Stories

Dear Ethel Waters,

As the musical director of His Eyes Were on the Sparrow, Darius Smith, and others before him, once said, “We need to tell our own stories.” This declaration rings true not only in the context of the play based on your life, Ethel, but our pursuit of art, our passions, and our lives in general. I was fortunate to have seen a play on your incredible life, which was beautifully portrayed by Ms.Maiesha McQueen. Throughout the play I couldn’t help but think, if you were sitting with us in the audience, how would you feel about your portrayal?  Or the fact that a play based on your life was written by a white man? You rightfully felt uncomfortable with white people and their treatment of people of color for majority of your life, so I cannot fathom, despite changes of the heart later in life, the feeling that a white man has a hand in telling your story. Yet, at the same time, I am grateful to have learned so much about you and your life through His Eyes Were on the Sparrow, and that the adaption exists. The play, as well as many of readings from “African American Women’s Lives” remind me that all of our histories are told through a lens and sometimes with bias.

My history classes from elementary to high school, from Texas, to Michigan, to Georgia, focused on white men, and were usually coupled with conservative views. The “African American Women’s Lives” course is unlike any other history class I’ve ever taken through its engaging content and discussion and by it being taught by Dr. Hobbs, an African American woman. Courses such as AAWL educate us on black women who’s stories are not commonly known and experiences specific to black women. Our stories should be shared to broader audience, and delivered by ourselves personally or people who can understand as much as possible (no one can truly walk in another’s shoes).  We need to be heard. To accomplish this, we need to educate ourselves and other people.  All the while, empowering others to tell their stories in every way possible, through literal storytelling, or  art or passions ranging from science to history. Ethel, your story empowered me to continue to work towards my goals and always advocate for what is right. I hope I can do the same for someone else.

Sincerely,

Sydney