This is a movie I was very interested in watching because it all takes place around 1965, the year I was born. It is an extremely accurate recount of all the daring and risky decisions made by the movement in order to force the U.S. government to understand that the time had come to overcome inequality; at least, the existing laws that promoted such discrimination.
I am not strange to racism. As a little girl, I do remember hearing racial discriminatory expressions from certain members of my extended family. Mostly from my elder aunts and uncles. The housekeeping service at my home was provided by two black sisters who stayed with us until their retirement age. We loved these women at home: Mrs. Elodia, I was the only one authorized to call her Yoya, and Mrs. Flora. Although uneducated, they were quite savvy. You could tell they had lived their share of suffering, they had a remarkable sense of readiness for the unexpected, and loved my dad’s kindness and sense of humor. My mother, bossy and respectful but more on the icy side, they didn’t appreciate much.
As a kid, I experienced both their “no nonsense” and their call for “let’s eat wholeheartedly” style of nurturing. I used to go spend time with them and listen to their stories about how their ancestors came to Panama, or to learn (by helping) their secrets for cleaning, polishing, cooking, and even for humming tunes. In return, I helped them improve their reading and writing skills. I remember their laughter. Another indelible memory that comes to mind is Yoya’s wrinkled hands, full of veins and callouses from ironing her entire life. Beautiful hands full of character! Today, you don’t find black help in my country. It is diverse: indians, immigrants, locals. Today, we are a much better location for the United Nations because we do all mingle with everybody and we have people from all nationalities, peacefully interacting. Our struggles with inequality, although I wont go as far as to say that are nonexistent, are systemic: corruption, poverty, education, health…
But back to Selma. To think all we have accomplished in terms of eradicating discrimination is astounding to me. And I am not exclusively talking about racism. We, as the extraordinary song written for this movie call us upon, are not quite glorious yet. Sadly, I am sure we might never be able to claim victory because, out of fear, humans do tend to hurt humans in a vain attempt to feel safe. Instead of feeling as one and trusting and learning one from the other, this sick effort for supremacy, will eventually take us into extinction.
I hope I am already long gone when that happens!