I have often imagined what it would be like to know my grandparents when they were younger. What type of man was my Pop Pop before he became a police officer? Was my grandmother who was a dancer as much as a firecracker then as she is now? And how would it be to live in a different period overall?
It wasn’t until I watched “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” that I realized that I was romanticizing the idea of going back in time. Too often, we hear how much times have changed and we ignore it because it’s usually in the context of someone telling us that we are doing something wrong. But to see the many changes of the country puts everything into perspective.
Sunday, I watched the stories of the young, old, popular, and invisible whose journey, by no means was easy, but they were not easily broken. I could literally feel the intensity of every scene that flashed across the screen. It was a mini-tour through history watching the story of Cecil Gaines, a butler for The White House and I was happy that I could witness it.
I couldn’t help but to think about the amount of courage that it took to live during a time when your country was literally divided. And I couldn’t help but to feel this great sense of gratitude for those who paved the way for me. Who fought with their blood, sweat and tears for the rights that I don’t even have to think of as a right.
For me, it’s just a way of life and I am extremely grateful.
