Men Will Be Men: The Galli Report

‘Thankee Jesus! Somebody come ast about Cudjo!’ | [View online]( [Give Now]( Advertisement [The Galli Report]( [Home]( [Podcast]( [Subscribe]( Friday, May 11, 2018 Men Will Be Men And that means they will be attracted to violence. At least that’s the view of two articles I read this week. The first, [“Why Men Love War”]( is actually a blast from the Esquire past, originally published in 1984: The love of war stems from the union, deep in the core of our being between sex and destruction, beauty and horror, love and death. War may be the only way in which most men touch the mythic domains in our soul. It is, for men, at some terrible level, the closest thing to what childbirth is for women: the initiation into the power of life and death. It is like lifting off the corner of the universe and looking at what's underneath. To see war is to see into the dark heart of things, that no-man's-land between life and death, or even beyond. Grab a coffee urn, because this is a long but, to me, fascinating read. The second is by a writer who describes himself like this: I’m highly domestic. … I like holding babies. I don’t really watch sports on TV. I suspect I cry more easily than many men, and I know for a fact I’m more adept and more comfortable discussing my emotions than most. In some very important ways, I’m a successful example of what the women’s movement sought to achieve. … I am the post-patriarchal man. But he also admits, as the title says, [“I am the Type of Man Who Gets into Fist Fights—and Likes It.”]( The article retells a couple of scrapes he was involved in—one because a thug threatened his wife, another as he chased down a thief—and how he’s been processing them. The theme is summarized in the subtitle: “The capacity for violence makes men feel whole. What are they supposed to do about it?” I have to admit that there was something in both of these pieces that resonated deeply with me. I suspect what we men are supposed to do about it is frankly acknowledge this reality in us and then figure out how to channel it to right ends. ‘Thankee Jesus! Somebody come ast about Cudjo!’ The manuscript had been languishing in the archives of Howard University since the 1930s. Though written by Zora Neale Hurston, whose novel Their Eyes Were Watching God is required reading in many high schools and colleges, this manuscript was rejected by publishers. Part of the reason was that, in interviewing Cudjo Lewis, the final slave ship survivor, she refused to edit his dialect because it would not be authentic. For example, a scene from an early conversation: “I want to know who you are and how you came to be a slave; and to what part of Africa do you belong, and how you fared as a slave, and how you have managed as a free man? His head was bowed for a time. Then he lifted his wet face: “Thankee Jesus! Somebody come ast about Cudjo! I want tellee somebody who I is, so maybe dey go in de Afficky soil some day and callee my name and somebody dere say, ‘Yeah, I know Kossula.’ ” Kossula, his original name, had been captured at age 19 by African slave traders, marched to the West African coast, and packed in a ship. He arrived in Alabama in 1860. He worked on the docks, was freed in 1865, and went on living for another 70 years. The whole story of the book and the man, [summarized in this review,]( is found in the new book, [Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo.”](dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1) Those Funny Evangelicals Protestants get faulted for being humorless, but the charge doesn’t hold up well when it comes to one of our subcultures. One interesting thing about evangelicalism is how much we appreciate self-deprecating humor. Back in the day, there was The Wittenburg Door, today there are comedians like John Crist and websites like [The Babylon Bee,]( which sympathetically poke fun at the foibles of evangelical culture. Comedian Susan Isaacs has [written a review,]( with some nice one-liners, of the new Babylon Bee book, [How to Be a Perfect Christian: Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living.](sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1525814293&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=how+to+be+a+perfect+christian&psc=1) Therapy with God Speaking of Susan Isaacs—you’ve probably seen her on Parks and Recreation, among other shows. She’s also the author of Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir. [This video]( gives you a flavor of the humor and poignancy of the book and the author. Grace and peace, [Mark Galli] [Mark Galli] [Mark Galli](mailto:GalliReport@christianitytoday.com) Editor-in-Chief, Christianity Today Advertisement More from Christianity Today [Carrying On After Jesus Is ‘Gone’]( Theology [Carrying On After Jesus Is ‘Gone’]( Jesus’ Ascension seems to happen at a rather inopportune time. Wendy Alsup [Read More]( [Why Turkey Is Accusing an American Pastor of Terrorism]( [Quick to Listen]( [Why Turkey Is Accusing an American Pastor of Terrorism]( Here's the geopolitical context that’s landed this minister in prison. CT Editors [Read More]( [Christianity Today's Founder Was No Figurehead]( Behind the Scenes [Christianity Today's Founder Was No Figurehead]( To glimpse Graham's dynamic leadership style, look no further than his founding of Christianity Today magazine. 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