THE SOUL OF ISAAC HAYES August 20, 2008

Isaac Hayes died last week at the age of 65. I remember growing up with Isaac (so much so I feel he wouldn’t mind my referring to him by his first name) and felt he was not just a part of the Black culture in the 1960s and 1970s, but was one of the architects of ‘the’ culture. He gave the 1970s a soundtrack and it had a whole lot of soul.  A funny illustration of this was the 1988 movie, “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” by Keenan Ivory Wayans and his family. I catch it on cable occasionally and it still cracks me up. Isaac was also in that film in a supporting role.  It spoofed the “blaxploitation” films of the 1960s and 1970s. One of the first, and I believe one of the best films of that day, Gordon Parks’ “Shaft” in which Isaac wrote and won a “Grammy” for the soundtrack of one of the best original movie scores of today or yesteryear.  

I remember as a teenager my dad; also a huge Isaac Hayes fan took me to one of his concerts when we lived in Connecticut. I still remember the excitement I felt as I listened to his music. I was hanging out with what I considered at that time some of the “coolest” adults around. His music seemed to fill my soul, touched my heart and moved my body and my spirit.

What people not of the Black culture (White people) in those days probably couldn’t relate to was the impact he had on “us” as a people. Black was just becoming “beautiful” and his “Hot Buttered Soul” album of 1969 found him dressed in his signature dark glasses wearing only chains, made a huge statement. We, as a people, where breaking out of the chains of oppression we had been bounded by. Later his 1971 mega hit “Black Moses” went further as a statement of social unrest. The album cover opened up to find Isaac looking very much like he was crucified on a cross. You just had to love his mettle to take that position.  It was a new day as a ‘people’. Black folks had begun to see that WE had to empower ourselves; no one else (White people) was going to do it for us. It was time to stop crying about what had been done to us and to begin to not ask, but to demand, the respect each and every person had as an inalienable right as productive citizen of this country. Our ancestors were the builders of this country’s infrastructure.

Most of the “young bloods” don’t know that Isaac Hayes and a few other “soul artists” of the past began rap. I can still hear “Walk on By” or “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” and remember the rap that went with them. In my estimation he was one of the “grandfathers” of the rap genre and has never gotten any recognition for this work to my best recollection. It’s too bad, because he made an impact on the music that is a viable part of the American culture.

The children of today know Isaac Hayes as the voice of “Chef” in the animation show, South Park”. I for one, never got “South Park” but others did. When channel surfing I would hear that unmistakenable voice and knew instantly who was speaking. Today’s youth may not know of his musical contributions, but those of us who are considered “Old G’s” do.

Thanks Isaac, you made our world better and taught us that everyone needs their own theme music. Why? Because Isaac was a “bad mother…shut your mouth”.

Namaste’

Goodbye to a King of Comedy August 13, 2008

The world received some bad news this week. Bernie Mac, beloved family man, comedian, actor and inspiration died from complications of pneumonia. From the news reports Bernie had been in the hospital for over three weeks, but all expected him to rally and rebound from this illness, like he had done before.

You just have to ‘Google” Bernie Mac to find all the pertinent information on his life, career and death, so I will concentrate on his impact on me and my life.

I first remember seeing Bernie on the “Def Comedy Jam” show on HBO, back in the day. What I liked about his comedy was the way he told ‘real life’ stories. When he talked about raising kids and how he was raised, there was a ‘no-nonsense’ approach to child rearing. If a kid is acting out, there is no “Now Johnny, please stop hitting the dog or I’ll have to put you in time-out.” The dog is looking at both of them thinking, “time-out hell, he’s hurting me, beat his a$%.” What needed to happen to Johnny is to be punched in the throat the next time he laid a fingernail on the dog. That would be the ‘Bernie Mac School of Childhood Development’.

 I was raised by a mother who could hit you from around a corner and down the hall without taking her eyes off what she was doing. Do you remember the ‘Mama is going to beat my a#$’ stare? My mother would give my brother and I the ‘look’ if we were acting up in public. There wasn’t a chance she would forget about the spanking when we got home either. We would run around in circles trying to get away from the hand/ fist/belt, and she would be talking to you as she was swinging, “The next time we’re out and you embarrass me like that, I’m going to knock your teeth down your throat right then and there!” That’s what we need more of, not child abuse, but a standard of conduct for children with consequences that have some ‘teeth’, like a beat down. Our children are raising children and there aren’t enough ‘Big Mama’s’ around to get the job done.

Bernie was real and talked about real subject matters. There was always something you could relate too. He was believable, with just enough swagger to make him interesting. There was substance with his flash. Fame seemed to keep him humble and he never forgot where he came from. ‘The Bernie Mac Show’ was a shining example of how we all want a part of the American dream across racial and social-economic lines. What is important to one is important to all of us.

I think the lessons I learned from Bernie Mac were,  to tell the truth, life is funny all by itself; tell it like it is and don’t worry about what others think, because everyone has an opinion; and being ‘politically correct’ is a bunch of “bullsh#t.” Thank you Bernie for all the laughter, see you on the other side.

Namaste’