First off, props to Ebony Magazine for the respectable manner in which black men are being shown. I think that has to be said. At a time in America where the black male culture stands to be re-defined, I think it's an inspiring as well as timely edition. Although I am sure there are others, besides these twenty-five men, who could have made the BLACK COOL list I have to believe this is nevertheless a welcomed occasion.
This collector's edition (August '08 publication) features eight different covers. Amongst the Marvin Gaye cover, others are Jay Z, Muhammad Ali, Billy Dee Williams, Prince, Barack Obama, Denzel Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson. To find out all 25 black men selected, I am sure that the list will eventually become posted across the web. But, for those who truly believe this to be a collector's edition, you may want to purchase each magazine.
Also, I decided to post the Marvin Gaye cover due to what happened April 1, 1984. I remember awakening and hearing my grandmother crying. I walked into her bedroom to see her draped in tears while watching television. The news spoke of singer Marvin Gaye's murder/death. It took me awhile to understand the impact which Marvin Gaye had upon my grandmother.
After years and years of listening to his music I finally understood why she was so touched. I came to find that not only was she saddened by the loss...but many, many more human beings as well.
Marvin Gaye sings The National Anthem:
11 comments:
I remember the day that Marvin Gaye was killed by his father. I thought it was an April Fool's joke. The first person I thought about was my uncle Leonard. My Uncle is a true Marvin Gaye fan. He was truly impacted by the death of Marvin Gaye. Marvin Gaye's voice is definitely missed by the music industry.
I hope that Marvin Gaye has finally found the inner peace that eluded him on this side of life.
Great point, attorneymom.
I personally felt like Marvin Gaye had alot of inner turmoil which greatly affected his life. It's a wonder that he was able to make such great and touching music through the inner demons.
have you checked out the boi on him? i learned things i had no idea about.
yes his father was 'off' from the beginning of his marriage to marvins mom.
they lived in utter chaos because of the father.
it's amazing that marvin did as much as he did music wise and lived as long a he did. in part despite his drug addition- he was doing pretty much ok, till he moved back in with his parents upon return to the states. he brought the thugs and drugs back into the home and the fahter as really gone mentally by then...cross-dressing all those years as the children were growing up --while sitting in a pasters seat...he was just plume fool crazy! and very mean and evil--i think he was playing with God and just conning the church all those years...cause no one clipped him on anything and he kept right on doing as he pleased..
if you have never seen that bio--you should check it out...
very good!!
but even when satan has plans what ever God says will come to pass--as marvins musical gifts came from nowhere but God.
i love marvin gaye's music! and was very sad to learn how he and his siblings grew up.
wow, wisdomteachesme.
i definitely need to check out his bio. i have read upon a few essays about his life and music. but none touched upon your comment. you have me wanting to run to the bookstore this evening and see what i can pick up.
hey don, i believe it was an A&E bio or the Bio station on cable.
it was magnificent! the things it revealed was like you were right there living it with him.
also jess martain, (one of my fav actors) is playing marvin in an upcoming film. not sure if it will be at the movies or jsut on tv. but i know jesse will do marvin justice!
i tell you--the his father was a either a great freak or bi-polar. once you seee the bio i am speaking about you will see the man had great mental issues!
he would parade around the house and in the yard dressed as a women...i'll leave the rest of the details for when you all see it--i don't want to ruin it. once you see it--you will definitely understand why marvin wrote the lyrics that he did and why he was so sex free with his body.
they go all through the motown issues and days! stuff no one knew except those right in the middle of the mix.
google it, i'm sure it will turn up.
i too think his father had mental issues that he never got treated. it appears they got worse. i have read different excerpts about what happened the day of the murder. i really don't know which story to believe.
i've read it involved physical abuse, drugs, depression, all kinds of rumors. some even say that he didn't want marvin back living in the home. all we can say for sure is that a father murdered his son that day. but i am dying to check out the autobiography.
if it was on a&m, then i know it was a great watch. they are always digging deep to uncover the story behind the story.
i once read where diana ross spoke of marvin 'slipping away.' so, as you stated, i take it that she meant that he was on drugs. sad.
MARVIN!!!
I just LOVE Marvin. He changed my life.
*SIGH*
I wish I could be excited about this cover and peerhaps this issue, but I can't. What the hell does being a "cool brotha" mean?
I agree with your assessment about redefining the image of the black male, but I think the "coolness" factor is precisely the reason black men have bought into the whole thug persona.
I hate the fact that Marvin Gaye's legacy has to be reduced by EBONY to just being "cool". That's the problem with black manhood and masculinity. The entire construct is fundamentally flawed.
I can't tell you how many "Cool" brothas I know who are shiftless and trifling because they are simply being "cool" and demonstrating their swagger. This issue and all 8 separate covers that come with it, will do nothing except further stereotype black men.
I am so over this kind of stuff.
The cool list is incomplete...they missed (((((Don))))).
I kinda get BLKSEAGOAT. Stereotypically cool means foolish. But I think in the general sense that "cool" is someone who is so comfortable with who they are that they are not HOT (sweating themselves) or COLD (rigid) they just "are". Yeah Marvin was troubled, but who isn't. He made a decision to shine, regardless! And that's cool.
@ blkseagoat: i agree with each and every point you made. i love the way you made them with felt conviction. you make solid points, but i think ebony magazine were speaking upon the entertainment aspect of (these, in particular)black men.
@ sister p: look @ sister p making me smile. i appreciate the kind words. and, yes, blkseagoat made some great points.
i too am under the belief that we have all failed. throught that failure, we still have to live the journey. which, as you stated, marvin gaye defenitely did.
it feels good to see your name in the comment section again. thanks. it still means alot.
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