Rev. Celeste A. Frazier presents a solo show discussing Freedom and Justice as divine qualities juxtaposed against freedom and justice in America . "My Country Tis of Thee" (America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee) - Wikipedia) is the both the backdrop and the title of her discourse.
Rev. Celeste A. Frazier is a natural-born citizen. Having lived in the United States as her home for over 63 years, she has noticed the hesitancy of many to accept Black people. She shares her life-long exploration of the meaning of freedom. Although there is much propagation that this country supports freedom, equality and justice for all, there is an abundance of suppression, bias and inequity.
Rev. Celeste recognizes Freedom as a spiritual quality graciously given to us by our Creator. Juxtaposing this Truth, she shares the story of Keyon Harold, a 14-year old, who was accosted and wrongfully accused by a White woman of stealing her phone. (Woman accused of attacking teen in NY hotel arrested after fleeing, boy's family speaks out - ABC News (go.com). Celeste questions the young man's emotional freedom as he is now in therapy.
Celeste looks at the hateful events that occurred in Washington, D.C. this week and wonders why the perpetrators felt free to bust out the windows of the Capital and violate precious places where Congress meets. She describes fear as the motivating emotion, not Love.
We share Creativity, another attribute of God, given to us to expand our spirit and gain a greater understanding of ourselves. Celeste shares her own personal challenge with her ego and the instinct to defend or retaliate. She references "A Course in Miracles" (acim.org) which invites us to forgive; but forgiveness may not be delayed while we are on our journey of learning. She indicates that we can take the injury and create a story, presume intentions, create a case and move further into separation - which is the opposite of Freedom and Oneness. She identifies fear as the culprit because the "attack" actually occurs in our minds.
Rev. Celeste questions what she would want to reconcile at her moment of death. She shares the trauma of being a Black woman contemplating the deaths of Breonna Taylor (Shooting of Breonna Taylor - Wikipedia) and Ahmaud Arbery (What We Know About the Shooting Death of Ahmaud Arbery - The New York Times (nytimes.com) while living in a White neighborhood alone.
Exploring isolation and exile, Rev. Celeste references Nelson Mandela (Nelson Mandela - Biographical - NobelPrize.org) and the Dalai Lama (Freedom in Exile - Wikipedia) and recognizes that we can only be free in our minds.
Celeste looks at the word "united" and wonders if she will see her country truly united in her lifetime. Once, she believed it had been achieved when President Barack Obama (Racism During Barack Obama Presidency - Washington Post) was elected, but that served to only stoke the division.
Celeste is grateful for the recent discoveries of loopholes and gaps in justice so those can be resolved.
She recognizes the journey of her soul is to trust and invites us to seek God in each other - all of us!
Rev. Celeste's poem is entitle