National English Cathedrals Conference

Written by Fr. Azariah France-Williams

I recently had the joy of being invited to share at the National English Cathedrals conference on the theme of racial justice and deeper inclusion. The chair of that session was the Manchester cathedral dean Revd Rogers Govender, he hosted the session and lead a robust panel discussion afterwards.

I deliberately wore a baseball cap to prompt reaction before I spoke. Then I got up and shared this poem based on an experience I had had many years before. The poem was well received, and led to interesting conversation, and I share it with you now.
 

Cat in the Hat

I approach moment, feeling tight,

feeling loose, looking for rhymes,

as a black Dr Suess.

I remember my school trip to

York Minister one year,

Outside the building was beautiful,

inside imposing, and austere.

I had had a bad hair cut,

so being conscious of myself,

That day I had collected my hat

off of the shelf.

I was the black boy cat,

in the black boy hat,

I entered the minster

excited with my peers.

A thick set white man approached

me, reddening in the ears.

‘Sorry you can’t wear that hat

in here.’

Me- Owww… as rouge flooded my cheeks,

I bit my lip willing my eyes not to leak..

My hat was my protection,

My shield against, scorn.

His challenge left me divided

embarrassed and torn.

As I entered Gods house my teenage

worries amplified,

The man found a shy guy, who

wanted to hide.

It was God’s house that did not include

me, there was a criteria, I could not meet.

My bad hair cut, a bad hair day,

I was left out of the place, I went to pray.

The Cat in the Hat, left the minister

dejected,

The removal of the hat let to the removal

of self, I felt rejected, and put myself on the shelf.

So wearing this hat, is to include that

little guy, in God we are all accepted,

I want to counter the lie.

So wear your hat, your hood,

it doesn’t mean your bad or good,

You are not some monster cloaked in sin.

It is just an alternative form of vestment

some of us, choose to robe in.

A.D.A France-Williams  2022