A proud mother’s joy was nearly overshadowed by a shocking racist remark during her son’s church performance, but the moment ultimately became a celebration of faith, talent, and community support.
Veronica Zavala took to the Episcopalians Facebook group to share a video of her son performing a solo at church, expressing how proud she was of him.
However, the special occasion was almost tainted when she overheard a woman in the congregation say,
“There has never been a colored boy up there.” Despite the hurtful comment, Veronica chose to rise above it, writing, “I ignored her and didn’t let it ruin his special day.”
The post quickly gained attention from fellow Episcopalians who were both moved by the boy’s performance and outraged by the racist remark.
A Voice That Stopped a Café in Its Tracks
The reaction to the young boy’s singing was nothing short of remarkable. Commenter Zoë Jasper shared a lighthearted but telling moment, writing, “I’m in a café, my headphones died mid reel, and part played out loud.
Two people near me clapped. Your kiddo is beautiful. What a great moment, thanks for sharing his gifts with us.” It was a small but powerful testament to just how gifted the child is.
Andi Robinson Baker added her own words of encouragement, saying she would have been tempted to respond to the woman by saying, “Then you have missed out on many blessings.” She went on to express hope that the boy continues singing and developing his God-given talent.
Thurlow Weed also weighed in, praising the child’s voice as heavenly while noting that had he been near the woman, he would have reminded her that white is just as much a color as anything else, and that God’s human rainbow is full of all sorts of colors.
A Deeper Wound Within the Church
While many comments focused on celebrating the boy, others used the moment to address a deeper, long-standing issue within the Episcopal Church itself. Denise Reistad pointed out the historical connection between the church and slavery, writing,
“The reason all Black congregations exist and that spirituals are in our hymnals is because Episcopalians, especially in the South, were slave owners.”
She acknowledged that while the church is making efforts to confront its role, the message clearly does not reach all the pews.
Nancy Clark shared that her own church had one of the first integrated congregations in their state back in the 1950s, noting that a mural from the late 1990s on their back wall still reflects that diversity with many Black faces among the parishioners.
Becky Rawls McDonald expressed frustration but offered a word of patience, sharing advice from her rector:
“We must try not to lose patience, because some are not as far along on their journeys as we are.”
Gretchen Moore offered a word of comfort to Veronica, reminding her that there will always be bigots in the world but encouraging her to stay faithful and recognize the blessing she has in a child with such a beautiful voice.
Despite one woman’s ignorant words, Veronica Zavala’s son stood tall, sang beautifully, and moved an entire community, both inside that church and far beyond it.
