As I stared at the picture of my Cousin Clarence, I was reminded that “we must keep fighting.” He was so young when he went into the Navy to fight for a country who regarded him “less than human.” It was in the 1950s and he was only 17 years old. For four centuries, Blacks have fought to be loved by a nation that seems inclined to hate them. Not all of its people practice hate, but too many do. Since slavery, African Americans have come a long way in fighting racial injustice, but the battle must continue. Many have died seeking to move the “goal post” toward a more perfect union.
OUR COUSIN CLARENCE
During the 1970s and 80s, Shirley Washington Then was “blazing her trail” on the Hollywood Scene as an actress. Young, energetic and feisty, she was making sure no one left her behind! Shirley appeared in several movies and TV shows. Among them: Mission Impossible as a stewardess; Maggie in Wonder Woman; Travel agent in The Puppet; Theda in Darktown Strutters and Mrs. Jefferson in Bamboo Gods. She also starred in a film called Disco. Did Shirley Washington Then have other talents?
Shirley the Dancer
This writer knew Shirley Washington Then…but had no idea what hidden talents she had. Here’s an example of one:
Wow! Now that Shirley has revealed her talent as a dancer, let’s explore her history and discover other talents. In the following video, her talk show ability is questioned and challenged.
Darktown Strutters
According to Wikipedia, Darktown Stutters was a musical comedy about four (4) female gang bikers named Syreeno, Carmen, Miranda and Theba (Shirley). A synopsis of the storyline reveals numerous episodes that challenge one’s ability to determine the movie’s plot. The sequence of events as described by Wikipedia, did not allow this writer to follow the story. The focus of the movie simply eluded me. I have no idea what the writer was trying to achieve, nor the message he was seeking to deliver. Therefore, you are directed to Wikipedia for your own personal “read.”
However, from Shirley’s perspective, let’s recognize that launching an artistic career is not easy, and can lead to accepting roles that successful actresses may not choose. Ms. Washington was not born with a “silver spoon in her mouth,” and receives high marks for her courage, determination, tenacity and ingenuity for getting the roles she received. Hooray Shirley!
Shirley Washington Now. . .
What is Ms. Washington doing these days? She spends much of her time traveling between her apartment in Los Angeles and home in Las Vegas to musical events. Hearsay says . . . she is still very much involved in the music industry–setting up and negotiating contracts for clients’ musicals, plays, book deals and musical events. That is . . . when she is not “flying and cruising” from one country/continent to another with longtime friend and Motown Songwriter Eddie Holland. Hometown Detroit also welcomes her for special Motown events.
Recently, Shirley attended an event in L.A. that honored friend Smokey Robinson and Motown Mogul Berry Gordy. Some of the attendees are shown in the photo below:
Whether you are looking at “Shirley Washington Then” or “Shirley Washington Now,” the picture will be crystal clear, progressive, busy and spectacular! And . . . you will not need a magnifying glass!
Cousin Clarence passed away over 20 years ago, but memories keep him alive in our hearts. He was the youngest son of Dad’s sister Alice. Aunt Alice could not seem to get her life together. She entered into marriages and relationships with abusive men. Being the youngest female, Dad, even though he was younger than she, had a protective nature for her. He was always “going to bat” for her…took-in her children in our already over-crowded home. I am not sure how many years Clarence stayed with us. At one point, James, the older son, lived with us.
FAMILY VALUES DEFINE US
Two of the guys in the picture above are my brothers . . . one sitting (Robert) and the other (Tyrone) holding keys in his hand. I am standing with the package in my hand. The pictures do not express the fighting spirit deeply embedded in all of us. Living in the deep south, we had parents who exemplified “fight for right” and eventually wrong dissipates. Listening to a news report tonight, one of the speakers expressed deep fears for democracy in America. He indicated that people who are threatened and harassed on their jobs while protecting voting rights, will get tired and give up. My first thought was: Not if they believe in what they are doing. Their weapons of warfare are not carnal. African Americans have fought for 400 years . . . and are still fighting.
WE MUST KEEP FIGHTING – CAN’T STOP NOW
Our Grandfather Arthur taught his four sons how to fight mentally and physically when necessity knocked on their doors. Jim Crow dominated Mississippi and all southern states, but the Fergusons and Dotsons flourished in spite of it. They knew the enemy was a way of life white supremacists did not desire to give up. The racists, as some are doing today, were trying to relive America’s darkest history. Enslavement, based on external features defined by lies and deceit, was the norm in large segments of the country. Violence was, and is the method used to hold on to man’s inhumanity to man and maintain power. We must keep fighting . . . we can’t stop now!
