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Blog

Beaten Down, Shaken Up

10/28/2019

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This book is changing my thinking in a good way (take an ‘o’ out of good), showing me a history I have never heard, a hope that seems realistic and necessary, a description of the ways the struggle for the fair treatment of workers, for decency, love of neighbor, has shown up. 
The history once again exposes the complicity of my family in the life of my paternal grandfather. I have known for a few decades that he regretted the south lost the Civil War, but now I see how that ‘ol weasel popped his head up in Detroit, making a killing in car radios. I'm sure he was deeply anti-labor. Paradoxically, I loved his mean ways for many years, feeling he was authentic in a world of phonies....Still do love the man, who started going blind in his 30’s, listened to Judy Collins in his dark leathery study, smoked, vacationed in Antigua, and drank hard. He remarried at the age of 78, after my grandmother's drunken fall led to life without parole in a convalescent home. When we arrived at the wedding, we were told, "there's a couple of little black things that will help you with your bags."
I hear Toni Morrison saying “We felt morally superior to those who looked down on us” in her interview with Charlie Rose. I remember a time in my teens, in Stars and Stripes jeans, a floppy hat, long hair, with guitar, so humbled that the taxi was delivering me to Pop’s exclusive estate. So much for my pointless rebellion... The merciful black driver sang to me, “Momma may have; Poppa may have; but God bless the child who’s got his own, who’s got his own.” Chokes me up today. Goodness is everywhere (remember to take out the ‘o.’)
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    Poems
  • Alma Turner
    • Alma Turner
    • Site Overview
    • Alma's Blessings
  • 12 Steps
    • Step 1: Humility >
      • Step One Questions
    • Step 2: Hope
    • Step 3: Faith
    • Step 4: Honesty
    • Step 5: Trust
    • Step 6: Willingness
    • Step 7: Surrender
    • Step 8: Forgiveness
    • Step 9: Justice >
      • Amend White to Black
    • Step 10: Perseverance >
      • Fear Watch
    • Step 11: Contact
    • Step 12: Service
  • Poems, Prayers, Music
    • Beloved Poems by Others >
      • I Stand at the Door by Sam Shoemaker
      • The Guest House by Rumi
      • The Invitation by Oriah
    • Poems
    • Poems Early 2021
    • Poems September 2021
    • Poems October 2021
    • Scratch Paper Poems etc
    • Parables and Songs
    • clay haiku
    • Big Book Prayers
    • Prayers by Me
    • Music >
      • Roberta Flack
      • Marvin Gaye
  • more
    • Rowdy Beauties >
      • Rowdy Beauties Bible Study N'awlins
      • Rowdy Beauties Bible Study Zoom
      • Rowdy Beauties Resouces >
        • Resources for Chapters 1-4
    • The Gospel of Thomas
    • Genesis >
      • High Priest
      • Jacob is Israel.
    • Psalms >
      • Psalms 23, 46, 91, 139
      • Psalms 121, 1, and 32
    • Isaiah >
      • Isaiah 30
      • Isaiah 54
    • Jeremiah 31:31-35
    • Jesus >
      • Brown or Black
      • Teacher
      • Son of Man
      • Activist
      • High Priest
      • Innocent
      • Lynched
      • Alive
      • Sayings >
        • Sayings 1-3
        • Sayings 4-6
        • Sayings 7-9
        • Sayings 10-12
        • Sayings 13-15
        • Sayings 16-18
        • Sayings 19-21
        • Sayings 22-24
        • Sayings 25-27
        • Sayings 28-30
        • Sayings 31-33
        • Sayings 34-36
        • Sayings 37, 38, 39
        • Sayings 40, 41, 42
        • Sayings 43, 44, 45
        • Sayings 46, 47, 48
        • Sayings 49, 50, 51
        • Sayings 52, 53, 54
        • Sayings 55, 56, 57
        • Sayings 58, 59, 60
        • Sayings 61, 62, 63
        • Sayings 64, 65, 66
        • Sayings 73, 74, 75
        • Sayings 76, 77, 78
        • Sayings 100, 101, 102
        • Sayings 103, 104, 105
        • Sayings 106, 107, 108
        • Sayings 109, 110, 111
        • Sayings 112, 113, 114
    • Lectio Divina
    • Fasting
    • Reading
    • 12 White Steps
    • The Circle and Triangle
    • The Symbol
    • Blog
    • God is Love.
    • Frederick Douglas
    • Preparations