Soul Fixin'

The Black List

The black experience in America is defined by struggles, joys, trials, tribulations and triumphs. A diverse group of prominent African Americans from various professions, disciplines and backgrounds are telling their own story, the African American experience in the 21st century, in HBO's Documentary Film Series latest doc, The Black List, which airs tonight at 9. Sean Combs, Toni Morrison, Chris Rock, Al Sharpton, Serena Williams and others are featured in the Elvis Mitchell and Timothy Greenfield-Saunders film. If you feel like telling your personal experience of black life in America, head over to HBO Blacklist and upload your video.

Soul Fixin'

Never Can Say Goodbye The past weekend proved to be a difficult set of days for Black America. We loss two artistic geniuses, comedian and actor Bernie Mac took his last breath Saturday morning and Isaac Hayes, the father of 12 and the grandfather of 14, went on to glory Sunday morning. I'm sure his soul comrades, Sam Cooke, David Ruffin, Ray Charles, Donny Hathaway, James Brown --to name few, welcomed him with open arms. A homecoming celebration like no other. Even though the Memphis bred soul man created his own brand of soul music Isaac Hayes was more than just a soul singer, he was an enduring symbol of empowerment, he crystallized the strength and beauty of black manhood. Isaac Hayes fully embraced the beauty of his blackness as evident on many of his albums covers. He was black and proud. He may not have said it loud but it was written all over his face. The man known as Black Moses walked to sound of his own organ, he was bold, proud, confident, beautiful, cool, and possessed plenty of sex appeal.

As I sit here and reflect on the life and music of Isaac Hayes, I realize so many soul singers have left us and so few are still around. I dread the day when Aretha, Gladys, Stevie, Al Green, Mavis Staples, Patti LaBelle, Sam Moore, Smokey Robinson and others join God's choir. These are our heroes and sheroes, the voices of a people, they translated our trials and tribulations, joy and pain, and heartache and sorrow into music. Soul music is the soundtrack of our lives, it helped us get through tryin' times and helped us celebrate the good times. Curtis Mayfield once proudly proclaimed "you know to talk about the 60's almost brings tears to my eyes. What we did. What we all did. We changed the world- me,us Smokey, Jerry Butler, The Temptations, Aretha, Otis, Gladys Knight, James Brown. We really did. Barriers broke down for us and for all black musicians afterwards. I mean, to have lived through that and to have been apart of that, is more than anyone can ask." We are deeply indebted to the pioneering artists of soul music, men and women who were agents of social change. Today, we pay homage to Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. Till we meet again...never can say goodbye.

Young, Gifted, Black and Dead!!!

The Rev. Al Sharpton is organizing a community summit to address black on black violence after Harlem was rocked by a series of shootings over Memorial Day weekend. Over the holiday weekend, four gun battles broke out in a 3 hour period wounding 10 people. A 15 year male was shot dead after a house party. "Shootings and violence within our community by one of our own is an outrage and an issue that we must confront as diligently and as passionately as a sensational case of police misconduct or brutality." The " Summit on Violence" will be held within the month and will include community leaders, young people, law enforcement, clergy, businessmen and elected officials. The goal of the summit is to address three critical areas: improving relationships between the police and black community, better dialogue with black youth, and new JOBS.

On Sunday,Thousands of blacks, in particular black males, took to the streets of St. Louis during an unity march. An estimated 50,000 people sick and tired of black on black violence marched through a historically black neighborhood. The march is apart of an anti violence campaign, "A Call To Oneness," organized by black clergy, businessmen and community leaders along with civic, public and private institutions. "When you are one of the cities which leads the nation in homicides, you don't have many options in terms of thinking about doing something," said the event coordinator, the Rev. Freddy James Clark. "When we march through north St. Louis, we hope to create a moral climate. We hope to reclaim, through the vehicle of reconciliation, respect for the other and sanctity of life." "We've only just begun to live

White lace and promises

A kiss for luck and we're on our way

Before the rising sun we fly

So many roads to choose

We start our walking and learn to run

Sharing horizons that are new to us

Watching the signs along the way

Talking it over just the two of us

Working together day to day

Together And when the evening comes we smile

So much of life ahead

We'll find a place where there's room to grow

And yes we've just begun

Sharing horizons that are new to us

Watching the signs along the way

Talking it over just the two of us

Working together day to day

Together And when the evening comes we smile

So much of life ahead

We'll find a place where there's room to grow

And yes we've just begun."

Curtis Mayfield "We've Only Just Begun"