lewering” Orange Mound Cab Co, 485 Carnes Ave, 458-3511 ‘Almadee, Uncle Shaka, Lanier, lrma had all come with bags and more bags Almadee looked! around and saw Big Mama and Mise Mildved: they started hollering while Lanier struggled up the riveway with as many bags as he could ‘The taxis pulled off, Irma, behind Lar ler, dragged her small case. Everybody scrambled over everybody else as Uncle ‘Shaka moved in front “ook st that old gall Good Gawd” He hit the steps and the long concrete porch before anybody else Awonderful new birth control convenience ae nt ‘of medicall available een eon control AUSE Birth Control Fa oc more pleasant and desirable to u Reema Sener eerie See cr) tes Cote ae ee Se [epee sos ses eset aa? a remarkable birth Seiad contarang excuses of manly tested and recommended birth conta protein none eonkecephir unit Nothing dss read {fat Because (NET WT 03502 (00) Because "BIRTH CONTPOY FOAM “Jesus! Uncle Shaka, you don’t have to ul people gettin’ inl” Almadee grum- bled dragging a couple of suitcases be- hind her. Uncle Shaka dropped his bags inthe doorway and picked Big Mama up in his arms. They wept and rejoiced at fonce, Uncle Shaka's big shoulders frasped Miss Berell tightly. “Lotd, Miss Bert | been tryin’ to get chere all day! Lord, elt” He released her find grabbed Miss Mildred around her Inaish, whirling her around. “You still Saly, aint you!” he grinned. Miss Mildeed held on o him, thinking of hove he resembled Mr. Timmie with his long, lanky arms and big thighs. ‘When Shaka released Miss Mildred, Almadee was waiting. She let go her frict in Miss Mildred’s everlasting Sems-always had, even when she was Sinalland Mise Mildeed defended her in fights around the seighborhood. Then too, Almadee was the family actress— tevery moment was a beautiful exaggera tion for her “Tle was the only daddy I had in this world!” Almadee clung to Miss Mildred ts they walked into the living room. ‘Miss Mildred and Lanier put her to bed and soon retucned to the living room where Uncle Shaka, with fra on hi Knee, and Miss Bertell sat by the floor furnace: Uncle Shaka lefthis cigar in the sehtray “Miss Bertell, honey, you sho looks well” Hie held her hand. “feels preity good, Shakie. But don’ know how long Fm gon held up now.” "An, naw!” said Uncle Shaka shaking his head. "Dont be talkin’ ike that! fer Timmie heard ya, he'd beat you good, ‘That wiry he left! So you could stay.” Migs Mildred yelled from the kitchen: “Yall come on!” Uncle Shaka, not much on praying, bowed his head for 2 mo: tment. After awhile he looked up: “Rise Peter! Slay and eat.” They all laughed. “Edaie would sho “nough like tha, ‘Shakie, He wants fost in a hurey!” Uncle Shaka, eves devouring the food In front of im, suis "Can't blame ‘im, ‘specially when you womens got hot pepper steaks, stewed tomatoes, baked potatoes, fot buttered corn bread.” Ashe Ealled out each delicacy, he took a hearty piece, or several, for his plate ‘Collaed greene, butter beans, huh! huh! huh! Sho “nought” Big Mame grinned, filling her plate. "Isho am glad fo see you, boy! Uncle Shaka ate slowly, deliberately, rejoicing. “We got off that train tonight tnd Lewy! Jack Frost stood up and talk fo me like snatueal man” "Go nay from here, Shakie!” Big Mama was glad Uncle Shaka had come. He sliced another piece of corn bread Didn't know Jack Frost could talk thataway in Memphis! "Yes, suh, this come up all of a sud den. The whole day's een sorronful TContinued on Page 84] eeThe Long Awaited ier Nemeth este | Se 1s ete via okesof bead “Wes ue this “Feel Like Makin Love” See feate Tha, instead of ald Atla tic Re recente He wanted to ask what had happened evalua ae JM | ieee bart el ae treet anfideticar i bit Hhatgee ee ar Re SecP none, then she com nee erences her back. [ask her what kind of misery it "You justNN ———————————————————————_—_—SS————— ‘went to every doctor in St.Louis and Eas St Louis! And Finally, we got one to ge ial fixed. Then she come down with theumatism in the knee! Arthritis in the hand! Lord ha mercy, that woman was a walkin“falkin’ hospital. couldn't set sick even if1'da wanted to! [just ask her one day, for the record, Leay, ‘Honey baby, what's your trouble?” She com- mence to scruchin' up her eyes and cryin She gay: Tm ola Teay: That's the Ayia’ truth! Too old for me! [had to let that woman ga! Aint had a steady one Miss Bertell shook her head, sad, Shakie. Real pitiful He declared: "Pitiful 'm the luckiest man this side of Canaan! You know something. Miss Berell, Timmie was luckier than me, though. He got you!” He looked at her tenderly. "Yes, suh! They just plain broke the mold ater you. Inearly had me a gal ike you once, ator [let Mississippi, but | dida’t do right. Never could leave them streets, Wel, the ele gal just stopped waitin: ‘One day, she was gone! Brake my hear, toa!” He said this as if he'd been sur prised that she'd have the gall to leave him. “Aint no woman suppose tobe leavin’ me. But this one sho did! Struck me in the heart! T never forgave that ole gal for 2 "Well, Shakie, a woman can’t wat for ane man all her life. That’ unnatural and foolish!” Miss Mildred set out 3 steaming hot peach cobbler. Lanier helped her clear off the dity dishes "Ws not unnatural ifen the woman love that one man.” "You figure » woman can’t love but fone man in her life?” ‘Uncle Shakes looked at her a5 if she'd cssed, What she was implying down. right embarzassed him. “Why Miss Ber tell Yo surprised at you, takin’ thisa ‘She chuckled, eyeing him closely. “Listen here, Shakie, I lived with yo brother some sixty years, Thats longer than some folks liveon thisearth loved him them sixty years, oo. But Suppose Mr. Timmie had died way f6 Uncle Shaka sighed, relieved some- what. "Ah! Well, that’s different, ain It? lien the man er woman die. You can't love no corpee” “Allright, Shakie, tha’s more than "Yes, alam, It is, But now, suppose your husband dent die. What then? You son tell me i's possible to love another man while your husband yet live?” She said directly: “Why, I believe so Yes, suh, I dol I don’t see why not Timmie loved more than one woman AA, shucks, Shaki, I don’t have to tell yot that. [know Timmie told you al the and I'm just a8 n some, too That's devilment he was up t0, she yeu helped him out You can't fool me ‘cause sho bless God, weren't born yestddy!” Uncle Shake raised his chair back, watching, Mise Bertll with 2 bemused his face. "Miss Bertll dy t0 confess of expression-o you aint gettin’ nothin, is you ‘She was tickled, but kept a face, "What you mean, Shakie? "You know what I mean, Miss Bert! Youaint gettin’ ready to tell me that you vas runnin’ ‘sound on Tiimmie?” Miss Bertell laughed so hard she shook the table. "Eat your cobbler, Sha- Iie, i's gettin’ cold.” Miss Mildred peeped out the kitchen windoy, and it was sleeting. "Well, do Jesus” she shouted. “Loolcat this” They all got up to Took, and no one ever remembered sleet in October. “Well,” Uncle Shaka rubbed his stomach and yawned: "I guess the man lp yonda works in mysterious ways” Miss Mildred joined Elder Lacey in their bedroom. The sheets were warm like the nap of kittens, and the sound of the slet provided a sweet insulation. Bat its triumph wae bitter tothe touch Already, she missed her father and thelr late-night ‘conversations on the tele phone. “Well, Milly Mae, you come by hereand ee your ale pap tomorrov, you hear me?" Ithad been 3 ritual between them, even though she'd sometimes just left the house straight Mr. Timmie was a quiet wore, she recalled. He really wanted a ofthe close by. Since that wes improbable he used hi ilephonelikea young courting man, phoning sons and daughters, ike lovers ll scree the county Big Mama hlfed and puted about the manthiy Bil but he argued that i was his sole Indulgence sine he war neither smoker drinker, nor fornicatr! He roundly bese himoelf and laughed. Sometimes he talked softy as though to conceal from her the fc of cling There were finer when he suceeded foo. Miss Mildred wae sad and happy thinking of him Ineligencs ith can ing. she thought. He had been good man with 9 crooked, lite fingers She sonpresed a Invgh and rolled over in be tumbling ton Elder Lacey "Acrost the balay, Eadie ttched cuton «bunk bed in what had once been the learstow He lay tore, vecling te fanny oi hail tee which he and Mr Timmie had painted when Eddie nasa le boy. ‘The hall ee had once ood sihere the bunk bed ws now, fut Big Mama had tvown tout, Outithad gore one moring othe aging it of satest tnd lumber if one entered the hallway lt night and was caupht wnonvare, the hall tee iooked Iie aman frozen ane aling with amo roping toward the wall Wha {Continued on Page 86) Woodhue. ‘Gonatura wih Woodhue. Fresh. Crsp. Ang me naturehersa alte wld. Woochve One of tne grea fragrances rom Faberge ery woman was born for one other1sOM. | {Continued From Page 85) frightened Eddie more than once. Mr ‘Timmic asked him what should be done, and he suggested that they paint the dark inahogeny stains white and put red Tights on the arms. Mr, Time did net veto the ides, but simply said: “Um. ‘That's an idea, sonny.” x "Mr. Timmie never acted on the sug- ‘At the time when you're most v | sestion until Eddie insisted that together about feminine odor, Norform: she they parte ee white, Ata te, ’s the Internal Deodota é © | they stways have a Christmas tree. Tesh al ee Eddie laughed and cried now, remem- bering how Timmie tried to puzzle Brn Mery icbee te dnt stn and Sree a tlamnhen hekedtogot Be be aah acoatnes ret ene eaten ty el Sera recy hives ee eee ametanaive ial Sra its and al She ened ye aa te seg Ease sentient malvedinby ling iy aiden Gp ral eens haboki eno | "Dut effective protection iter fade ad fst head boat Easy-to-use. Longer lasting easy ind htbes wader owen a b Ware aca tad cei pres Te beer a’ asnaateyeeing tn oe Sth Plate hats you And he Site toot woud gh Me, Tinie me Nett: tn ina showed ae marine aden nes of ar fal You ite fll eee cupall there nowt One Sorte tad found the pres Sears fel beng entarsned ata te ame ee Nn Te wa pone nated toon Wel Ee ear ere gear sere betblctocaty hem’ He walked ete cfd slse ems sete They oked tech oher end see acct ecg te gi rs uous Thee treed of Se ey ariee we hl eee Yay, POGSTangh ae uno pod eset wos rocked ef Whe hams and Uncle Shaka kept roel ast sasrs oft ond inet Sic ter sppedton whey ac La ee, know, Mis Bet Timmie would noe itee edt manent Meetieenterven Sota Shale, whatany of Se bn Da oplt ne eg ee ine fea ec nor Fe oes gene’ mht hen Mifhaboty okie "Wat Reppenel vo Timm, Mis sere wis far an I hnow, Shaki he wae a the Sher tne fost lcd up Ear Cee CR CaM | "You kom, Timmic lived ‘bout as long as he thought he wosld. He be carrer neo toate RAN ed AN tenes man could plot that Kind of | newich es eae Rens as Cy Boe semis NY 185 Feeney pr NORE NODC Monn Nee PSS —_———ISOM ji [Continued from Page 83] thing out othe letter IFTimmie had got 2 good education, [believe he'd oF been a fessor or something lke that. T guess one of the Baddest things that happened to us here was not knowing what the word said. You know man-can nearly bout be « magician ifen he knows that Yes, ma‘am, I believe Timmic had anextra sense. [guess youhave to have't ‘Hen you cart eead the word, He always wanted to read the Bible. Timmie say Be taken up with 2 mulatto dancin’ gil in the square there in St. Louis, and she could read, He sty she were goin’ to one ‘of them fancy gal schools up the country, fand she taught im the rudiments of fendin’ and writin” "Well, live and lear, I guess, Shake. This here mulatto dancin’ gil is « new cone on me! That brother of yoursen wae & sonavabitch” Uncle Shaka laughed: “Well, | guess them, words wont hurt “ie now, Miss Bert” He shook his heed, "That scoun dre is out oF harm's way now "You beter believe t, boy, that wher ever that brother of yourven is, he's Tookin ‘round forthe women.” “That dancin’ al wae just somebody he knew, Miss Bert, Nothin’ big” He cleared his throat The Naomi Sims Collection introduces KALA featuring our new and exclusive HIGH BROW CAP.® “Wigs that look and feel like your straightened hair” Miss Bertell looked at him askance: ‘Whatever she was, she's an ole woman like me now | guess, She can’t hurt or help nothin’ neither "To be absolutely truthful with you, Miss Bert, she was a friend of mine. { introduced her to Timmie, and she be- ‘ame a Friend of hissen, t00 Miss Bertell hunched up in her shoulders; "You's 2 fine man, Shaka Isom. Holdin’ up for Time that way. I always knew he was the real rtter ofthe brothers, With that purty smile of hisses. nobody would ever believe hed ever do anythin" wrong.” Uncle Shake smacked his big thighs, grinning: "Well, guess me and you is the only two people on earth who'll know the real story” “Yes, suh, you right. I reckon you could say we's the only two who'll know the whale story. can just hear Reverend “Mac up there Sunday, tellin’ all the good things. but you know somethin’? A man live as longss Timmie, he bound to have ‘more than one story. You can say this for Tiinmie, He dida’tiry to make like it was allone piace of cloth, He knew some oft was piecy and patched up. So, far as f enon, he didn’t ie “bout nothin’. That's purty good. “The old boy was faiety sound. I guess you could say. After that dancin” gal taught him the alphabet, he commence to writin’ a Ll taste. He written me a collection*s222 4B E, 21s STREET « NEW YORK, N.Y. 10010 letter once from Memphis ater he found fut | wae in St. Louis. Td save him just befo we buried Mama Rubed. He was laying to get me to bear up under the load, 50 he sent ths leer. Whea T was thumbia’ his old Bible, Iseed a copy just like the one he sent me. Some of the words had done been marked through So he sent the rightened copy. He say in the letter Der Brathr, Mi es Bat be rom the young ma of hell ecertine [ reenter the laughter and tears of iy others and sisters. {aan you to tell the shill tat Hee memory of ou suffering wil ok ws ral the oy Tl them ou stoy fal then Ht they ean bo mo bot Fos jightrs No they go fo uo al the vey. Bea ap, old Shaki. because our M: tel wut Evay whatever peace you ct use Kw tha wed ou wl be the ist Bask men to die peu bed. Since fh ome fram Mam. ee wl ony hee tne anethe. If the good Masher ave tay eal in the od. There metry in tur Mod, Shekie. Like Mama Rube taught ti passe around th table, So, hold yours) tndvowing that your bigbrother will longs Your ig bt, Timon Uncle Shaka wipedhis eyes laughicg: “Yeah, Timmie Isom was something all right enought” “The Sunday morning of the funeral was opaque and slick. The sleet had transformed the trees into glossy ole men, stuck like waxen figures ia cut- [indish postures. At whataver angle the wind caught them on Friday, bowing down or tanding up, dropping leaves oF bare armed, that's the way they stayed tubleaus ofa premature winter. Freezing ‘ins ofthe night before made the streets glimmer, churchgoers and mourners ‘walled stealthy on the ice. Qccasion- ally, somebody toppled over and the children laughed. Uncle Shaka laughed, too, saying that Bro. Isom was 2 happy rman. He would want, thea, 2 happy funeral, where the prettiest women and biggest yams were leading the way. He Wwiipered these things our of Miss Ber- tells earshot. Uncle Shaka suid that Bro. om sould even want the prettiest women in front of hi, Uncle Shaka, bis town dear brother, He talked all morning, teasing everybody. "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” Rev. McWhorters voice wassolemn and foreboding in the midet oF the swelling ‘organ music. "Dust thou art and tothe dust etuen- th, back to God, the giver Let us pray Dear Lord and Savior, who first taught tus ow to Say Our Father which art in Heaven, we come this morning ina spirit [Continued on Paze 90] — eee eesWHEN A PROBLEM DRINKER IT’S YOUR PROBLEM. Problem drinkers were responsible for 19,000 highway deaths last year. That is your problem. ‘Because they didi Kill onk themselves, They killed people they loved, peopie they'd never met, people ike you, ‘And they didn't only kill. They crippled and maimed and destroyed lives without actualy taking them, If your friend has a drinking problem, there are many ways you an help him. But first you must help him stay alive. So others may live Ifyou are really his friend, don’t help him drink. Admittedly, you alone probably can't stop a problem drinker from drinking, jut you can discourage it. fhe has been drinking, don't let him drive. Drive him yourself Call a cab. Take his car Keys. Ttwon't be easy, Afterall, he Jur friend, You don't want to hurt mor insult him, But the alternative is pethaps losing him, Everything you think you can't do, you must do, ‘Write Drunk Driver, Box 2345, Rockville, Maryland 20852. ISOM [Continnad from Page 55] of thanksgiving for this our brother, Timothy Israel Isom, who #9 lived be fore men that they could see his good works and glorify his Father who isin Heaven,” Miss Berell smiled to ners, “We wanna thank you, Father, for this sift of your son, who walked your earth fighty-seven years, doin’ good where he could. (Yes, Lor "Be with this bereaved family this mornin, Matter, and help them to know that if there is one among them who don't know you in the departin” oftheir fins, then ght now is the time- Not when death is here and the winter cove: the ground, but se, God, (Now! right now. while the blood ts still runnin warm in the veins, come to Jesus this Torna’, Now, God, we want to pray for {athe livin’ who you have en ft to give fone more chance, these whe Brot Isom have left "We dide’t wake up this mi find our sheets a windin’clth (Naw, we did), nor was we standin’is a remblin’ judgment before thy holy throne of grace (Thank you, Jesus). You woke us ‘op this mornin, but you didn’t have to doit. You give ws one more chance to see the esi’ sun. (Ia gla this mornin’ to fee the risin” sun!) You didn’t have to do it but you did, and we wanna thank you! We wanna thank you, God, for watchin’ over us last night while we slumbered and sometimes slept; we teanna thank you for bein’ a doctor to us ina sick room (Dr Jesus), laveyer for tus im a courtroom (Layer Jesus! Hey, ved the lily of the valley, the bright and mornin’ str. ‘We wanna thank you, suh! We wanna thank you for bein’ our Fiend ll ‘he world to us, a mother for the moth erless a father forthe fatherless (Ob, my Daddy! My Dadey, my Daddy!), ve wanna thank you, Jesus. We wanna thank you for those who desired to come out today, but couldn’, for those who te sick and shet in we would raise up ‘ur voices, Give em strength right now, od! Heal em, Jesus! Make em well Now, God (Novs, Loe, ns when Tm done bowin’ and prayin’ (Say your prayers elded), when I'm done sia and fall, done geting’ up and sufferi’, done (Done, sah!) with the scomful eyes oF men, when Thave said my last say (Holdem up, church!) and done sayin, when {have walked my walk and done walkin’ lived my last day and done livin’ (Take your time!, want you, Master Jesus, my rock in a treary land, to come and cun with me. Run with me, Jesus, all the way across Jordan's stormy banks. And when we get to thoze peary gates, Lwant you to lend ‘mean into thy kingdom where every day mill be Sunday, every month the month ‘of May, every year the year of Jubilee, Flowers will Bloom Forever, and the sun voll ever go do "A Lora Ab, Lord! There, in that great day when well taste unmingled Tove and jay without a tear, bear us over, Lord, over on the other side. This is they humble servants faithful prayer. Amen! (Amen, Reverend, Ament) “First givin’ honor to God (That's he, Reverend!) I just Wanna say that '’m glad to be here today to make witness for Brother Isom. None of us ever know when i’s gone be our last time 0 witness—tomorrow is not pro mised (Lord, aint itso!) And we know not the hour when the son of man ometh! Oh yes, he’s comming back, and wanna be ready. (Sho ‘aough!) I believe inmy heat today that Brother Isom was ead! (Yes, he was! A. lovel Timmie leom met his God a log time age, way down yonde in the eed sol of Mississippi. And we thank the Lord tht he made this hs prayi” ground, Before | have my last say over Brother Timmie, [want his good friend, Brother Tyro Gleeson, to come forward and lead us in song. Yall know Bro her Tmmie loved Dr. Watts! (ves, url) Timmie would sound 3 hymn in President Eisenhower's mouth! (He sho, bless God, would!) Naw, he wasn't sshamed to own the Lard, Brother Tyro, ‘ome on up here and sing for imme. Bro. Gleeson, an old man, walkedslowly down the center aisle to face the waiting congregation. He was well at home, and as he walked, he wept ‘When T have read my title clear to mansions in the sky, Il bid farewell to all my fears and wipe my weepin yes. The congregation joined him and moaned and hummed about mercy Whea it was done, Tyro Gleeson raised his singing voice in question: won. will we meet again, before the roll called?” ‘ Unele Shaka bowed his old head once and then briefly. Eddie Peeboy ced tnd so did Big Mama and Miss Mildred ‘comforted by Elder Lacey. Tyree cried because they did, Many people wept For Bro. som, whose eighty seven years h already become a memory. Then, when twas done, they wiped their weeping tyes and thought about Monday. To morrow was the third Monday in Qc tober This yeartheice hadcomeearly. Hortense Splrs prose teaches English and. Black studies ut Wellesley College in Wllsey, Mass. Ske has a doctorate in English and American literature. TRAVEL [Continued from Page 25] historic La Vit, the eighteenth-centu~ ry residential ares now deed ae gallery and crafts center, and the picturesque King William ares, The city has inetslled an impressive crafts center in the old Ursuline Convent, planned « parkway linking ts five historic missions, crested ‘new ethnic cultural center, mapped out 8 walking tour and marked downtown Streets with their original Spanish colo ial nares “The city Is also redeveloping its 1968 World's Fair site at HemisFair Plaza, completing a new Mexican market and fextersively improving Paseo del Rio, riverside walk ‘Any sightseeing tour of downtown San Antonio should begin oF end at the ‘Alamo. Built originally asa. mission ‘named for San Antonio de Valero, the ‘Alamo we iret located on the west bank of the San Antonio river, In 1835 the Mexican military convert- ed the Alamo into a fortress, and that same year, with 188 rebellious Texane in control, the Alamo wat besieged by Santa Anna’s army of 5,000. Blacks fig lute prominently in the many legends surrounding the storming ofthe Alamo. ‘San Antonio's hotel accommodations include the Hilton Palacio del Rio, St Anthony Hotel, Heliday Inn, Gunter and Manger hotels, as well as numerous moter inns and motels San Antonio Is the real capital of “TexMex” cuisine=chile con’ carne, ESSENCE: way chili mack and, borrowing from the Antec Republic, such delicacies 28 lacs, tachiladas, chicken mole, lamales,tslados and other spicy dishes from south of the border, Austin, 90 miles north of Sen Antonio (next dacr by Texas calculations) isthe ‘capital of the Lone Star State. A portrait OF Black CongresswomanBarbara Jordan, recently unveiled, hangs in the imposing capitol building ‘Austin is the seat of Huston-Tillotson College, 2 predominantly Black institu- tion, and the University of Texas, which has a substantial Black enrollment ‘The Lyndan Baines Johnson Library, located on the university's campus, houses the thiety-sinth president's papers, which document his career from fongressman to senator, majority lead fr vice president and president. ems of freatest interest to Black visitors include documents related to the late president's conversion to and vigorows expousal of ‘Afro-American rights The Johnson ranch lies some 40 miles ‘west of San Antonio on the banks ofthe Pedernalee River near Johnson City, a town founded by some ofthe president's ferebears. 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