I told them [the producers] I couldn't compound the lie that Black fathers don't care about their children. I was proud of the family life I was able to introduce to television.
Esther RolleRead
My mother grew up with each of her children - whatever your age, that's the age she'd be when she listened to your stories. She never belittled our problems. It made for something permanent and reliable.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the deep connection and understanding a mother has with her children, validating their experiences regardless of age.
In this quote, Esther Rolle reflects on the unique bond between a mother and her children, highlighting how her mother actively engaged with each child's experiences at their individual levels of maturity. This approach not only fostered emotional support but also created a sense of reliability and permanence in their relationship, allowing for open communication and validation of their feelings without judgment.
In practice
During a Mother's Day speech reflecting on the impact of mothers.
I told them [the producers] I couldn't compound the lie that Black fathers don't care about their children. I was proud of the family life I was able to introduce to television.
I had a wonderful father, and I couldn't bear that television virtually ignored black fathers.
My mother's death brought me to my knees. She was my hero, my role model, my very best friend. I spoke to her every single day of my life. I really tried hard when I grew up to make her proud of me.
Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow.
I dont work weekends. Weekends are for my kids. And I have dinner at home every night when Im not physically directing a movie - I get home by six. I put the kids to bed and tell them stories and take them to school the next morning. I work basically from 9.30 to 5.30 and Im strict about that.
I felt like I needed to come to terms with the decision I'd made to let go of my family. What do you do when you want to be loyal to your family but you feel that loyalty to them is in conflict somehow with loyalty to yourself?
One thing I can say about the Motown acts is that we were a family. That's not a myth
Mothers are a biological necessity; fathers are a social invention
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