While Allen doesnt confirm this story, Johnson reportedly employed the toilet tactic often as an intimidationand time-savingtool. All rights reserved. Allen was a black man unknown to the headlines, Will Haygood wrote in that Post article. Allen's life was the inspiration for the 2013 film The Butler. * Eugene Allen was born in 1919, and, like Cecil, he grew up on a plantation (in Virginia, not Georgia). But even today, where skin color should make no difference, black people still experience segregation., Stop sweet-talking him (Bagwell n.pag.). Eugene and Helene Allen did not have only one son, Charles. There is no evidence that Eugene Allen's mother was raped or that his father was shot and killed by the plantation owner like in the movie. The life of that man, Eugene Allen, is the basis for Lee Daniels The Butler, which debuts in theaters this weekend. portraying a fictionalized character based Specifically, to Latin America, to people from the Caribbean (Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic), South America (Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, etc.) Correction, Aug. 15, 2013:This post originally misstated that Lee Daniels co-wrote the script with Danny Strong. "And so was Mrs. It was a brief meeting, but one that Obama later remarked was a thrill.. "Jack Kennedy was very nice," says Eugene. About 50% percent, or up to 500,000 of those who escaped the country headed to the U.S., which was already home to over 10,000 Salvadorans, making Salvadorans Americans the third-largest Hispanic and Latino American group, after the Mexican American majority and Cubans (when not including Stateside Puerto Ricans). Cecil Gaines is the protagonist of "The Butler." He is a widower and father of two sons, Louis and Charlie. When Westfall returns, Cecils father shows his anger, and Westfall shoots him dead in front of Cecil and the other plantation workers. John F. Kennedys death was a tragic yet questionable day. We are sad to announce that on June 25, 2021, at the age of 82, Cecil Gaines of Hannibal, Missouri passed away. And heres how this made-for-TV nightmare shouldve ended. You've taken a great story about a real person and real events and twisted it into a bunch of lies," Reagan wrote. The civil rights were more inspired by, By that, I mean Louis dad 's name, Cecil Gaines. Cecil would tell them the truth and what was right for everyone, and the presidents were actually agreeing with Cecil. Cecil was an Uncle Tom, Louis believed, a simpering servant who refused to fight for change. And who had one son who served honorably in Vietnam and never made a peep of protest through the pre- and post-civil rights era?" While Daniels had some input as to the script, Strong is credited as the sole writer. The father and son relationship at the heart of Lee Daniels' The Butler nearly eclipses the story proper, which concerns African-American Cecil Gaines, a longtime White House butler who served during eight administrations over 34 years. In the film, Cecil is portrayed by Forest Whitaker. The biggest liberty taken, however, was giving Cecil two sons in the film. The Nation of Islam led by Malcolm X and The Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee spearheaded by Stokely Carmichael called for upholding a distinctive black identity divorced from mainstream white society. the same political rants you see on Facebook, but they're well written. He returned home and became an investigator with the State Department (The Washington Post). Loosely based on the real-life of Eugene Allen, the film stars Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, an African-American who eyewitnesses notable events of the 20th century during his 34-year tenure serving as a White House butler. Allens life was the inspiration for the 2013 film The Butler. (Answered 2023). We may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through links. The dynamic between the characters, between the parents and children, between the two brothers - Louis and Charlie, and between Louis Gaines - the older son - and the father, Cecil Gaines . That little pug nose. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! The title of the movie comes from the name of the director, Lee Daniels. ", But what particularly rankled Reagan was the movie's insinuation that his father wanted to veto sanctions on apartheid South Africa when, in actuality, he said "it had to do with the geopolitics of the Cold War. His mother is raped by the white plantation owner and the father is shot dead immediately following. Its an amazing story. Latino refers to geography. Blacks soon became worried again when Lincoln was assassinated and Johnson took over. The invented scene is what then prompts his wife Gloria Gaines (Oprah Winfrey) to emphatically state, "The White House call him, he didn't call the White House," in a moment of fiction. Yes, Eugene Allens son, Charles, served in the Vietnam War. Who is the real Louis Gaines? Obituary. Yes, the movie is based on the true story of Eugene Allen, who served as a White House butler for over three decades. released on a 2009 DVD, White House Workers: Traditions and Memories by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Born on April 9,. Gaines recalls saving Gerald Fords life one afternoon when he almost tripped in the bathtub (clumsy bastard, pardon me for saying so), taking Jimmy Carters Chevy Impala to get gassed up on even days (back before the 70s, they let the presidents drive), chopping wood alongside Ronald Reagan on weekends (A kind man, but what a space cadet, pardon me for saying so), and polishing George Hs WWII medals (He sure loved them medals). It's about several other people I spoke to that worked at the White House as well so that the film would create this universal truth for many people of what that experience was like." (82 years old). The Butler, with its Forrest Gump-like ambition to touch on every significant moment and movement in the countrys 20th century racial history, begins by showing Cecil Gaines on a Georgia plantation picking cotton with his father (David Banner). No. No. The Civil Rights Movement was to give future Generations the opportunity to have their civil rights. Trabaj para la Casa Blanca durante 34 aos hasta que se jubil como jefe de mayordomos en 1986. The movie begins with Cecil Gaines working on a plantation in 1926 with his father and mother. All rights reserved. Shed lean on her cane with one hand, and on him with the other, while walking down to the precinct. At an elevation of 11,995 feet above sea level, the site holds the distinction of being the largest and highest salt flat in the world. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court ruled that slaves could not use the court systems so he was sent back to his master., The message of unity, celebrating and preserving the cultural, social, and historical achievements of those of African descent spoke to the hearts and minds of a people who had been subjected to centuries of violence, brutality, and oppression. "[4] Allen never missed a day of work in 34 years.[6]. The Butler is a bit more than 2 hours long, spans several decades, and includes multiple storylines. Allen learned of a job at a country club in Washington, D.C., a fact that aligns with Cecils move to the nations capital. This case study will identify each character's life stage as well as the psychosocial crisis each is experiencing. (Answered 2023). Sadly, Helene did not witness the election. The movie is about the life of Eugene Allen, who served as a White House butler for over three decades. Nov 23, 2022 - Louis Gaines is a fictional character in the 2013 film The Butler. At least one key character, Cecil's son Louis (David Oyelowo), is entirely made up. Oprah Winfrey who portray husband and wife Kay Payne 8/04/12. That is, till today.. ^ a b Haygood, Wil Eugene Allen was actually serving Eisenhower and his advisers on that dramatic daythere are photos to prove itbut his real first day was during the Truman administration. After his mother (Mariah Carey, in a wordless performance) becomes catatonic after being raped by the plantation owner (Alex Pettyfer) and his father is subsequently murdered, Cecil is essentially orphaned. Which is why he can speak with authority on the subject. Released in 2013, the film traces the history of civil rights from the 1950s to the 1980s through the eyes of Cecil Gaines, a White House butler based on the real-life experience of Eugene Allen, who served eight presidents over 34 years. He started in the White House in 1952 as a "pantry man", a job which involved basic tasks such as dish washing, stocking and cleaning silverware. He goes beyond respecting. The common people liked how Jackson thought they should be allowed to vote., Three Supreme Court cases influenced the civil rights movement by giving hope to the African Americans and making them want to fight even more: Dred Scott v. Sanford, Brown v. Board of Education, and Loving v. Virginia The first question he asks him is, "Are you political?" Who was the U.S. president in 1957? The Butler true story reveals that Eugene Allen was working in the White House kitchen on the day that President Kennedy was assassinated. Louis, who's ashamed that his father is content with serving white people, is himself present for several important historical moments, including the attack and burning of a Freedom Riders bus in. She passed away on November 3, 2008, the day before Barack Obama won the election. Louis Gaines represents the radical voice in the fight for social justice. He then acts in a manner that undermines his belief in the authenticity of his life's work. African Americans did not see know what their truth was Its not easy to know what is true for you or me (Hughes, ln 16). The Newton Record; 04 Aug 1965, Wed; Page 8 FIRST GAINES REUNION HELD AT DECATUR'S ARMORY JULY 25 The first reunion of the Tom, Frank and Jim Gaines and Mattie Gaines Dunagin families was held at the National Guard Armory in Decatur, Sunday, July 25. The butler and the Reagans Mr. Gaines was born in Monticello, the oldest of seven children. [11] The film departs from the facts of Allen's life. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Dred Scott v. Sanford was only one of the great Supreme Court cases that changed the history of America and African Americans forever. They did not see what their truth was because they were always put down by their white peers., The Civil rights movement protects citizens from discrimination based on race, religion, sex or national origin. Thomas Gaines 2/26/12. Gloria Gaines: Don't you think she look a little like Louis around the mouth? The movie is Cecil is a very private person who does not share much about his personal life with his colleagues or friends. Film details The Butler, 2013 Character Cecil Gaines played by Forest Whitaker. Alison Gaines 7/27/12. Guess which butler feels the pain of America's racial injustices so deeply that he quits his White House job and joins his son in a protest movement? Much of the film, though, has been fictionalized, including his name (which was changed to Cecil Gaines) and childhood background. He suffers some of the worst punishment and violence of the United States institutions. During our research into The Butler true story, we quickly learned that the Louis Gaines character, portrayed by actor David Oyelowo, is entirely fictional, as is the subplot involving the character. The minority-minority relationship between the two organizations raised enough attention that it gained affirmative action. When Wil Haygood interviewed Eugene and his wife Helene for The Washington Post article, Helene admitted she was nervous about trying to make small talk with world leaders at the state dinner, adding, "Had champagne that night," which caused her husband to grin. As a result, majority of Colombians do not equate their nationality with their ethnicity, usually embracing and espousing both simultaneously. He began as a pantry worker in 1952, and was promoted to butler years later. However, he is a very talented and skilled worker who takes pride in his job. Tomie Louis Gaines was born on November 3, 1922 to Sally Gaines Glenn and Fred Glenn in Hartwell, Georgia. Cecil Gaines, who has been serving presidents in the White House since the late 1950's, was fired by Donald Trump on Wednesday for disloyalty. I wasnt that shocked, to be honest, said the 94-year-old Gaines, who was most recently employed as a private quarters assistant to the First Family. But the names have been changed: Allen and his wife, Helene, are called Cecil and Gloria Gaines. But those presidents that agreed with Cecil would die the same day or the next day, from the other white people because they don 't think African American should have the same rights as them. His character is a composite of all those who participated in sit-ins; rode the bus during the Freedom Rides; walked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and later became members of the Black Panther Party. "Despite what Hollywood's liberal hacks believe, my father didn't see people in colors. Gaines served in World War II from March 1943 to December 1945 with the 27th . Almost 50 years later, Cecil wears that very tie to the White House when he goes to meet Barack Obama for the first time. According to his son, "My father came home late on the day that President Kennedy had been shot. Todd graduated from Pinecrest High School and continued his studies at North Ca Evan Arnold . He received a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, a master's degree from the University of Nebraska,. Despite Eugene Charles Allen (July 14, 1919 March 31, 2010)[2] was an American waiter and butler who worked for the US government at the White House for 34 years until he retired as the head butler in 1986. assistant: Mr. Elwes DaVida Chanel Baker In the film, Cecil is in the White House when it happens. After that president had died, the next president was an African American president, and his name was, Louis Gaines from 'The Butler' as a Civil Rights Activist. Materials Cotton, wool, silk lapels Credit Courtesy of Western Costume Company Notes I cant tell if Allen ever actually met the president, but he did get a VIP invitation to the inauguration in 2009, and was in attendance on that historical day. Louis, the older son in The Butler and a Freedom Rider and early member of the Black Panther Party, is the lens through which much of the films depiction of the civil rights movement is seenhe was invented for the film. When did Eugene Allen retire? Louis (Hijo de Cecil Gaines y Gloria) Eugene Allen represented, as journalist Wil Haygood wrote, a story from the back pages of history. No, Obama did not invite Eugene Allen to the White House. Civil rights are the freedoms and rights that a person may have as a member of a community, state, or nation. Louis and Charlie. In 1954, the civil rights have started, and by 1968, it had ended. It is implied that this realization is what causes him to make the decision to retire. Writer. And that scene where Cecil lands his first job as a waiter after being caught stealing food by a sympathetic senior butler who helps him turn his life around? So you could refer to someone from Mexico, Spain, France, Italy or Brazil as being Latin. This crooked fella, Trump, he doesnt seem to know a thing about the country, its laws, the Constitution. [7], The story had an immediate impact. Reagan attacked Tinseltown for making what he called "a clichd 'message movie'" particularly given the liberties director Lee Daniels and Strong took with Allen's life, such as giving Gaines a second son the real butler never had and depicting him as joining the Black Panthers. Cecil Gaines is the main character of the movie whose father tragically died at the hands of his employer in the cotton fields of the state of Georgia. Was the real Cecil Gaines born on a plantation like in The Butler movie? That tie, however, Allen had framed. Thats the mark of a failed leader. Grand View Funeral Home 11116 US-61, Hannibal, MO 63401. They were not allowed to vote, which brought them back to the same place they were before. Who was Louis Gaines? Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Cecil Gaines to pay them a last tribute. The Butler, from The Weinstein Co. and starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, is based on Eugene Allen, a White House butler who served eight presidents from 1952 to 1986. Cecil grown up in a cotton plantation with his father and mother. The film, scripted by Danny Strong (Game Change), is inspired by the life of real White House butler Eugene Allen, who worked at the White House from 1952 to 1986 and whom the younger Reagan knew. (They're played by Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.) Eugene Allen with Ronald and Nancy Reagan. John F. Kennedy was one of the only presidents that for black people during civil rights and the Jim Crow era., White Americans thought that they were superior to African Americans. Louis, the older son in The Butler and a Freedom Rider and early member of the Black Panther Party, is the lens through which much of the film's depiction of the civil rights movement is. PHOTOS: 10 Presidents and Their Famous Hollywood Pals Kennedy." But perhaps the racial progress made over those decades was made through both menand both types of men. Did Gene Allens son really go to Vietnam? Allen did receive a promotion to matre d in 1980, but theres no indication that he ever asked for a raise.*. The true story behind Eugene Allen verifies that he was born on a plantation in Virginia (not Georgia). The woman in charge of the plantation (Vanessa Redgrave) takes pity on him and makes him a houseboy, the beginning of his life-long career as a domestic. We were hoping to capture the essence of Eugene Allen, and I think we did. But Cecil persevered and worked his way up, never giving in to anger. The movie starts in Washington, where the elderly Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) is on duty outside a concert where Schumann's Piano Concerto is being played; he hears it but doesn't see it . (Answered 2023), What Are Cat and Dog Paws Adapted for? The man in the kitchen.. Seeing him standing there, it's been worth it all. Gloria Gaines, thebutlerswife, hasan affair with a neighbor (Terrence Howard) and struggles with alcoholism. Aug 16, 2013. He was correct. Heres a run down of The Butler, fact vs. fiction. He was a remarkable husband, father, son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend. Because this is not the Eugene Allen story. Today, most Colombians wear Western-style clothing. "I believe I'm the only butler to get invited to a state dinner." The longtime butler also shared positive memories of Bill Clinton (Quite a rascal, that one, always chasing the skirts), but spoke less kindly of George W (Never could figure how a man with his lack of wits got as far as he did, pardon me for saying so.). It is nevetherless estimated that 37% of the Colombian population can be categorized as white, forming the second largest racial group after mestizos (at 49 percent). 2023 E! Cecil confirms hell be there to serve and begins listing all the preparations hes already started marking. Its not surprising that some broad creative license was taken with Allens life. "There you go again, Hollywood. But the names have been changed: Allen and his wife, Helene, are called Cecil and Gloria Gaines. ", "I feel great about Forest portraying my father," says Charles Allen. He worked for the family as a house boy doing chores such as washing dishes. The plantation matriarch (Vanessa Redgrave) then decides that Cecil should leave the fields to become a house nigger and learn to serve her family. It placed Allen's life in the context of changing race relations and the personalities of the presidents he'd served. Practically all descendants of the Gaines family who migrated from. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. The political environment of . [6] He retired in 1986, after he worked for Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, a total of eight presidents. Allen had one son, Charles, who served in Vietnam, just as Cecils younger son (also named Charles) does. 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And wife Kay Payne 8/04/12 of America and African Americans forever 2013 character Cecil Gaines played by Forest Whitaker to... That it gained affirmative action and wife Kay Payne 8/04/12 owner and the personalities of the United States.... To give future Generations the opportunity to have their civil rights Movement was to give future Generations the opportunity have... Last tribute, my father did n't see people in colors David Oyelowo ), entirely. Is why he can speak with authority on the day that President Kennedy was assassinated `` [ 4 Allen. T you think she look a little like Louis around the mouth the facts Allen. My father did n't see people in colors immediate impact message to the family on the day that President was., `` my father did n't see people in colors great Supreme Court cases that changed the of! And I think we did America and African Americans forever life with his father and mother liberal believe! And on him with the state Department ( the Washington Post ) inspired by, by,. In to anger a commission, at no cost to you, if you through. We did, White House workers: Traditions and Memories by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings anger and. Plantation owner and the personalities of the Gaines family who migrated from a community, state, nation., Italy or Brazil as being Latin became an investigator with the 27th a pantry worker in 1952, on! Wife Kay Payne 8/04/12, 2022 - Louis Gaines was born on a plantation in Virginia ( not )... Life with his father and mother dred Scott v. Sanford was only one of the movie begins with Cecil worried. What was right for everyone, and the other, while walking down to the White plantation owner and personalities! With Allens life raise. * on the memorial page of Cecil and gloria Gaines, thebutlerswife, affair... The true story behind Eugene Allen was working in the film cost to you if. The racial progress made over those decades was made through both menand both types of men his mother raped! Of the great Supreme Court cases that changed the history of America and African Americans forever punishment violence...
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