Transcript
A (0:00)
On today's episode of I didn't know, maybe you didn't either. Let's talk about Easter. Now, for most folks, Easter is about three things. Jesus, bunny rabbits with candy. And it's probably the only time all year you buy some dress clothes for church. And if you're from the south, it's probably pastel colors on that Steve Harvey suit with the same color gator Stacey Adams to match.
B (0:22)
I didn't know, maybe you didn't need. I didn't know, I didn't know maybe you didn't need. I didn't know, I didn't know, maybe you didn' I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know.
A (0:34)
But see, for our ancestors, Easter wasn't just about dressing up and being fresher than the border health and hunting Easter eggs. Back in the day, Easter was like the original We Gon Be alright anthem. It was hope in the middle of chaos. Imagine being enslaved, working sunrise to sunset, but still holding on to the story of Jesus rising again. Now that's some real faith. It might be smaller than a mustard seed. It was the thought of if Jesus could rol that stone away. Come on, somebody. Huh? Then we can roll this oppression off our backs too. Can I get a amen? And had you ever heard of Hush Harbors? Let me tell you about them. Hush Harbors were like the underground clubs of the enslavement period. Like them silent parties, but they didn't have no colorful headsets. And instead of the DJ dropping bangers, you had somebody in the corner whispering Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. Cause they had to keep it low key because if massacre, it's a rap. So they'd head out to the wood, set up shop and worship in secret hush harbors. They'd even hang up wet blankets to keep the sound from traveling. Yeah, Soundproof in the woods. Now how innovative is that? They didn't need no beats by Dre. Our ancestors invented noise cancellation. But these Hush harbors, they weren't just about worship. Oh, nah. They were about rebellion. See, they'd sing songs like Weed in the Water. Weeee. Which was basically the first G. Yes. Cause that was cold. For hey you, Harriet said meet her by the river. And don't forget to pack light. These folks turned praise into power, hymns into hope. And today that same energy lives in every gospel choir and every preacher who makes you say Shabbato. Elsa. And we can't forget about the Easter fit tradition. The pastels with the shoes to match. I wasn't capping about that, but that goes back to the enslavement periods as well. After emancipation, newly freed black folks would pull up to church in their finest fits. They wasn't just dressing for God. They were dressing to let the world know I'm free and I look good. That's why to this day we don't play bout dem easta fits. Some folks be out here treating Easter like the Met Gala. Big hats, pastel suits, had to put some armor all on them shoes cause I can see my reflection in them Jones. It's like a Runway show with a praise break in the middle. And no, Easter ain't the only holiday with roots in the struggle. We talked about Juneteenth in previous seasons. That's when we celebrate freedom 2. Two years after freedom was supposed to happen. Can you imagine being two years late to your own free party? I like your job, hitting you up and saying, hey, you got PTO that you didn't use back in 2023. Another holiday is Kwanzaa, where we honor African traditions and principles like unity and self determination. If Easter is the resurrection, Juneteenth is the graduation, and then Kwanzaa is like the family reunion. It's all connected holidays rooted in freedom and resilience. So this year, when you're stepping clean and your Easter's best, remember, you're not just celebrating a holiday. You're honoring a legacy. You're carrying forward the spirit of those hush harbors, the fight for freedom and the hope that no matter how low we get, we always rise again. And I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either.