At the Welcome Table

"... The Welcome Table, honored in the Jewish tradition by the Seder * table at which one seat is left empty for Elijah, or for the stranger. Modeled in the Christian tradition by Jesus' radical table fellowship with sinners and prostitutes. Sung of in the African American tradition as the future reign of justice and freedom."

From : Azizi Powell.

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*Seder : The Hebrew word “seder” translates to “order,” and it is a Jewish home or community service including a ceremonial dinner held on the first or first and second evenings of the Passover in commemoration of the exodus from Egypt.

da Merriam-Webster

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"Welcome Table" is an African-American spiritual with pre-Civil War roots. A spiritual is characteristically repetitive to be easily learned by a group or singers. The lyrics to "I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table" speak of a better day when the singer will be able to "walk the streets of glory" and be "welcomed" to the dinner table of just souls.

During the Civil Rights demonstrations of the 1960s, many of the older spirituals were revived. Their repetitive structure again served impromptu groups of marchers and singers well. And the subject matter of "I'm On My Way," "Study War No More" and "Welcome Table" spoke directly to the worldly concerns of the freedom marchers.


......Finally, when singing the line "sit at the welcome table", I think it's important to remember the context under which enslaved African Americans composed the songs which included these lines. Food was scarce, and African Americans were definitely not welcomed in many settings. The line 'sit at the welcome table' "flips the script" ( Trad.letterale : capovolgere il copione - ndr )
{to use a hip-hop term].
In the imagery of African Americans who created the spirituals, in heaven, all folks would be welcomed, and all folks would have lots of food to eat. In my opinion, the belief that in heaven people who were hungry would have more than enough food to eat is an important element of that "future reign of justice and freedom"

From : Azizi Powell