See "The Butler"

A  L  O  H  A !

A film may be entertaining,

involving,

exhausting;

But it is only the next day,

and the next,

that you know:

"This is a great film."

The Butler

is such a film.

I saw it yesterday.

In a manner of speaking

I am an extra in the film.

Every American

who lived

 through those times,

is.

If you want to remember,

gain perspective,

or understand

who we are

and how we got here:

Go See

 "The Butler."

The "Negro domestics"

that my husband and I both

knew in our homes

educated us,

raised us,

made us 

who we are.

Mine were ladies

who rode that long bus

out to the suburbs

to clean our house

one day a week.

They taught me

that life was not fair

 to all,

that there is great 

dignity

in work

and in how you 

carry yourself.

I knew that their

 children

did not enjoy

what I had,

what I could do;

their future

was circumscribed

as mine was not.

Kids know:

Unfair!

My husband

had practically

a second mother

who loved him,

scolded him,

and helped to give him

the heart that I love.

We speak of her often.

When I was little,

I couldn't fathom

the courage

of the Freedom Riders.

Heroes;

Children;

Defenseless.

When I was a little older,

Dr. King was shot

and my city burned.

Dad, uncle, others,

who worked in the neighborhoods

stayed home

for days

worrying.

Some of them

lost businesses.

So much of this film

was a trip through my own times

and life.

It was a powerful experience.

Watching the film trailer below

got me emotional again.

At a time

when voting rights

are under attack

in this country

AGAIN

we need to remember

the aged warriors

who already laid their lives

on the line.

We're not there yet.

But someday,

We're gonna get there.

Together.

Take a young person to see

The Butler

and discuss it with them.

Share your life,

your wisdom.

Fondly, cloudia