Lynn Bowers

I was raised in the COGIC during the time when the Saints were saved, sanctified and burned to a crisp with the Holy Ghost and that with fire!!!! As a teen in the 70's, I was fortunate to have been in a couple of Dr. Clark's workshop choirs and can vouch for the depiction of her character in rehearsals. She relentlessly strived for perfection and we did our best to give it to her in order to avoid the dreaded shoe. Each time, I always wanted to approach Twinkie - just to talk - or to invite her to hang out with a few of us (there wasn't anything wild we could have gotten into because we were only permitted to go to school and to church because EVERYTHING else was a sin in those days). If Twinkie was tormented by the load she bore, you would never know it by her demeanor as she came across as a very kind and gentle soul. The scene where Dr. Clark told her daughter that if she wore pants she was probably smoking reefer reminded me of when my Grandmother found out that I, as an adult, was smoking cigarettes....she told me that smoking cigarettes lead to prostitution. The Saints were a different breed back then, but I must admit that we were instilled with a good foundation. I can vouch for the COGIC reaction after the sisters' appearance on the Grammy's as I can recall my Grandmother saying "Mattie's going to be shoving her daughters down our throats at the convocation, knowing that they ain't saved". I equated Dr. Clark having to face the COGIC board as her "ME TOO" moment and I pray that her response depicted in the movie is accurate. The Clarks were definitely tried in the fire and came out as pure gold. I pray that all is well with each of them.