So I’m watching Larry King right now, and it’s a tribute to Bernie Mac. Had this been ten years ago, would you have dreamed that Bernie “The Lord is my shepherd, and he knows what I like” Mac would get the royal treatment from CNN upon his death? I sure as hell wouldn’t have.
Dudes like Bernie Mac don’t often get famous. He’s the equivalent of a grimy underground rapper going platinum. Mac’s standup wasn’t mainstream fare, but he managed to parlay that into the big time. He reached the point of earning roles that allowed him to be himself without being “the black guy.” Never mind the expansion of the role of the black father on television, which was certainly huge. Just consider how much Mac was able to do without compromising his style so very little, if at all.
Not just any style, but that grumpy old black man style, replete with jokes that made you laugh in spite of your undeniable discomfort.
Most people in the business of selling ideas have to be somewhat judicious with their negritude. You’ve got to pick your spots. It’s almost impossible to be as black as you are in real life and get a lot of love. Were that not the case, black folks in real life would get a lot more love.
Bernie figured out how to do it. To sell yourself without selling out is a dream for most of us. Congrats to Bernie Mac for pulling it off.
‘Til the other side, my man.
August 12, 2008
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