BY AND BY: CHARLES ALBERT TINDLEY, THE FATHER OF GOSPEL MUSIC–my picture book biography with illustrator Bryan Collier–has me reminiscing about the Black Church. I was baptized, confirmed and married at Union Memorial United Methodist Church in Baltimore. In Sunday School, we sang the spiritual, “This Little Light of Mine.” Afterwards, I joined my parents at worship service. I remember the hard pews, stained glass windows, altar flowers and pipe organ–one of the city’s finest. I also remember the colorful handheld fans that cooled adults and entertained little angels in the days before air-conditioning.

Big fans of fans, like Black Southern Belle, collect the artifacts–or at least compile pictures of them.

Coming soon: a cool fan activity.