Timeless Thursday: Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King, where do I begin? I am so filled with emotions when I think of you; it is truly difficult for me to get them all out. I feel pride; so much pride it's almost overwhelming. So many things I want to say and fit in but I know that's not possible. Certainly not in this blog and definitely not in any one blog.






You were so many things. You did so many things. You believed in and fought for so many things. Which ones do I highlight? Which ones do I put out? I'm almost tempted to just give up on it all. I feel as if I will not say enough, that I won't say it the way I'd like to, the way it should be said. I will do my best though, it's the least and most that I can do.






Coretta Scott King was the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, she was the mother of their four kids, she was an author and she was an activist. She fought for civil rights, women's rights, GLBT rights, human rights and most of all equal rights, economic issues, world peace, HIV/AIDS prevention and against apartheid among other things.




After Dr. King's assassination in 1968 took on role of leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement and carried on the work her husband started until her death on January 30, 2006 at the age of 78.






In 1945 she graduated valedictorian of Lincoln High School and enrolled at Antioch College in Ohio. She later studied music with Walter Anderson and in 1954 she completed her degree in voice and violin at the New England Conservatory.




One of Coretta's most noted accomplishments was the work she did to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act. She founded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia in her husband's honor. She published her memoirs, My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1969. And in 1986 after advocating for it since the death of her husband, she was finally successful in establishing the anniversary of her husband's death as a federal holiday.

On April 1, 1998 King called on fellow civil rights groups and activists to join the fight against homophobia and anti-gay bias. "Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood", was a part of her speech to these groups.




In another speech in November 2003 King made another appeal when she linked the Civil Rights Movement to the LGBT agenda, "I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people. ... But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people."




On March 23, 2004 King is quoted as saying "Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriage."




She founded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia and published her memoirs, My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1969.




Rest Coretta. Rest. Your journey was long, hard, taxing, tiring, painful and I'm sure at times unbearable.




You came, you saw, you believed, you fought, you CONQUERED. My life is better because of you, the USA and the world at large is a better place because of you. I am honored, privileged, fortunate and profoundly appreciative that I shared the same time on earth (at least some of it) at the same time that you did.




I never met you personally but if I had the opportunity, I would have. It would have been a great honor; an honor of a lifetime.




You bore each fight, each struggle and each obstacle with such great countenance and reserve. You are an icon, a legend, a beacon and a tower of strength; these are attributes that not even death can change or take away.






So it is quite fitting that I give thanks to and for you, Coretta Scott King, on this the day set aside to give thanks.

Timeless Thursday: Audrey Hepburn

If I were to attempt to do justice to a post about silver screen legend Audrey Kathleen Hepburn-Ruston, I would be the first to concede that I don't feel as if I would be able to do so fittingly. I have been at this blogging thing for a little while and I know I do a pretty OK job of it. However, I know my limitations as a writer.


Instead of trying to put into words the profound admiration and respect I have for this stalwart of a woman, this legend of an actress, this genuine humanitarian at heart, I will let her words and that of others paint a picture of the woman she was.


What I can tell you in my own words though is that Audrey Hepburn is by far my most favorite and revered actress of all time as far as I am concerned. I well up with emotions at the very thought of dedicating this post to her.




She had a career that spanned from 1952 - 1989 in which she made some 31 films. She retired just past the height of her career to raise her two sons and enjoy the rest of her life with them. She had absolutely no qualms about retiring. She knew her purpose in life, she knew what she wanted, she was content with what she had done and needed to do. How can you not love and respect her for it all?




Audrey Hepburn, PMF (May 4, 1929 – January 20, 1993) was an English/Dutch Academy Award-, Emmy Award-, Tony Award-, and Grammy Award-winning film and stage actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian. In 1999, she was ranked as the third greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute. She also served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work. She is often seen as one of the most beautiful women ever, named 8th in empires magazine 100 sexiest stars in film history (1995) and chosen by People Magazine as one of the most beautiful people in the world (1990).




Born Audrey Kathleen Ruston on Keienveldstraat (Dutch) / Rue Keyenveld (French) in Elsene / Ixelles, a municipality in Brussels, Belgium, she was the only child of the Englishman Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston and his second wife, the former Baroness Ella van Heemstra, a Dutch aristocrat, who was a daughter of a former governor of Dutch Guiana.


She was a descendant of King Edward III of England and Mary Queen of Scots' consort, James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, from whom Katharine Hepburn may have also descended. This also made her related to the other notable distant cousins including Humphrey Bogart and Prince Rainier III of Monaco.




Having become one of Hollywood's most popular box-office attractions, Hepburn co-starred with actors such as Humphrey Bogart in Sabrina, Henry Fonda in War and Peace, Fred Astaire in Funny Face, Maurice Chevalier and Gary Cooper in Love in the Afternoon, Anthony Perkins in Green Mansions, Burt Lancaster and Lillian Gish in The Unforgiven, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner in The Children's Hour, George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Cary Grant in Charade, Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady, Peter O'Toole in How to Steal a Million and Sean Connery in Robin and Marian. (All of the above directly taken from here)


Personal Quotes:
I never thought I'd land in pictures with a face like mine.


I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to sing "Funny Face" when I couldn't sing and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn't dance - and do all kinds of things I wasn't prepared for. Then I tried like mad to cope with it.




Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: the first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.




I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it.




My own life has been much more than a fairy tale. I've had my share of difficult moments, but whatever difficulties I've gone through, I've always gotten a prize at the end.




For me, the only things of interest are those linked to the heart.




I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people's minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.


I probably hold the distinction of being one movie star who, by all laws of logic, should never have made it. At each stage of my career, I lacked the experience.




My look is attainable. Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large sunglasses, and the little sleeveless dresses.




Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you're exactly the same.




I know I have more sex appeal on the tip of my nose than many women in their entire bodies. It doesn't stand out a mile, but it's there.


[talking about a severe coughing attack she had when she was six weeks old, slowly turning blue and finally stopping breathing until her mother's prayers and spanking brought her back to life] If I were to write a biography, it would start like this: I was born in Brussels, Belgium, on May 4, 1929 . . . and I died six weeks later.




[about her "comeback" in 1976] Whatever happens, the most important thing is growing old gracefully. And you can't do that on the cover of a fan magazine.




It's that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so 'don't fuss, dear; get on with it.'




[On filming "Funny Face", while coping with extreme Paris weather and a grumpy co-star] Here I've been waiting for 20 years to dance with Fred Astaire, and what do I get? Mud in my eye! (all quotes obtained from here)






If ever there was a legend, that would have been Audrey Kathleen Hepburn. If ever there was a timeless, phenomenal woman, that would have been Audrey Kathleen Hepburn.