Random Thoughts on a Monday

This weekend two primary contributors to African-American and mainstream culture died. Comedian Bernie Mac passed on Saturday at age 50 due to complications of pneumonia and/or sarcoidosis (The jury is still out on that) and musician Isaac Hayes passed on Sunday at age 65 after exercising. It's very difficult to look at persons in pop culture who bring life, creativity and innovation to your life and watch them pass. You know how you can remember a certain song, a certain part in the bridge or remember the first time you heard a joke and you can remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard it. To remember these moments in our everyday lives and to think that maybe if we never got to know Bernie or Isaac how we wouldn't have these memorable times is sad indeed.

I remember when I was first introduced to the Shaft series--Richard Roundtree in all his coolness, all his glory, all his suave and sexy persona. The way he wore his afro and black leather coat, it was like you'd never seen an afro or black leather coat before. No one could carry it the way Richard Roundtree or John Shaft carried it. But what told more of the story than John Shaft in his afro and leather coat was the music, how could we forget the music.Everyone wanted the theme to Shaft to be their personal theme music. We wanted the music to play when we walked into the club, walking through the halls at work, walking to the grocery store, when we got out of the car for a special event. Everywhere we went there was a red carpet in our mind and the theme to Shaft was our personal soundtrack. I don't mean to brag but how could we not know about that coolmutha---shut yo mouth--John Shaft. (I don't know about you but "we can dig it").

Speaking of cool muthas, how can we not remember the first time we heard Bernie Mac say "I ain't scared of you m*th@f$uck@s" in his distinctive voice with that signature Bernie Mac smile. Bernie Mac's comedic style made you feel comfortable like when you're with your family; within his first minute onstage you felt like you already knew him. Mac's presence onstage felt like an uncle or next-door neighbor with whom you loved to sit around and joke with about everything and nothing. Remember the Kings of Comedy and how Bernie Mac had to be the last act on the show because his jokes were coming from so far left field the house would literally come down by the time he was finished. There would be nothing left after Bernie finished with the audience. You can't forget about his trials and tribulations of watching his nieces and nephews which ultimately led to his television show "The Bernie Mac Show".

It's sad to know there won't be any new Isaac Hayes creations as he was in the studio working on a new album for Stax Records. It's sad to know we won't see another Percy Jones (Guess Who, 2005) or Dolla Bill(The Players Club,1998) performed the way Bernie Mac did. My condolences go to the families of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

RIP Bernie Mac (1957-2008) RIP Isaac Hayes (1942-2008)