Music in My Heart: My Journey with Melody

Melody and I decide to go to the Emancipation Celebration, mostly so that we can hang out with her cousin, Val. Poppa borrows’ Melody’s dad’s station wagon back in so we can all go together. When we all pile into the backseat, I’m surprised to find out we’re facing backward. We’re looking at the cars behind us. It seems weird at first, but then Melody and Val start waving at the drivers. When we come to a stoplight, we see if we can make them wave back at us. Val’s mom, Cousin Tish, is sitting beside Big Momma in the middle seat, and Cousin Charles is sitting beside Poppa.

Soon, the sound of the road beneath our wheels change, and I see the green rails of a large bridge on the other side. My stomach wobbles. I’m afraid of bridges. I ask what it is, and Melody explains we’re going over the Ambassador Bridge. It takes us across the river to Canada. Val clutches my arm. Melody had told me that Val and her family moved to Detroit a year ago, so this might be her first time going across a big bridge, too. That makes me feel a bit better.

By the time we’re over the bridge, we are in Canada. I can’t believe I crossed over to another country in just a few minutes. The traffic around the celebration is crazy. We follow a long line of cars toward Jackson Park. Cousin Charles says he’s never seen anything like it. He read there might be up to a quarter million people here this weekend.

Somehow, we manage to find parking, among what looks like a thousand parked cars. Cousin Charles opens the door for us at the back of the car. He has a mustache and a beard, just like Poppa, but he’s skinny and tall.

After we all pile out of the car, Poppa waves to Cousin Charles and says that he can take him to get some of his favorite barbecued ribs. But Big Momma stops him. The parade is about to start, and we are not going to get separated in the crowd. So, we all stick together and head off. On our way, following the sounds of the cheering which will lead us to the parade.

In the parade, a flat filled with young women passes us, and Melody says that they’re the Miss Sepia beauty contestants. They’re all wearing elegant dresses and fancy, poufy hairdos. Melody says Miss International Sepia is a big beauty contest that happens every year here. And it’s just for black contestants. There are other contestants here at the festival, too, even a talent show. Dwayne said that The Supremes performed here once. Before they signed with Motown, back when they were called The Primettes.

I had heard of The Supremes before, but I can’t remember any of the songs they sang. Melody continues and sighs that it’s too bad that we’re all too young to enter. But I’m relieved. I can’t imagine performing in front of all of these people.

After the beauty contestants pass, a marching band comes into view. It’s so loud that I put my hands over my ears. But my foot taps with the drumbeat, and I noticed Melody’s does, too. More bands, and other people wave to us from the floats. There’s so much energy here. I’m sad when the last vehicle disappears in the distance and the parade comes to an end.

But Poppa doesn’t seem sad. He and Charles are ready for those ribs. But Big Momma says that now it’s time for church service. It’s Spiritual and Gospel Day at the festival. There’s a reverend from Atlanta speaking at three, and she wants to make sure we can all get close to the stage. So when Big Momma sets off, we follow her like ducklings.

We pass craft booths and food stamps, and I even see a pet show in the distance. A Big Momma pushes us on towards a big stage. There must be a thousand people standing on the grassy lawn in front of the stage. Big Momma shoots a look over to Poppa that says that she told him so.

We’re nowhere near the stage, but when the reverend starts to speak, we can hear his clear voice being piped out over the speakers. He starts to talk about prejudice and civil rights. He says no force in the world can stand in the way of black people’s God-given freedom. Murmurs of approval ripple through the crowd.

But the reverend continues on about progress in the future, but I start to think about Al and Josephine. I think about all the people standing in the way of their performance hall and their future. Melody sees the look on my face and ask me what’s wrong. When I tell her, her own mouth drops. She says she keeps thinking about them, too. She wishes they could open a performance hall somewhere else so they could keep playing their music.

When the sermon ends, Poppa finally says that we can get those ribs. Maybe this year, he can finally figure out what’s Mr. Walter Perry’s secret barbecue sauce. I ask who Walter Perry is, and Melody tells me that he started the festival a long time ago. And Poppa says the barbecue sauce is his recipe—a top-secret recipe. Suddenly, Melody’s stomach growls loud. She looks a Big Momma and asks if we can get ribs, too. Big Momma nods and says that we can all go.

The barbecue sauce is rich and tangy, and it drips onto my chin more than once. While we eat the ribs, we watch a motorcycle race in reverse. The motorcycles are creeping along the lawn, barely moving at all. Melody asks what the point of it is, and Poppa says the winner is the driver who drives the slowest. Val laughs. This race could take a while.

When it’s time for the evening choir service, I watch Val sway in time to the music. She holds hands with Cousin Tish, and sings along with a few of the gospel songs she knows. I can tell she loves music as much as Melody and I do. We let the music fill us up, and I start to feel more hopeful about Al and Josephine, too. Music always makes me feel better. It’s like a magic bandage.

When the choir is finished, I put my hand over my mouth to stifle a yawn. It’s late, but Big Momma says she wants to stick around longer to hear a speaker she calls Prophet Jones.

After a lot of waiting, the sun starts to set, and Poppa says we should probably start going back to the car. But then something interesting happens. A boy climbs on stage and walks to the microphone. He has to stand on tiptoe to reach it. He’s probably only six or seven. And then he starts to sing. I don’t know the song, but he sings really well. The crowd claps and cheers.

Big Momma laughs and says that Prophet Jones isn’t as old as she thought he was going to be. Melody asks if that’s really him, and Big Momma chuckles and says that it’s just a little boy who saw the opportunity to shine. Melody shoots me a look, and then she pulls Val and me aside. Should we perform something?

Nerves run through my chest. Here? Melody says there’s a piano on stage, and like Big Momma said, this could be our chance to shine. Maybe we’ll even be discovered by a talent scout, like The Supremes were.

Val looks nervous, but she says it would be better than waiting out here. That is true, and I feel less sleepy now. But what would be even perform? Melody thinks for a second, and then says that me and her do know a couple of the same songs.