Isaac Hayes was shocked when his “Theme from Shaft” won the Best Original Song Academy Award back in 1971. Hayes didn’t think he had any chance of winning. He figured most Academy voters were too straitlaced to choose his deep-funk street anthem, especially since the other nominated songs were conventional movie tunes by some of Hollywood, Broadway and pop music’s most respected writing teams (Marvin Hamlisch and Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini with Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, and Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr.). But Hayes got some unexpected love from inside mainstream Hollywood as well. When some of moviedom’s old guard criticized Hayes’ nomination publicly, Oscar-winning Mancini — who was nominated against Hayes that year – defended him. Quincy Jones, who had been nominated three times in previous years, stood up for Hayes as well. There were other defenders, as well.

Years later, Isaac Hayes couldn’t remember what he said in his Academy Awards acceptance speech. He recalled “floating” to the stage in a surprised daze and feeling very proud. Black folks all across America felt proud, too. You have to remember that this was back in the days when there were only a handful of black movie stars, and most of them did not get major, mainstream recognition. So, when Isaac Hayes won Hollywood’s highest honor for a masterpiece of undiluted black funk from an unabashedly black movie (one which was inaccurately and derisively dismissed by some as an “exploitation” film) it was a victory for black culture and black people and it was a signal that America was becoming more inclusive. It was a real Jackie Robinson-esque moment.

BERNIE MAC’S LEGACY OF LOVE

“The Wizard of Oz” told the Tin Man that, “A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” Bernie Mac embodied the truth of that statement. He must have given a lot of love in his life because he was truly and deeply loved by others. Recollections of Bernie’s love, friendship and kindness have been consistent themes in all of the tributes paid to the late comedian in the days since he died unexpectedly of complications of pneumonia. Bernie’s daughter, Je’niece Childress, summed up her dad’s greatness this way: “I think what made him so special to people was that, even though he was a celebrity, he just seemed so down to earth and so much like a part of your family. I’m sad that my daughter will never know or be able to feel how much he loved her.” A loving comment like that from an adult child is about the strongest evidence I can imagine for a life well-lived. There is no more lasting or worthwhile contribution that any of us can make than to touch lives with love. That’s what Bernie Mac did and that is why he was much, much more than a King of Comedy.

Thanks for listening. I’m Cameron Turner and that’s my two cents.

THINK! IT AIN’T ILLEGAL YET!

Cameron Turner is a Los Angeles-area native whose editorials, entertainment news features and audio documentaries have appeared on national radio networks, online and in print for over 20 years.

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