Remembering Don Cheadle

A number of things will trigger a blog entry from me. One of those is a performance which affects me profoundly. In 1997 I watched a movie called "Rosewood" which was a dramatization of a racist lynch mob attack on an African-American community in Florida circa 1923. The criminal element in the town led to the murder of way too many good people for nothing. The one redeeming white person in the thing was Jon Voight as John Wright, who helped those oppressed victims escape the lyinchings which were running rampant. Don Cheadle as Sylvester Carrier escaped the murders by riding in the coffin of his Aunt Sarah portrayed by Esther Rolle and Ving Rhames portrayed Mann, who escaped by virtue of his savvy and superhuman strength. At the end, when the Don Cheadle character was collecting his thoughts regarding his escape and the heavy price paid for that deliverance he was weeping for Aunt Sarah who was a sweet person who harmed no one. That moment caused me to cry with him and I tried to remember that it was all theater and I shouldn't be so tender in my thoughts, especially given the callous nature of my lifestyle otherwise ... Existing in a technical college environment will make you that way. What a horrible place it was. So from that time in my life I have been able to relate to Don Cheadle as a thespian and a person and I will consider watching anything in which he may be performing because of the effect Rosewood had on me and that callous streak I carried for so long. Donald Frank Cheadle Jr was born November 29, 1964 and his career has been that of actor, author, and director. He brings a humanity to his roles that cannot be ignored by anyone who has faced adversity in their existence. Today is his birthday. Happy birthday to you !