Trinidadian actor looks ahead
Caribbean Life, October 23-29, 2020 27
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
“Excuse me. It’s my time to
talk.”
Ugh, it’s frustrating when
someone doesn’t honor your
voice or respect your ideas.
When it’s your time to speak,
they should at least be quiet, and
you shouldn’t feel bad for wanting
to be heard. Speak up! As in
the new book “Reclaiming Her
Time” by Helena Andrews-Dyer
and R. Eric Thomas, one politician
had no problem doing so.
Born and raised in poverty,
little Maxine Carr had one thing
most kids in the 1930s and 40s
didn’t have: she had the certainty
that if she didn’t open
her mouth to speak up, there’d
never be any food in it. With
thirteen children in the family
and just an overwhelmed mother
raising them, Maxine and her
siblings scrabbled for whatever
they got, and they learned to
stand up for themselves because
nobody else was ever going to do
it for them.
Perhaps because of this, Maxine
was always a fighter and
never let an opportunity pass
her by. She landed a job at age
thirteen, so she could buy her
own clothing. She worked hard
to graduate from high school,
knowing that an education was
important. At eighteen, she
was married, became a mother
shortly afterward, and worked to
help support her family. When
she was 28 years old, someone
told her about Head Start, a program
for children who needed
a boost, and she applied to be a
teacher.
Book cover of “Reclaiming Her Time” by Helena Andrew-
Dyer and R. Eric Thomas.
“Head Start changed my
life,” she said later. It opened up
a world for her, and gave her the
opportunity to use other talents
to become a community advocate
for the people of Southern
California, following the Watts
riots. Her roots gave her an
innate ability to use the power
of connections, which led her to
volunteer work in local politics
and later, to office.
In 1976, she made the leap to
state politics with her election
to the California State Assembly.
She became Maxine Waters
when she re-married in 1977.
And in 1990, she became
the second Black woman to
represent California and just
the sixth Black woman in the
House…
Cinderella did it. So did
Andrew Carnegie. We love it
when someone moves decisively
from poverty to pinnacle, and
“Reclaiming Her Time” tells the
next story in line.
And yet, with side-bars, lots
of colorful illustrations, and
enough fuss-free slanguage to
keep information accessible,
authors Thomas and Andrews-
Dyer have done more than just
write about Congresswoman
Maxine Waters, who they insist
“is not a celebrity” and “is not
your typical politician.” No, in
addition to Waters’ lively and
meteoric story, the authors
also fully explain how their
title words fit into Congressional
hearings, firmly promising
readers that “reclaiming”
is no-nonsense and not rude.
This, and other such information
here makes this book like
having your own personal tour
of Congress.
Younger readers will enjoy it,
as will adults who like things
solidly informative but a little
on the lighter side. If that’s you
and you love politics, “Reclaiming
Her Time” is worth yours.
* * *
For more light reading,
check out “Queens of the
Resistance: Maxine Waters” by
Brenda Jones & Krishan Trotman.
It’s a small, pocket-stuffer
book that’s perfect for taking a
good story on the road.
“Reclaiming Her Time”
by Helena Andrews-Dyer
and R. Eric Thomas
c.2020, Dey St. $26.99
/ $33.50
Canada 256 pages
A Woman in the House
“Reclaiming Her Time” author Helena Andrews-Dyer. Robert
S. Dyer
“Reclaiming Her Time” author R. Eric Thomas. c.2020 Katie
Simbala
of his mother being born there
and his father growing up
there,” Eagleton said.
Being a top athlete growing
up, she said Farrell played soccer
and baseball but always felt
a passion for acting.
Eagleton said Farrell went
on to study broadcast journalism
at the University of Houston.
“His professors were so
impressed with his journalism
skills that they asked Farrell on
multiple occasions to host and
moderate many of the college’s
student forums, ranging from
subjects on sports and college
athletics to race and gender in
the industry,” she said.
In the ensuing years, Eagleton
said Farrell started auditioning
while working many
part-time jobs.
“He was determined to
become skilled at the craft, so
he studied and worked with
many acting coaches to help
him,” she said. “With his positive
attitude and perseverance,
it didn’t take long before his
acting career took off.”
When he isn’t acting, Eagleton
said Farrell likes to spend
time doing charity work with
Best Buddies, reading, writing
and enjoying music.
Continued from Page 25
Trinidadian-American Actor
Malcolm Farrell. Malcolm Farrell