It’s Good Enough for Me

~ What if we’re tragically wrong about the good old days? ~

“Those good old days were really something,” says Grandpa. “It was safe to walk the streets at night. Everybody did their fair share of the work. People weren’t confused like they are today.”

“Folk knew who they were and what was expected of them,” says Grandma.

“Loved God and country,” says Grandpa. “America was great back then. Best darn country in the whole world. Folk took care of their families and went to church each Sunday. And oh, the hymns we’d sing! I swear our voices would nearly lift the roof off that old church.”

Give me that old-time religion,

“You got the prettiest dress I ever seen,” says Denise.

Give me that old-time religion,

“It’s my new Sunday best,” says Addie.

Give me that old-time religion,

“Calico and lace is my favorite,” says Cynthia.

It’s good enough for me.

“Ain’t your hair cute!” says Carole.

It will take us all to heaven,

“I wish I had curls like yours,” says Addie.

It will take us all to heaven,

“I ain’t done nothing special to it,” says Cynthia.

It will take us all to heaven,

“Mama says I can invite y’all over for apple pie,” says Denise.

It’s good enough for me.

BOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 15, 1963

Birmingham, Alabama

Church bombing kills four African-American girls, ages 11 to 14, injuring 14 others. No charges were filed against four Ku Klux Klan suspects for over 13 years. It took nearly 40 years for all four to be convicted, largely due to FBI cover-up. Some victims have yet to be compensated.[1]

It’s “good enough” for me …

It’s “good enough” for me.[2]

In memory of       Addie Mae Collins, 14

Denise McNair, 11

Carole Robertson, 14

Cynthia Wesley, 14

Four girls image by A.P., Wikimedia Commons.

Family photo by James Werning family.

[1] “1963 Birmingham Church Bombing Fast Facts,” CNN, 7 September 2022, www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/us/1963-birmingham-church-bombing-fast-facts/index.html .

“16th Street Baptist Church Bombing (1963),” National Park Service, 19 September 2022, www.nps.gov/articles/16thstreetbaptist.htm.

“Woman Still Awaits Compensation from State after Surviving 1963 Birmingham Church Bombing,” by Jay Reeves, Alabama News Network, 15 September 2022, www.alabamanews.net/2022/09/15/woman-still-awaits-compensation-from-state-after-surviving-1963-birmingham-church-bombing/.

[2] “Old Time Religion,” Unattributed, 1873, public domain.