this weekend in kansas city has been busy. yesterday several of us left to go downtown to tour two museums, jazz and the negro leagues. on the way constance blew out a tire, so we stood on the side of a very busy intertstate while changing the tire. we finally got down there and check out the exhibits. as a fan of the game, the negro leagues museum was fantastic. they had many artifacts, as well as displays on how painful the racism was to the players and the communities. one quote i loved was how the folk who attended the african-american games dressed up, while those who went to anglo games dressed like they were “raking leaves.”
i found a great josh gibson poster, which asked the question, “is josh gibson the black babe ruth? or is babe ruth the white josh gibson?” gibson slammed hundreds of home runs that were never recorded. satchel paige is regarded as one of the best pitchers ever, but of course we don’t have all of his records either. there would have been several knocks against these players, #1 being the competition against which they played. but since that competition was banned for more than 50 years from the majors, who’s to say they wouldn’t have better numbers if allowed to play at wrigley field or yankee stadium? the jazz museum was nowhere near as good. how does one display jazz anyway, ella fitzgerald’s dress cannot express her pain like her voice can.
after the museums we walked to arthur bryant’s bar-be-que. we got there at 1:00, waited in line 30 minutes before ordering (pulled pork sandwich, beans, fries, jumbo lemonade, in case you’re wondering). it was amazing– so much better than anything i have ever eaten. as we left folk were still queueing outside. i could barely walk back to the car! today after church we ate at the peach tree restaurant, again just amazing. it was 2:00 and brunch was still being offered. two huge plates later, i waddled out. needless to say i had afternoon naps yesterday and today!
at the jazz museum there is a quote from legendary band leader and composer duke ellington, saying that jazz is “the trunk of the soul.” i love the quote– it’s a great use of language, just as jazz itself is a great use of sound and emotion. but judging from the weekend activities– broken down by the side of the road, walking through history, at church (a future post), around the table– i’d say fellowship with good friends is “the trunk of the soul” too.