August 12, 2008

Bernie Mac was a really big deal

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.

19 Comments »

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1. Catdaddy,

   You ain’t never lied about that one. One word…Poise- being yourself and being comfortable in your own skin. The Mac Man was one of the greatest to ever do it. We will miss him.

   -D.Nunley

   Comment by Dnunn — August 12, 2008 #

2. My daughter–who’s 11–said something really profound about Mac yesterday: “He was one comedian who was funny and had something to say.”

   I wanna know how she knows that. Her mother and I need to have a talk.

   Comment by Solomeen — August 12, 2008 #

3. I got the same warm and fuzzy feeling watching the Bernie Mac Show as I did with Cosby in the ’80s. He transcended genres and had very wide appeal! He seemed like the kind of guy everyone would want to be friends with…

   Comment by Rex — August 12, 2008 #

4. I said it on LoV, and I’ll say it here- I’m truly saddened by the death of the Mac Man. One of the wisest, funniest motherfuckers ever.

   I can’t even come up with anything else to say. I’m at a loss of words.

   Comment by Brew City Drew — August 13, 2008 #

5. I just remembered what to say…

   I AIN’T SCARED OF YOU MUTHAFUCKAS

   Comment by Brew City Drew — August 13, 2008 #

6. “It’s almost impossible to be as black as you are in real life and get a lot of love.”

   What does this mean?

   Comment by Tree Frog — August 13, 2008 #

7. His rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is one of my favorites.

   “I said take, take, take…”

   I had the opportunity to work on his show and was in a scene with him. Let me say, he was one of the nicest people.

   Comment by Stephanie — August 13, 2008 #

8. Tree Frog:

   It means that most of us blacks have to “play the game” to a certain extent in order to make it happen in society, corporate society in particular. I wouldn’t be able to function if I went to work kickin it like I do with my boys. To a certain extent, some of us have to “dial it down” somewhat, and then bring it back up when the time comes up. “Playing the game”, is how many of my friends refer to it… Check this video; while it’s a spoof and a definitely a comedy; there is a certain element of truth to it.

   http://pstola.com/corporate_selct.htm

   Comment by VeeSlim — August 13, 2008 #

9. VeeSlim: Dial down what?

   I don’t have my headphones right now, will get to the link in the morning.

   Comment by Tree Frog — August 13, 2008 #

10. Oh jeez…

    Comment by Rex — August 14, 2008 #

11. I enjoy kicking it with my boys, and we might throw around slang words and terminology germane to our culture. and environment. That’s all well and good, but it wouldn’t go over in Corporate America. I can’t go on a job interview and be like, “Feel me, Son, I need this job hella quick, nah’mean?” That’s what I mean when I say “dial it down”. I get into the office building, I know that at that point, I change my vernacular and diction.

    Comment by VeeSlim — August 14, 2008 #

12. What I’m trying to get at is this weird, unsaid concept that black people alone tone themselves down or find it hard to get somewhere if they’re consistently working the edge of what’s comfortable.

    I’m Nepali. I slightly censor myself in the workplace. I also turn down the volume knob and keep the more biting observations and thoughts to myself. Everybody does it.

    Bernie Mac’s success was all the more difficult for being black, but it’s damned hard to get to where he did having that edge. Corporate Hollywood and TV wants to take away that edge because the focus groups don’t like it.

    I enjoyed the hell out of Bernie’s work and I’ll miss him. Much love to Isaac Hayes too.

    Comment by Tree Frog — August 14, 2008 #

13. Hey Bo, let you boy Cott know that LoV’s been alive & kicking for 2 full years as of today. Not the 2 weeks he predicted.

    Comment by Brew City Drew — August 15, 2008 #

14. *your

    Comment by Brew City Drew — August 15, 2008 #

15. treefrog:
    i don’t think we’re (black folks) are staking a sole claim on the concept of duality (one way w/your peeps, another way w/the man). anyone whose culture tends toward the more colorful and whose vernacular departs from “the queens english” can get in on this. we all tone it down and and get our “proper” english on when dealing with mainstream, apple pie america.

    Comment by asha zee — August 19, 2008 #

16. and i beg to differ that ‘everyone’ does it (tone it down or check their culture at the door from 9-5) as you stated. some folks—–have the privilage/luxury not to.

    Comment by asha zee — August 19, 2008 #

17. Bomani Jones does not like Nepali people. He’s black in America and just realized the Bernie Mac was “a really big deal”

    Comment by Shot Clock — August 19, 2008 #

18. I don’t think anyone would blame you for banning Cock Block (I mean Shot Clock).

    Comment by Rex — August 22, 2008 #

19. Good one, Rex

    Comment by Shot Clock — August 22, 2008 #

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