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| A Haircut From Oprah's Daddy |
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"Get a haircut from Vernon Winfrey," for weeks that thought kept going through my head--and it frightened me. I am a white guy and I had never had a haircut in a black barber shop. Mr. Winfrey is Oprah Winfrey's father and runs a barber shop in East Nashville.
Deciding to act on this strange "leading," I called Winfrey's Barber Shop. He answered. I asked how much a haircut was. He said ten dollars. I said I would be there soon. I got on the Internet, found the directions, then drove to his shop. As I turned on Vernon Winfrey Avenue, my throat felt dry. I saw the shop. There was Mr. Winfrey standing outside with several other men. I felt panic and drove out of the neighborhood. The next morning I got a haircut at my usual place.
"At least I tried," I thought. But I knew--I had "chickened out"--and was going to have to go back when my hair grew out. So why was I so afraid? I didn't fear physical harm--although I remembered how those courageous black people who integrated lunch counters in the 1950's were treated--(those folks were real heroes). But all I was being asked to do was get a hair cut in the 21st Century.
A few weeks later, I drove to his shop again, with a determination to succeed. Fortunately, no one was standing outside when I got there. There was a parking space by the door. I jumped out and rushed into the shop, before I could think about what I was doing.
My abrupt entry startled me. The building was small. Three barber chairs were to my right and Vernon was standing behind the first one cutting a child's hair. Five men were in the waiting area.
I glanced around and then stared at Mr. Winfrey who had stopped cutting and was staring back at me. No one spoke. I could feel my heart pounding.
Finally I got some words out: "I, uh, would, uh, (pause) like to, uh, get a haircut."
"Sure, take a seat," he replied.
"I've got to be somewhere in an hour," I said. "Can you get me before then?"
"I can't get you in an hour," he said.
Whew, did I feel relieved--for about two seconds--until the thought poped in my head, "Ask if he can get to you tomorrow." I got those words out and Vernon said tomorrow would be better for him because he wouldn't be so crowded. "Ok," I said, "See you tomorrow."
The next day I walked in and sat down. Vernon was cutting a young man's hair and talking with another gentleman. Another barber was cutting hair in the third chair. I flipped through a magazine and waited.
"I can get you next," Mr. Winfrey said. In a few moments the clippers were going and we were engaged in pleasant conversation. I noticed an old newspaper on the wall with a huge headline that read: "Vernon Winfrey--# 1 Barber in Tennessee."
I asked: "Were you really the best barber in Tennessee?" He chuckled. Then I noticed the masthead of the newspaper. It read: "Hillbilly News."
"A friend brought me that from Gatlinburg, Tennessee," he said.
Several people came in: a former Nashville city council member, a preacher who works with drug addicts, a current city council member, a lawyer, and a retired Fisk University professor. I quietly enjoyed their conversation so much I didn't even notice the time.
Mr. Winfrey spent about an hour on my haircut. Toward the end he whispered: "When I first moved my shop here, this was a white neighborhood. I had one white man who started coming to me and I cut his hair for many years, even after the neighborhood changed."
I was pleased with my haircut and with the time and attention Mr. Winfrey devoted to me. I really enjoyed the people. And I couldn't have asked to be treated any better. It was a wonderful experience.
So why was I afraid to get a haircut with a college professor, city council members, a preacher, and a lawyer? Could it be that the "color line" still plagues us in 21st Century America? |
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| To add a comment to "A Haircut From Oprah's Daddy" |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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| Maybe its a 21st century America thing that's still hanging around. But the real question is - do you consider it to be a 21st century thing in your life? |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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| My Dear Brother Steve....I really do look forward to your blogs here on MyChurch, because you always post some very interesting topics of discussion (smile)....Being a black women in this here 21st Century, I have discovered that some things just don't change, for *some people*. Without JESUS being the Lord of our lives, and living daily in our hearts, I'm sure that the *color line* would plague many of God's children. However, I'm just so grateful to God that the *color line* has no bearing on me...All I want to see in people is Jesus....You can be white, black, yellow, blue....(smile)....whatever....I celebrate Jesus. Some of the sweetest people I know, and whom God has linked me up with spiritually are white people. My dear brother in the Lord, I am so glad that you had the courage to follow your heart....overcome your fears.....and see *first hand*....what it would be like to sit in a black mans barbar shop.....My friend, always follow your heart....The bible says that the steps of a good man....a righteous man are ordered by the Lord....and thanks be to God, He always causes us to triumph in Him! You got the victory.....You overcame *your* fears.....and now *you* have the power to move forward.....And yes, it can be done....even in this 21st Century, through Jesus Christ our Lord! |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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God is showing you that your "uncomfortableness" -whatever the reason is- is unjustified.
He is calling you to trust Him in whatever He askes you to do.
Usually what I find is that He is planning something for you and testing to see if you trust Him first. This means that whatever is coming up will be something you never in your wildest dreams thought you could do. Phill 4:13
Can't wait to hear what it is!! |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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G.R.: Good point. Society is made up of us as individuals. Before I can fix society, I must fix myself. I make continual efforts in my daily life to reach out, embrace, fellowship with, and assist the people that society says I don't need to be around. |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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| Mar Jay: Sometimes we must be intentional and intentionally reach out and make personal friendships with those outside of our personal circle or else we are silently enforcing the color line. It sounds like you are doing that. Keep it up. |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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| Hudnall: Great comment. God is calling us all to leave our confort zones and to radically obey and follow Him. |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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| And apodemo, His is "every kindred and every tribe." He is not content for us to stay with "our own." |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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| LOL, that was quite an experience! Hard to realize we still carry old stereo types even today. |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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| Thanks, Shirley. |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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| Good points, Lara. |
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| April 05, 2008 |
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You know Steve, I've really noticed that sometimes God asks us to do things we just don't get, if only to make sure we know we're on the same page. The wierd thing is, sometimes its stuff we would have no problem doing any other time, but when God asks us, its almost as though we get scared of it. For me its been as simple as telling someone to "have a blessed day" or doing a simple act of kindness. I think its just the fear of the unknown most of the time. Sort of like "Uh oh..whats God gonna do THIS time if I do this?!" |
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| April 06, 2008 |
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Exactly, Jeremiah. It is oftentimes a test of our obedience. |
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