Leaning on the shield

Leaning on the shield

“Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and pierce me through and make sport of me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.”                                                  1 Samuel 31:4

 By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

      The expression, “Leaning on the shield,” has I’m sure many different meanings to several different fraternal orders and organizations as well as their sister affiliations. Be-that-as-it- may I’m sure that the crux of the matter is for help, safety and the reassurance of trust.

As this country prepares to celebrate its day of independence, I can’t help but reflect on how America has leaned so heavily and dependently upon her shield of protection that was brought to this country in chains aboard ships stacked as cargo like sardines in a can in conditions not fit for swine.

From that mournful day to this one, America has yet to recognize this human shield as a worthy emblem or as an ornamental badge of courage or identifying insignia for the services rendered in the continual viability of this country.

In every war or enemy that has come against America- from without and from within-these human shields did not run, hide or scurry off to some distant country like trader dogs with tails tucked cowardly between their legs. Instead, they stood and are still standing in opposition to all comers who wish to bring America to her knees.

These human shields of color whose pigmentation, because of the ways they were treated should have blocked out; “ O say can you see by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming…,

Yet, in all their show of affection for this country they were cut off from observation and their great deeds are still being hidden from her celebrated history.

As defenders of a hostile home land that we didn’t ask to come to nor to give up our African citizenship  to be a part of. One might have drawn the conclusion based on our treatment here,  that we reneged on a promise to build this country for free and if not we and all of our offspring would die trying!

Our shelter, that was forced upon us for the work given in the cultivation of this place to all its prominence hewn out of a wilderness of, “No you can’t Nword and no Nword you never will,” has been in a house of hell and a bed of thorns.

Protection for us from someone or some things, from a threat, peril, or unpleasant familiarity has not been found in the shelter of a loving, protective and welcoming homeland; it has been given in the form of a pie taken from a scene in book and the movie The Help; if you are not familiar with this reference- the pie was made from SugarHoneyIceTea!

As I mull over our role in this country I equate it with the likeness of the definition to the word SHIELD and to the synonyms associated with it.  I would venture to say that we can also find comfort in the synonym armor.

To really feel the comfort level of the word armor I need to add bearer along with it; subsequently we have the word armor bearer.

The armor bearer was a person responsible for the care of a king, officer or other leader. His job was to refresh, protect and assist his officer. To which I do believe that the American Black people have performed admirably. The drawback is that we have only received the hind parts of a donkey to suffice for our efforts.

The obsolete definition or synonym for shield is: forbid. I can honestly say and prayerfully submit that if we continue to follow the same paths of our yesteryears, we will be a forbidden access to a dream of precious people..

 HE ALSO FELL ON HIS SWORD AND DIED WITH HIM