6 posts tagged “what do you have to say?”

Show us what winter means to you.

On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. Show us what makes YOU brave.

I'm not in any way shape or form able to compare myself and any amount of bravery I possess to somebody like Rosa Parks.

But, in case you've never heard of her, I would like to take a moment to introduce to you the REAL first black woman who refused to give up her seat in Alabama,  Claudette Colvin.  I wrote my final paper about her for Women's Studies because it blew my mind that I had never heard of her. 

She wasn't an attractive candidate for the bus boycott poster child because she was from a lower class than most of the blacks working with the NAACP at the time and she up and got pregnant right after her arrest, gave birth to a light skinned child and became a potentially scandalous pock on Montgomery's NAACP chapter.  She was active in the youth movement and knew Rosa Parks, who was a mentor to her.  But no one gave her this idea.  One day, she just didn't move.  It was all her.  But then she got pregnant by a much older, married man, a scandal in the making.  So nine months after her arrest, Rosa Parks followed suit and wouldn't give up her seat.  Ms. Colvin has maintained that Rosa was a better representative for the bus boycott but I've also seen stories that suggest that she is also disappointed that her story was never told, a speck of reality swept under the rug of a movement that was struggling so hard to be viewed as legitimate as possible.  In retrospect, I understand why they covered her up...but damn - we can't even recognize her now? 

Well I do.  She was the real brave soul, IMO.  Rosa had resources, she was an unpaid secretary for the NAACP, yes, BUT they had her back for real - she was married to one of the leaders.  And she knew that.  Claudette didn't know that.  All she knew was that black men were WAY too afraid to stand up to the bus segregation situation because they could have very likely been killed as a result.  So someone had to do it. 

Bless you, Claudette Colvin, bless you!

         

Show us the best creative artist or crafter that you know personally.

My favorite painter of all time is a close family friend named Jessie Lawson.  She was friends with my mother in Graduate School at Mizzou and lived in Columbia until the early 80's.  Then she moved to San Fransisco but returned to Columbia a few years back, much to our delight. 

Her paintings have such vivid color and texture.  I have a wooden serving tray that hangs in my bedroom that she painted called "Three Little Maids".  She brilliantly uses literary/historical references in all of her work.  But the most special aspect of her paintings for me is her use of anthropomorphic cats.  Yes, cats.  And I know how you all feel about them so I know you will love her work, too.  Not only are they imaginative and beautiful, they are Teh QTE. 

For more on Jessie, here is a slide show of some of her paintings.  If you wish to contact her, please let me know. 

I was thrilled to find these.  Enjoy!

   

Show us the last album you listened to.

This got me through my commute this AM.  And it will likely get me home, too.

Show us a book you wish you had written.

Is it just me...or have they asked this one already?

Show us your favorite photo of yourself.

Oh cool!  An opportunity to brag about how hawt I am!  ;) 

Here's my "legit" head shot, taken about 3 years ago.  (There is part of a letter "E" on it because this was clipped from a postcard we made for one on the shows I co-produced a couple of years ago).  I also have a more smiley one that is intended to be used as a "commercial" shot.  I really wish I had my head shots on a digital file.  For some reason I didn't get my proofs put on a disc, but I did these before that was all the rage for actors.  This one was the money shot.  I just wish it weren't so tiny!