POTUS Obama Says He 'Teared Up' Over Butler Movie

[big_dog]

President Barack Obama teared up watching "Lee Daniels' The Butler," a celluloid depiction of the US civil rights battle as seen by an African-American who served in the White House.

"I teared up just thinking about not just the butlers who have worked here in the White House, but an entire generation of people who were talented and skilled, but because of Jim Crow, because of discrimination, there was only so far they could go," Obama said in an interview with radio host Tom Joyner.

"And yet, with dignity and tenacity, they got up and worked every single day," said Obama, the first African-American US president, noting that those who were discriminated against put up with a lot "because they hoped for something better for their kids."

The racially motivated "Jim Crow" laws -- which legalized at the local and federal level rules about where blacks could eat, go to school, sit on a bus, and who they could marry, among other restrictions -- were in force from the 1870s to the 1960s.

The epic film -- encompassing over 50 years of history and a dozen US presidents -- is loosely based on the real-life story of Eugene Allen, an African-American who worked as a butler at the White House for 34 years. http://www.france24.com/en/20130828-obama-says-he-teared-over-butler-movie

[Tx4obama]

1. Four links below to the original WaPo articles regarding the real WH butler Eugene Allen...

... that the film was based on.

A Butler Well Served by This Election - 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110603948.html

White House Butler Eugene Allen Witnesses Swearing-In (of Barack Obama) - 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012004301.html

Eugene Allen, White House butler for 8 presidents, dies at 90 - 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/01/AR2010040103444.html

White House butler Eugene Allen's humility recalled at funeral - 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/04/01/ST2010040103462.html

I hope everyone takes the time to read the articles and also has the opportunity to see the film

[VanillaRhapsody]

2. I did...great film. Enjoyed it immensely

[big_dog]

3. If Forest Whitacre doesnt win an Oscar I will be stunned, amazing performance!

[juajen]

4. I can't wait to see it. I've heard Whitacre is incredible.

[JohnnyLib2]

5. Saw it and was lost in memories for days. Powerful.

Rec.