1.21.2010

Antsy

Know why?  Because all I want to be doing right now is sitting in front of my tv watching Project Runway and instead I have about 50 minutes until it comes on.  I could do something else but I don't really want to get all into something only to have to stop immediately at 9:58.  I have had two AWESOME days in a row!  Like all day happy things kept happening to me.  And honestly, Tuesday was pretty awesome, too.  I had a wonderful interview with one of the subjects of my film today.  He was so open and honest and thanked us profusely for telling his story.  We got the same thanks on Monday after interviewing another Civil Rights activist who is frequently left out of history books.  Talking to them makes me feel so young (they're in their late 60s and early 70s) and so small.  The idea of these people who were 19 and 20 years old at the time, changing the world one protest, sit-in, or picket line at a time is sometimes overwhelming.  And when they talk about how they were treated I seriously have to compose myself. 

When people talk about how nothing's changed since the 1960s, I want to shake them.  These people WENT TO JAIL so I could do what I love without any restrictions: eat in a restaurant, sit in a movie theater and travel wherever I want and at the end of my trip, stay at a hotel.  Black people couldn't do any of those things just 50 years ago-- in our parents' lifetimes.  Working on this film has made that even clearer.  I do things almost daily that they struggled to give me the chance to do.  So awesome.  OF COURSE there is so much work left to do to try to fix the disparities among the races in this country, in the schools, in the workplace, in housing, I'm sure you could name so many more.  But don't negate the gains that have been made.

And tomorrow, Rashan is coming to see me so we can enjoy some of the very things I talked about in this post.  It's been 2.5 weeks-- one of the longest times we've been apart.  I can't wait to see him!

8 comments:

Trish said...

Isn't love grand?! You guys are so cute together. I really admire the genuine feelings you show for each other.

History-wise, sometimes it is hard to fathom how much worse off things really were. We all need to realize that although some things have changed racism is still alive. Makes me wonder if we will have any true leaders of our generation like our parents did.

Rashan Jamal said...

It is truly humbling to think of the advances we have made. Can never deny the progress that people like your film subjects have facilitated. I can't wait to see the final product.

Gorgeous_Puddin said...

Thank you!!! You said that so eloquently. I was just discussing the same thing with a group of people who just don't get it. So many gains have been made. Appreciate it!

gee said...

I can only imagine what it feels like to be in the presense of people and hear their stories first hand. 19, 20?? WOW! Makes me feel like I haven't done shyt.

I am extremely greatful.

Anonymous said...

My gf has me watching Project Runway and I actually like it.

I would love to see your film when it is done!

Not so Anonymous said...

I agree so much with that last paragraph. It pisses me off to hear people say we haven't made any progress. I usually hear this from wanna be black panther-esque men. Anyway, great post. Have fun with your boo, lol.

Jameil said...

trish... it is! :) i knew about the Movement before I started this film and still sitting before these giants makes it that much clearer that this is real and not that long ago. i think our generation has to just do it and stop looking for those leaders in other people. some unlikely characters have led hundreds and thousands and in the case of our president, millions.

rj... it really is.

gp... thanks. i think it's hard for people to realize what happened and that the people it happened to are still alive. you take it for granted when it's always there AND when you don't know that it wasn't always an option. our history is too frequently ignored.

gee... it's very amazing. and that's also what i mean by small but it makes me feel like i'm doing something just by getting their stories on record and sharing them.

epsi... it's delightful! rashan watches it with me sometimes, too. i've had a lot of requests!

nsa... right??? how is that even possible??? and it usually is from those ones. wiggity wack. the fact that you can say what you want with minimal worry of backlash is in itself proof of our progress. we're gonna have a blast!

Adei von K said...

They made HISTORY. So awesome.