Chapter 4

GOD LOVES ME TOO! FINDING EVERYDAY SACREDNESS

Chapter 4 focuses on a key concept in the book, everyday sacredness, that the writer coined to describe how many young Black people who shared their stories understand their individual and collective experiences navigating society as well as their relationship with God. Fueled by self-acceptance and belief in their own intrinsic value, everyday sacredness means individuals are better empowered and equipped to embrace unconditional self-love. Within the book’s context, everyday sacredness reflects choices young Black people make to question and, when necessary, reject aspects of organized religion they consider marginalizing and oppressive. Moreover, it means replacing such beliefs and practices with more beneficial ones. By doing so, individuals are not typically running away from the Church, but rather running toward spirituality (including those dimensions of religion they deem relevant). In addition to presenting ten tenets of this ethos, the life and experiences of Riley are used as an exemplar of everyday sacredness.

Exercise: Everyday Sacredness and Nina Simone (“Ain't Got No/I Got Life”)

This is a classroom activity designed to teach students the fundamentals of content analysis as an analytical approach that can be used to examine musical lyrics that illustrate everyday sacredness. Students are expected to have read Chapter 4 in preparation for this class. The initial analysis can be completed individually, followed by a class discussion of emergent themes. Content analysis is a qualitative research technique for making inferences from “texts.” It reflects a structured process to identify themes and patterns from words in books, songs, and newspaper articles. Ask students to listen to both versions of the song, review the lyrics, and answer the questions below. Encourage them to underline words and phrases that “emerge” from the lyrics that convey the singer’s objective(s).

Key take-a-ways of the exercise are to discuss Simone’s understanding of what is important in life. The lyrics before the refrain focus largely on the material world, people, and things society suggests are important and valuable. Also, these are things that are “outside” the singer and that she does not possess (i.e., that other people can take from her). The refrain reflects an “epiphany” after which Simone focuses on those things she realizes are really important – and that she possesses. Moreover, these invaluable items are inside (i.e., a part of) the songstress – the most valuable being her very life (that no one can take away). The tone and tempo differ before and after the refrain as well. Also, the diverse lyrics represent the varied ways in which people can be affected by society and the varied ways they can appreciate their intrinsic value (note: It is reported that Simone never sang the song the same way twice). The exercise is designed to help students understand that Simone’s message of liberation, self-love and appreciation of life is at the heart of everyday sacredness.

Ain't Got No/I Got Life by Nina Simone (1969)(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5jI9I03q8E)(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMHlvU6inNE)

Ain't got no home, ain't got no shoes;
Ain't got no money, ain't got no class
Ain't got no skirts, ain't got no sweater;
Ain't got no perfume, ain't got no bed,
Ain't got no mind.

Ain't got no mother, ain't got no culture;
Ain't got no friends, ain't got no schooling
Ain't got no love, ain't got no name;
Ain't got no ticket, ain't got no token,
Ain't got no God. 

[Refrain]
What have I got? Why am I alive anyway?
Yeah, what have I got, nobody can take away?

Got my hair, got my head; Got my brains, got my ears
Got my eyes, got my nose; Got my mouth, I got my smile.
I got my tongue, got my chin; Got my neck, got my boobs.

Got my heart, got my soul; Got my back, I got my sex.
I got my arms, got my hands; Got my fingers, Got my legs
Got my feet, got my toes; Got my liver, Got my blood.
I've got life, I've got my freedom. I've got life.

I've got life, and I'm gonna keep it.
I've got life, and nobody's gonna take it away…I've got life.

Discussion Prompts

1. After listening to the two versions of “Ain't Got No/I Got Life,”

1. What is/are the message(s) in the song? What words, phrases, or sounds support your observations?
2. How did you feel as you listened? What did you think as you listened? Why?
3. Discuss why some of the lyrics differ in the two versions of the song?
4. How is the concept "everyday sacredness" evident in the song? Provide examples.

2. Define the theme “Structure versus Agency.” What do the two concepts mean? Discuss ways in which everyday sacredness reflects “agency over structure” for the young Black persons in the book.
3. Discuss Riley’s life as an example of everyday sacredness. What are some of his experiences that illustrate features of everyday sacredness?
4. Discuss ways in which Riley’s life represents dimensions of the song, “Ain't Got No/I Got Life.” Provide examples. Discuss how self-reflection and self-love are apparent in Riley’s narrative. Provide examples.

Additional Reading and Documentary Resources for Chapter 4:

Gay Liberation Front Platform Statement, December 2, 1970 (Statement of Purpose) https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/pioneerlife/id/26026

Scott, James C. 1984. Weapons of the Weak: Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance. New Haven: Yale University Press.