Butler who saw racial history being remade (this moved me almost to tears)

[RFKHumphreyObama]

Butler who saw racial history being remade
Wil Haygood, Washington
November 8, 2008

FOR more than three decades Eugene Allen worked in the White House, a black man unknown to the headlines. During some of those years, harsh segregation laws lay upon the land.

Mr Allen trekked home every night, where his wife, Helene, kept him out of her kitchen.

At the White House, he worked closer to the dirty dishes than the large desk in the Oval Office. Mrs Allen didn't care; she just beamed with pride.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/us-election-2008/butler-who-saw-racial-history-being-remade-20081107-5k79.html?page=-1

[Bunny]

1. Oh my. That was a sweet story, with such a bittersweet ending.

God bless, Mr. Allen.

[mzteris]

2. thanks for posting this

Surely he'll be invited to the inauguration, won't he? It's so sad about his wife, though. Damn.

[Zomby Woof]

3. An amazing and bittersweet story

She and Toot on the same day. :-(

But I think they knew everything would turn out okay.

I have always been fascinated by WH history. His anecdotes remind me of the dedicated people whose story was told in "Backstairs At The White House".

[fishwax]

4. kick

[applegrove]

5. Very sad. Just like Toot.

[Kutjara]

6. OK that blindsided me.

Really choking back the tears here. Beautiful story.

[Aristus]

8. I couldn't choke them back. I'm still crying...

n/t

[txwhitedove]

7. Beautiful story, thank you.