APOLOGY

I OWE AN APOLOGY TO THOSE AMONG BLACK PEOPLE WHOM I HAVE PREVIOUSLY CRITICIZED FOR NOT LIKING "THE BLUES," OR SPIRITUALS. WHILE LISTENING TO JOHN LEE HOOKER, JUST NOW, IT HIT ME THAT BLUES AND SPIRITUALS MUST BE FELT DEEPLY IN YOUR SOUL; THAT LIKING EITHER IS NOT A VOLITIONAL ACT. IT IS AUTOMATIC, AUTONOMOUS, PRIMAL, AUTOCHTHONOUS NOT RACIAL NOR INTELLECTUAL. IT IS, THEY ARE, SPIRITUAL. UNLESS ONE IS "DOOMED BY THE BLUES," TO QUOTE JOHN LEE HOOKER, ONE CANNOT KNOW. ONE CANNOT SENSE, CANNOT SYNTHESIZE THEIR TRIBUTE.