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.
This packrat has learned that what the next generation will value most is not what we owned, but the evidence of who we were and the tales of how we loved. In the end, it's the family stories that are worth the storage.
The horrors of war, pale beside the loss of a mother
My dad woke up at 5:30 every morning - every single day - and drove an hour-and-a-half to work. My mom was constantly working odd jobs, whether it was at Sizzler or babysitting. I didn't realize how hard they worked. Most kids rarely do. But they were building something for us.
It can't hurt to go to the people you love, whose blood type courses through your veins and whose DNA, from a certain angle, contains many of the same markings as yours. You don't have to take their advice, but let them share their version of solutions to life's difficulties. Good or bad - it could be interesting.
My mother was the first singer I had contact with. She sang constantly to us around the house, in church.
T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
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