Langston Hughes.. The Negro Condition
...church to become saved from sin. On that night, Hughes along with a host of other children sat on the front row of the church on the mourner’s bench. According to Hughes Aunt, who also attended the church, “when you become saved, you’ll see a light and something will happen inside of you, and God will be with you from that point on.” So, with that handy information embedded in him, Hughes waited patiently in the church for Jesus to come to him. He continued to wait through all the moans and sobs of the congregation. Even through the preacher’s sermon with his hands outreached to the young sinners to “come to Jesus.” Even through all the prayers and the songs about sinners. By this time the mourner’s bench was left only with Hughes and one other little boy. For all the other children had gone to the altar to become saved. After a while, the other young boy rose to his feet and went to the altar to join the other children. Hughes was now all alone on the bench, still waiting for Jesus to come to him. At that time his Aunt Reed fell to her knees and began to cry asking Hughes “Why don’t you come? Why don’t you come and be saved? Oh Lamb of God! Why don’t you come?”. Out of shame for himself for holding everyone up, he chose to lie, saying that he’d seen Jesus, when indeed ...