A Bridge to the Crucifixion: The Old Preacher’s ‘My Jesus’

• In Event: Building Bridges of Community: Cultural Renderings of the Gospel Message

Abstract

Do we really “own” the crucifixion? Have we considered, how, in the midst of this horrible death, that Jesus is “my Jesus?” From the African-American perspective, James Weldon Johnson’s “The Crucifixion” speaks of Jesus’ death through the emotional, rhythmic poetry of the old preacher. The preacher describes his Savior and takes ownership of that Savior’s sacrifice: “Jesus, my gentle Jesus. . . my burdened Jesus. . . my sorrowing Jesus. . .my precious Jesus. . . my lamb-like Jesus. . .my lonesome Jesus.” Hearing and speaking the literature that has its foundation in the African American tradition presents us with a bridging opportunity to contemplate and embrace a different cultural expression of the Christian faith—one that states affirmatively: Jesus is mine!

Author

• Alison English, Vanguard Univ of Southern California