Pay Attention

black and white photo of little girl

 

Any turn outward must include the voices, works, and daily lives of working class individuals. This is my mother, Diane, circa 1950. She did not see her beauty, acknowledge her grace, or believe in her talent. She could not envision being a creator of ideas or culture. That she died without taking her own gifts seriously is one of the most common but saddest things I know. How many Dianes have gone — or will go — unseen because of their social class status?