Summary

Chapter 13 “Amazing Grace” starts with the Nannyism, “You can worry and pray. You either worry about it or pray about it. But once you leave it in God’s hands, it’s in God’s hands” (187). The chapter starts in italics of a song, “[italicized] Nearer, my God, to thee” (187). Johnson says they can still hear Nanny singing that song - it was her favorite hymn.

Nanny raised them in the African Methodist Episcopalian church, and went to church every Sunday. All four of the kids were in the choir, but Rasul was a soloist and star. Garrett and Matt were in the “church’s liturgical dance team,” defying the idea that dance was for girls, and putting Matt in touch with their effeminate side (189). Aunt Sarah ran the team and though she heard the whispers, “She let a boy be different” (190).

Johnson...