Comic Drama Characters: 4 male, 10 female Compelete interior Self-anointed Harlem store front preacher Margaret Alexander is the leader of her flock and about to see her world crumble. Son David her church organist, is set on following in the footsteps of his father, jazz musician Luke. When the errant husband and father comes home to die, Sister Margaret finds herself losing everything but coming to terms with her own true sense of faith. From the author of Blues for Mr.

From one of the most brilliant writers of the twentieth century—a masterpiece of the modern American theater: a play about faith and family, about the gulf between black men and black women and black fathers and black sons. "[Baldwin] uses words as the sea uses waves." —Langston Hughes In his first work for the theater, James Baldwin brought all the fervor and majestic rhetoric of the storefront churches of his childhood along with an unwavering awareness of the price those churches exacted from their worshipers. For years Sister Margaret Alexander has moved her Harlem congregation with a mixture of personal charisma and ferocious piety. But when Margaret's estranged husband, a scapegrace jazz musician, comes home to die, she is in danger of losing both her standing in the church and the son she has tried to keep on the godly path.

Play about faith and family and the gulf between black men and black women.

As the First Lady of Zion Hill, Rachel is Pastor Lester Adams's wife - and she's currently pregnant. Unfortunately, so is Lester's mistress. Rachel has a few choice answers for exactly where mistress Mary can go. As these expectant moms do battle, hostilities erupt into a drama unlike anything Zion Hill has ever seen. Rachel contemplates everything from transferring her lifelong church membership to packing up and leaving Lester, but she knows deep down God is calling her to forgiveness.

In order for twenty-first century readers to properly understand Revelation, we have to look at it through first century eyes. Their understanding of the book frames our understanding. Start with the assumption that the last book of the Bible is exactly what it purports to be - a revelation, not a mystery. Add to that assumption the fact that it was written by a first century author and that it was originally read by first century readers who were expected to understand and obey the message contained in it. Take into consideration their first century frame-of-reference and the authors familiarity with the Old Testament. Wrap that all up in the popular apocalyptic literary genre of its day with its pervasive use of symbolism. That mixture of elements is what gave rise to the Book of Revelation.

In 2004, Gallup polls showed that 42 percent of Americans supported gay marriage. Eight years later, by the end of 2012, support had jumped to 53 percent. Public opinion seemed to change at a rapid pace, almost overnight. How did it shift so quickly? The answer is: the media. In the same way that a small cadre of enthusiastic supporters in the amen corner of a church agrees with the preacher's every utterance from the pulpit, the media have been consistent champions for gay marriage and lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender (LGBT) causes. Through a carefully orchestrated system of selective reporting, slanted coverage and rewards and punishments, national media have gradually nudged public opinion in the direction of approval of gay marriage. Amen Corner: How the National Media Shaped Public Opinion on Gay Marriage examines the methods used by the media to promote gay marriage over the past 20 years, the effects of its promotion on the public discourse, and a plan of action consumers can utilize to be better informed as the debate on this important issue moves forward.