I’ve just finished watching ‘The Colour Purple.’ If you haven't seen it then you must!! I won't go into too much detail if you haven't but it's set in the 1920’s and its tells a beautiful story about two sisters and the tribulations they face in the America south. Family sorrow, incest, racism, love, beauty, redemption all guaranteed to have you weeping till the final curtain! I also watched the bonus DVD for the first time where Alice Walker (the author) talks about how she wrote it by being in touch with her spiritual side. It was also the spirit of her ancestors which moves the story from within her on to the pages of the book. Steven Spielberg talks a lot about wanting to portray the movie in the best possible way and the rest of the cast talk about his humility in making the film, welcoming their impute despite being a huge filmmaker. I was so moved ONCE AGAIN by this film, I watch it and was inspired to go out there and achive my dreams. It also reminded me of what happens when you talk to mam heven more often. What it also screams is how much your family, your ancestors mean and how their stories can shape your future as did Alice Walker's. I don’t think I ever realised how much influence this has had on my life but it’s true. I think back to when I spoke to my mother about her early days with Dad and what that meant. What was life really like for her in Jamica as a young girl and which one of her ancestor’s inspired her? What was it that kept her going despite all the shit she went through with her own mother. O am so excited cause when I spoke to her at Christmas she told me she had one living aunt left who was 93. Mum took the dictaphone I bought her and the aunt spoke into it qute alot with her stories. I cant wait to hear it!! I think about the first little flat Mum and Dad had and what there aspirations were for the future when they first came here in the early sixties from Jamaica? Where did they see there lives going and how did they cope with the racism at the time? I know there were often rental signs in windows saying ‘no nigger, no Irish no dogs.’ I also remember Mum saying that the Asian community did a lot for black people in those days as they had property and would often rent the rooms to black immigrants. Lots of black families often occupied one room initially before working hard, saving up and having their own homes. I just can’t imagine doing this now and will never understand what it feels like to be living and working in that kind of environment. My worse experience with racists was when I lived in Southampton when I was at Fashion College. I remember walking down the street and a car cruising up along side me and shouting so many mean things. I didn’t really give a shit about the words but what really hurt was when one of the spit at me. It was the only time in my life that I really felt like ‘nigger’ Gosh even writing that word makes me shudder but that’s how deep it cut. Despite some of the harsh realities of my parents in the early sixties, they also say that they were some of their best times. The music, the optimism, the clothes! The amazing blues parties in a new cold contry. What’s wonderful about all this is that my parents' have passed on their faith, determination and hard work so I can give an even better life to my children when they arrive. I couldn't finish this entry without a clip from one my favourite bits of the film. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW3iFXVsPXU