Maxine Powell remembered by Martha Reeves

http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2013/dec/15/maxine-powell-obituary-martha-reeves-observer

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Professor Maxine Powell first came to Hitsville USA [Motown's first headquarters] when I was 22. I always call her professor, because to me that's what she was. She taught me self-worth, proper protocol to be presented, how to carry myself – she taught us class. Some of us at Motown were not socially acceptable, she said, so we learned how to be proper ladies and gentlemen, and all about social graces.

Before coming to Detroit she had been an actress in Chicago, and she had her own style of presentation: she called it the Maxine Powell method, and it was all about how to be elegant and sophisticated. This helped me in a lot of ways. I was a bit of a tomboy, with six brothers, and was captain of the cheering team, so I might have had a little calming down to do. She taught me how to sit still, how to pose for pictures, how to show my best side, and how to walk in a proper manner – I've seen pictures of people under her instruction with books on their heads.

She also taught us how to dance with our feet. Today, a lot of women in this business dance with their bodies – the camera strikes them at their pelvis first, then goes to their faces. Mrs Powell showed us how to use our feet, which moved our bodies with elegance. She got very upset if anyone described her courses as etiquette: what she taught was class and self‑worth.

I have many good memories of her. Everything I do and every move I make has to do with her teachings.

There was a group called the Velvelettes, and I said to her one day that I couldn't stand Caldin Gill from that group. I didn't like that their name identified with the Marvelettes. Professor Powell said to me, "Don't ever say that again. You don't like some of her ways, but that's not the way to express yourself. Never say you can't stand anyone; it's not proper."

Sometimes it was comical: she was very strict, so determined to make ladies and gentlemen of us.

We had to break down a lot of barriers [as black artists]. We had to go into places where we would be denied bathrooms, or places to sit and eat. We had to wear that: we were not protesters, we didn't go marching or fighting; we had to break down barriers mentally and spiritually. She taught us how to be gracious if we went into a place and they refused to serve us. We would walk out politely and go and find another place. We were taught how to tolerate, to sustain, and to persevere. And she was right. I survived. A lot of people at that time didn't know how to overcome and persevere.

When she was in her 90s, we started hanging out as friends, and then I hired her once I started working for Detroit City Council. She would ask to go to various council functions and charity events and I was glad to take her, and let her meet people. She was very well known in the city, and very loved. She wanted to help me with the seniors, and knew a lot about politics – and Detroit, how it ran. She was very aware of everything, a fount of information.

She had helped me campaign from the word go. She helped me make connections and write speeches – she was always there, my confidante. She didn't want people to know her age, because she said that at the age of 92, people think you're useless. But she could walk as far as I did, although she was very proud of her bus pass – she wanted to be free to come and go, and would come to work on her own in her 90s, a very proud and strong woman. She served for four years doing community liaison: we went to retirement homes, where the old people would get up and dance. We went to schools where the young people might not have approved of us in the beginning – two elderly ladies – but she'd have them up and walking, showing them how to be proud, and walk without a swag.

I think I drop a tear every day for Professor Maxine Powell, same as I do for my parents. But they're not actually gone from me because they live in my heart. She made a big impact on a lot of lives. People have told me, "I see Mrs Powell in you." And for the rest of my life I will try to emulate her and do what she taught us to do. I can't tell you how much I honour and love her spirit.

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