Soul Fixin'

Marvin Helps Redeem The Dream

A year prior to his death,Marvin Gaye made an unforgettable appearance at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game. Dressed in a dark double breasted suit with a pair of dark shades concealing his eyes, the soul crooner gave the audience at the L.A Forum a soulful rendition of the 'Star Spangled Banner.' This soul stirring moment has been recaptured in a recent Nike commercial featuring the aptly titled 'Redeem Team,' the USA men's basketball team reclaimed the gold in Beijing. Watching images of Marvin along with images of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and other players fills me with a great sense of pride, black athletes and musicians have been great ambassadors of black culture to the world.