Sunday 25 March 2018



I don't watch awards ceremonies so I didn't know that Oprah had spoken out at the Golden Globes about the story of Recy Taylor, a black woman who was kidnapped and gang-raped while walking home from church in Alabama in the 1940s. So it was purely by chance that I heard of this afternoon's screening of The Rape of Recy Taylor with Q&A afterwards with the film's director Nancy Buirski (who also made Loving). Oprah might be gratified to know that the cinema was full and the film will be on wider release from May. (I'd much sooner see films in a cinema - and the director made the point that this one is worth seeing as part of an audience; very true as people were still discussing it on the way out. But, if you really must, it's available to watch on-line.)
I'd never heard of Recy Taylor - who only died last December - and wasn't sure if that was my ignorance of black history, or if her story is little known; but chatting to others in the audience, it seems that I wasn't the only one. There's a trailer here and you can read her story here . It also brought home to me how little I know about Rosa Parks who was an activist long before she refused her seat to a white man on a Montgomery bus. (Parks was forcibly ejected, ie thrown down the steps of Recy Taylor's home by the local sheriff when she visited to organise support.)

I think all of the questions afterwards came from women, of all ages. And it did strike me - as I quite often go to these Q&A events - that women ask questions - succinct and very interesting questions this afternoon - whilst men so often turn a question into a lengthy diversion to display their own knowledge.

Incidentally, this was my first visit to the Everyman at King's Cross which only opened a few months ago and now it's my new favourite cinema.

6 comments:

yellowtulip118@gmail.com said...

Since reading Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad, I’ve discovered how little I know of this period in history. I have just discovered Harriet Tubman, the first black American woman to appear on US currency but as yet have only read snippets of her life, an astonishingly brave women. I intend to delve deeper into her life and activities and must admit, feel ashamed at my lack of knowledge on a subject that we should all be more aware of.

Mary said...

I thought The Underground Railroad was fascinating, Jacqui.
Yesterday the director admitted that she'd never heard of Recy Taylor's story until she read this book - The Past is Never Dead, by Danielle Mcguire - and, of course, the shame is that there are all too many similar stories that have never been told.

Gina said...

I too must claim ignorance of Recy Taylor... there is so much injustice and stories like this that remain untold.

Mary said...

I caught up last week with the film of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Gina - though it's nowhere near as good as the book - another story that needed to be told.

Vronni's Style Meanderings said...

Didn't know about this incident either or about the film. I will look out for it.
Thank you, Mary.

Mary said...

Definitely worth seeing and very thought-provoking, Veronica.