Amazing Grace

If you read the Washington Post, you already know who Eugene Allen is.

Mr. Allen served as a butler at the White House for more than 30 years. He began his career at a time when even in the most powerful building in Washington, he came to work through a separate entrance.  On Tuesday, Mr. Allen, his son and daughter-in-law sat on the dais among the dignitaries. He and his family had “front-row seats” with some of the most powerful people of our time: President and Mrs. Carter, whom he worked for; and many of the people he served: then Vice President George H.W. Bush, General Colin Powell, and countless others, I’m sure.

Wil Haygood wrote this article on November 7, 2008 and then followed it up with this one yesterday. Mr. Allen and his family received invitations to the Inauguration because of Haygood’s first article. Mr. Allen’s wife Helene wanted to be part of history and vote for Barack Obama. She passed over in her sleep on November 3, 2008.

This is a piece of children’s literature waiting to be written. It has a sense of  history and time; contrasts in power and culture; examples of perseverance,  love, loss, and hope.   What do you think?