The Help ~ Frankie Mae

This afternoon my wife Kathy and I went to see The Help at the buck 50 movie which is now the 2 buck movie. Both of us read the book a while ago. But after seeing the movie this afternoon it really got me to thinking about a certain and a special woman of color from my childhood named Frankie Mae.  The movie did the book justice even though there was NO justice back in the day for The Help. 

 The book  and the movie reminded me of and brought back memories of when I was a child living and growing up in the South back in the 60's.   Frankie Mae was both a maid to my grandparents and a nanny to me. My Mom was a single mother and we lived with my grandparents at the time.  In fact, Frankie Mae practically raised me from a baby.  My Mom worked quite a bit and since Frankie Mae was there she took care of me.

The memories that I have of Frankie Mae are sweet and loving memories. She was an excellent southern cook and so soft spoken to me. She and my grandfather would always have deep and sometimes very loud discussions about religion and politics. Maybe that is where I get my deep and loud passion for politics from. Anyway, Frankie Mae had 2 sons that were around the same age as me. When I was grown I found out that we went to different schools. Because at that time, in the late 60's early 70's the schools were segregated.  Later when the schools became unsegregated and we went across the bridge to the black section of town I met Frankie Mae's sons.

The town where I grew up was separated by a bridge. On one side of the bridge lived the white folk and on the other side of the bridge lived the black folk. The conditions were not the best on the black side of the bridge. That is where the projects and the low housing sections were located. My grandfather was an electrician and he did alot of work for the black community. Once when I went with him on a job it was for a poor black family that had no money but they did have plenty of puppies so for payment he asked if I could pick out a puppy. That is how I got my first puppy.

When Frankie Mae died it was a sad time for all of us. She was a good and kind woman. My grandparents along with Mom and I went to her home for the wake. I remember talking with her sons outside and hugging them when we left. I can't help but wonder where are they today. I don't even remember Frankie Mae's last name or if I ever knew it. But I do remember how special and warm her hugs and her smile were for me.

These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.