Be A Light

It’s been a rather dark year for so many, for all kinds of reasons. But, know that by doing the smallest of things, (that really cost you nothing), you might be changing everything for someone else. You might light the way.

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson was informed that he wasn’t allowed to hold Shirley Temple’s hand while filming the stair dancing scene in the film “The Little Colonel”. She insisted anyway and grabbed his hand during the act. The scene became the first time an integrated couple was seen dancing together on film. She credits him for making her a better dancer throughout her career.

Grace Kelly reluctantly left the famous upscale restaurant The Stork Club, with her whole party, when she witnessed no one being willing to serve Josephine Baker. With the help of Grace Kelly, Josephine was able to restart her career and the two remained friends for life.

FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt invited Marian Anderson to sing on the Nation Mall to thousands and over the radio to millions, after she had been denied a place on a stage because she was black. Her live performance has been deemed one of the most memorable of the past few centuries.

Mr. Rogers invited Officer Clemmons to come and join him in his pool when society said it was still not OK for blacks and whites to share a swimming pool together. Mr. Rogers broke a color barrier during this iconic episode of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood in 1969.

As 2020 comes to a close and a new year begins, think about the little things, the gestures of love, the small kindnesses you might extend to someone…they just might turn out to be grand gestures that make a huge difference and make our world a better place to live in one small kindness at a time.

“It’s hard to live in color when you just see black and white. When the world seems full of hate, Be A Light!”