To a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child when a parent dies, the past dies.
Red AuerbachRead
I didn't have a mother; I had a mama. I measure other women by the stature of my mama.
Interpretation
The speaker's bond with their mother figure is deep and impactful, serving as a standard for how they view others.
In this quote, Al Green expresses the profound influence of his 'mama' in his life, highlighting that the term 'mama' signifies a nurturing, loving relationship that transcends the conventional title of 'mother.' This deep connection shapes his perception of other women, indicating that his emotional and formative experiences with her set the benchmark for how he interacts with and evaluates the women around him.
In practice
Using this quote in a speech about the importance of maternal figures in our lives.
To a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child when a parent dies, the past dies.
Imagine a world where mothers take as good care of themselves as they do their children and a world where mothers are so supported they're able to do that. That's the world we all need to create because our children, families, and communities are depending on us.
Raising me as a single parent, my mother held many jobs. Most of them had to do with the betterment and the advancement of our community and society at large. I grew up seeing her active in ministries at our church, with the homeless, as a social worker, with elderly, with youth, as a children's rights organizer with the Urban League of Chicago.
Your children are not your children, they come through you, but they are life itself, wanting to express itself.
Through adoption, Americans can forever change not only a child's life but also their own.
My father died beside trees on iron rails... He had 77 dollars on him at the time, and we used the money for Thai takeout because, as my friend Julie says about times like this, 'You still have to eat.'
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