By: Terry Allen
Without fail, mighty words would always shoot forth when Lucille “Big Mama” Allen stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the “big room,” speaking her own truth. Big Mama’s platform was steeped in the biblical word, and she made sure you understood that wisdom came in layers, just like life itself.
She would often remind us, “It does not matter how flat the pancake is, it still has two sides.” That was her way of saying that every story, every situation, and every person carries more than just the surface truth—they hold complexities that demand deeper consideration. In a world where people are quick to judge based on headlines and soundbites, Big Mama’s wisdom reminds us to pause and look deeper before making up our minds.
Looking at today’s leadership in this country, it’s clear that someone in charge needs to sit at Big Mama’s kitchen table. The current leader insists he’s not part of “2025,” yet he’s surrounding himself with those who are. He claims he’s distancing himself, yet his actions tell a different story. Big Mama would say, “Baby, you don’t have to tell me who you are—your walk is already showing me.”
Then there’s his sudden concern about corruption in government agencies. Convenient, isn’t it? The same agencies that prosecuted the January 6 combatants and investigated his criminal charges are now the villains in his narrative. Big Mama would remind us that folks who cry “corruption” only when it comes knocking on their own door are usually the ones with something to hide.
She would shake her head and say, “Now, baby, you can flip that pancake any way you want, but there’s still another side staring back at you.” And that’s the truth—no matter how the current leader spins it, his side of the story keeps looking more false than the other.
Terry Allen is an NABJ award-winning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional, and founder of the charity – Vice President at FocusPR, Founder of City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org
