Pool talk: racism, film, drones and more

Met a woman in the pool last Saturday. My question, “Have you seen 12 Years a Slave?” kicked off an engaging 60-minute conversation, which made me more aware than I had been of Black culture and life in the U.S. I have several Black friends, but they’re quite a bit younger than I. How wonderful it was to hear her perspective on world events, racism, health care, politics. We covered a lot of ground, including Obama’s misguided drone war.

Water is my element. Making a new friend in the pool is a delight.

12 Years a Slave – Part 2

Another thought after watching the film 12 Years a Slave: How did the slave owners survive? For, surely, they had to have lost their souls.

You’ve heard this film is very, very tough to watch. I wouldn’t have missed it. It is important for me to be reminded that we are all capable of doing horrific things. Including you. And, including me.

12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave — disturbing, wrenching, powerful film. The actors had me right there, in the 19th century when, in the U.S., it was legal to own people of color. Ownership conferred the right to beat, maim, torture, whip, lynch, rape and otherwise divest slaves of their humanity.

Tough as it was to watch this film, I now want to read the book. I want to read his story in his own words.