The Dap

Description

As James, a well meaning white man, approaches Stephen, his black friend, and raises his hand for some daps the world goes into super slow motion. We hear James’ hand, Handy tells him “You shouldn’t dap.” Handy interrogates James on the method and motivation of his handshake. James engages as if a conversation with his hand is a normal thing. This is the world we’re in.Time is running out; Stephen is coming in fast, passers by are staring. James commits. He’s going up. Handy insists on the “why” of the daps. In a moment of frustration James exclaims “It’s not because he’s black!” Feeling he has to clarify this point on race shows James a deep monstrous truth within himself. He’s a bit racist. He\'s looking at what\'s on the outside and letting that influence his heart and the way he walks with the people closest to him.Stephen approaches with concern now, everyone around is watching and James is left with a choice; continue to live in ignorance to appear righteous, or risk friendship and public shame for the sake of being honest and trying to be better. Snap back to real time, Stephen’s hand is up waiting for a dap. James leaves Stephen hangin... In a moment of unconditional love Stephen laughs, gives James a big hug and tells him “You’re good.” - This moment is not a flippant gesture be speaks to the depth of James Heart and the desire he has to do well. This affirmation is not a forgiving of his faults, but an invitation to see things differently.

Biblical Connection

1 Samuel 16:7 is the heart of this story. it\'s where all the stakes come from. Stakes drive character and characters hold the power of a story. This text and what it\'s saying about people is represented in our protagonist James. and whe he needs to see and learn is that there is a different way to see people. There is a Godly way to see people. \"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.\"