Preacher Beats Bad Rap Urban Rhythms Drive Unity In The Community Celebration

He’s a rapper for God.

With one hand in the air and his body grooving to the beat, Earon Davis Jr. gave praise to the Lord.

“Go, Jesus, go, Jesus - go!” he intoned into the microphone as the heavy bass beat boomed from two large speakers. “Jesus, let your spirit flow.”

His rap music sent the crowd dancing at the third annual Unity in the Community Celebration on Saturday at Liberty Park.

As adults clapped their hands and rapped along, toddlers moved their little bodies to the intoxicating rhythm.

“Jesus can heal, save and protect you from everything,” Davis told the crowd.

More than 300 people came to the event, which was designed to bring the community together, organizers said. For eight hours, they talked, ate barbecued food and listened to live music.

Sponsored by Spokane’s Bethel AME Church, the gathering “celebrates our diversity,” said the Rev. Lonnie Mitchell, the church’s pastor.

“This is to heal the fragmentation,” he said. “People don’t know each other. If we bring people together, we build a cohesive community.”

Davis, a 19-year-old Spokane native, uses rap to achieve that goal, he said. “Rap is a powerful thing,” Davis said. “A lot of people listen to it. I do this for God and the community.”

Most who came to Saturday’s event wanted to visit with one another, they said. It’s a time for people to just get together and enjoy each other’s company.

It’s also an event where people learn from one another and share resources, said Carolyn Johnson, pointing to the booths occupied by the Spokane Police Department, Spokane Community Colleges and other local agencies.

When she first moved to Spokane five years ago, she didn’t know where to buy makeup or hair products for African-American women, she said. She became more aware of local resources only after meeting people within the community, she said.

“We try to get to know each other,” said Jerry Johnson. “We’re here to keep kids out of trouble and to help each other.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo