Tomorrow I get to go visit Mount Zion Baptist Church in downtown Asheville. It’s an activity for my Diversity in Education class at WCU. We have to go to an event where we are the minority. It sounds insulting…
“We’re so glad you came to worship with us this morning. What brings you to Mount Zion today?”
“Well, my class full of mostly white teacher wannabes wanted me to come down and see what it’s like to be a minority. So I’m here! I’m a minority!”
That sounds SO BAD. The truth is, I’ve always wanted to visit this church. I love the worship style of African American congregations. My kids are going with me. Not to see the show. Not to “be the minority” either. But to dive in to a worship experience with a genuine, loving heart.
So I was looking up directions and came across Google’s street view of this beautiful old church:
Mount Zion Baptist Church - beautiful buildings - Wires courtesy of the City of Asheville and serving utilities.
Yeah so…. I’m embarrassed. It’s the wires. The beautiful architecture, replete with rich history and a heritage of a struggling people are still bound by the cables of discrimination. We need to get this cleaned up. I hate wires in general, but to have them mar such a public building, such a historical site, is disgraceful. DISGRACEFUL. On Monday a letter to the government of Asheville goes out. It’s not much, but it’s something.
Tags: politics
Yes this is SUCH a beautiful building. That’s quite an assignment that you have been given. Please let us know how you enjoy your time at worship.
I had a wonderful time!
From the outside, the wires are not as unsightly as they are in the Google Street View. I suspect it’s because you’re below them a good bit.
The service was exciting and lively, and we received a very warm welcome. I don’t think my kids were used to such a long service, but they stayed mostly attentive anyway, probably due to the very lively sermon!
I still have to reflect on the experience and figure out what I can take from it into a classroom – that’s part of the assignment. But I do think we will occasionally visit this Church.