By Dave Devereaux
Changing Our Narrative
The year 2020 has proven to be a year of pain, desperation and loss. It’s almost impossible to begin with where it all started to go wrong, but I suppose after the new year rang in, forces of change decided now is the time to set several things in motion.
The first shock was the sudden and tragic death of Kobe Bryant on January 26, 2020. This was a profound loss, especially for the city of Los Angeles as he was our sports hero of an era and many people looked up to him because of his ability to transcend a life of public spectacle into one of the most philanthropic figures we have ever experienced. His death along with his daughter, Gianna and seven other people in a horrific helicopter crash shocked the world and caused many people to seemingly feel hopeless and lost for some time. Kobe had just hit his retirement stride and could have contributed so much more to the world. He will be sorely missed as people continue to mourn him eight months later.
OFebruary 17, 2020 our beloved Willona Woods, of CBS’s Good Times, Ja’Net DuBois, died of cardiac arrest at her home in Glendale, CA. DuBois’ character was reminiscent of someone we all have known in our lives. She portrayed Willona from 1974 to 1979. She represented a real person who told it like it was and made it seem effortless to express such a sense of character on screen. She was also a talented singer who co-wrote the theme song “Moving On Up” for The Jeffersons which aired from 1975 to 1985. Ja’Net DuBois will always be known for television during an era that did not always show realistic portrayals of blacks. She however, gave us respectability and pride for her realness. Everybody loved that character, and DuBois’ immense talent.
One week later we lost lifestyle guru Barbara “B” Smith on February 24, 2020 to early onset Alzheimer. A trailblazer in the lifestyle relm, B. Smith, as she was professionally known, broke many barriers by parlaying her successful modeling career into restaurant ownership and later a lifestyle brand, and author. As well, B. Smith had her own businesses along with a television show. She was the second black model to appear on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine in 1976. She hosted her television show B. Smith with Style on NBC for nearly a decade. It was during this time she realized frequent memory loss. She bravely accepted her condition and wrote a book entitled Before I Forget, on how to deal with Alzheimer’s disease. The book is a brave guide to understanding the disease. B. Smith will be remembered for being open and honest with a debilitating disease that we are yet to cure, but she wanted people to know it’s real face.
On March 1, 2020 the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency. COVID-19 ultimately halted all travel, public activity, social interactions and feelings of safety and peace worldwide. As I have written before, it ushered in an era of unrest, civil concern, and outright social discord that has eventually resulted in a huge mix of chaos across the globe.
Much of March was marred by lockdowns and quarantines.
When Reverend Joseph Lowery passed on March 27, 2020 at the age of 98, it was a marked change from the homegoing celebrations of other notable civil rights icons from the past. He was laid to rest in a private ceremony, only attended by his family members. This was due to new restrictions on attending public events in mass due to COVID-19. Lowery helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference or S.C.L.C. where he ultimately led the organization as President from 1977 to 1997. The S.C.L.C. is still a premiere organization working for the full equality of African Americans in all aspects of national and international life. Reverend Lowery was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom under President Barack Obama’s Administration for his heroic record of social activism. He was laid to rest on the 52nd anniversary of Dr. King’s assissination on April 4th. Joseph Lowery was a civil rights titans. His contributions to African American history will long be heralded as both significant and lasting. He embodies the description of a true icon.
On April 29, 2020 we saw the departure of Texas State Representative Al Edwards, who successfully wrote a bill to mark “Juneteenth” as the first black emancipation celebration to receive official state recognition. Representative Edwards was a force to be reckoned with as he spent his career uplifting black voices. Today, most states recognize Juneteenth as a holiday, though not an official one. This past June 19th was the first to be marked by nationwide recognition and celebrations.
Music Executive Andre Harrell passed on May 7, 2020 due to heart failure. It was reported that he had heart problems for some time. In 1983 Harrel began working under Russell Simmons at Def Jam Records and three years later he found his own label, Uptown Records. Andre Harrell is responsible for the careers of many artists, most notably Mary J. Blige and Sean “Puffy” Combs, while at Uptown. He is credited as the chief architect of modern hip-hop and R&B, merging the two genres quite successfully. As with the music industry, it has undergone much change and Harrell was fluid with the business. Two decades after Uptown Records’ huge impact on the industry, he became the vice chairman of Puffy Combs’ Revolt Music Network. Andre Harrell is considered a cultural icon who paved the way for many and did it in an industry known to be tough if not impossible to conquer.
The incomparable Little Richard, as he was known, passed away of bone cancer on May 9, 2020. Born Richard Wayne Penniman, he was flamboyant, different, and unmatched talent wise. He broke many barriers and remained an influential figure for more than seven decades. Touted as the “Founding Father of Rock”, he made it clear that he would be forever known as a trailblazer. He often corrected talk show hosts or magazine reporters if they got it wrong or tried to embellish on the struggles and sacrifices that he made in his life and career. He was unapologetically clear about who he was not after trying for so many years to be what the music labels wanted. He loved wearing the gender-bending outfits along with his make-up and pompidou, which sometimes left fans wandering about his sexuality. Of which, he appeared to struggle with all his life. Many were afraid he was too bold, but Little Richard was about being honest with his fan base when it came to the music, nothing more, nothing less. He inspired the likes of Elton John and of course the late great Prince. In 1986 he was one of the ten original inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 1993 he was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys, having never won a Grammy in competition pior. Admittedly he had an interesting career that allowed a great lifestyle and left a legacy for many artists to follow. He will forever be known for his bigger than life personality and incomparable talent.
July marked the passing of two civil rights icons; C.T. Vivian and John Lewis both on July 17th.
C.T. Vivian passed of natural causes and is best known as a minister and close friend to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He helped organize the first sit-ins in Nashville in 1960 and the first civil rights marches in 1961. He was right along with Rev. King in the Freedom Rides that took place during the 60’s. Vivian conceived and directed an educational program, Vision, that sent over 700 Alabama students to college. This program later became known as Upward Bound.. C.T. Vivian wrote books and championed civil causes especially for young African Americans until his death. He is one of our civil rights titans who occupied a seat next to the greatest civil rights icon of the century, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
John Lewis will go down as one of this century’s most prominent civil rights figures beside Dr. King. He was a young protester who never showed fear in the face of great evil and hatred. He was known as one of the “Big Six” leaders who organized the 1963 March on Washington. In 1965 he led one of three Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. He maintained a gentleman and reverent quality by never taking the low road during his lifetime. Elevating himself from a poor Alabama boy, to the Congress of the United States of America is no simple feat. His experiences of being arrested and beaten gave him a strength that many may never be able to conceive. John Lewis served 17 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. His list of accomplishments there are numerous, most notably he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 by President Barack Obama. He was celebrated upon his death as the hero of a political dynasty. John Lewis fought a brave battle against pancreatic cancer and upon his deathbed, directed all concerned to keep getting into “good trouble” and keep fighting the good fight against racism and tyranny.
Finally, we arrive in August, and experience the sudden loss of actor Chadwick Boseman at the age of 43 to colon cancer. Boseman had become the first black superhero to represent the Marvel brand. He was a fan favorite after his stunning portrayal of Black Panther on the big screen. Little black kids had a hero that looked like them in King T’Challa/Black Panther. Boseman had inked a five picture deal with Marvel and was set to play Black Panther again for a 2022 release. His acting accolades are long and representative of an actor who chose meaningful parts. It was obvious he wanted to make a difference and took the title “role model”, to heart. Since his recent passing, he has been repeatedly quoted, and film reels demonstrate a well versed young man who had so much more to share with the cinematic world. He fought a valiant fight against colon cancer privately and it was reported that he felt he was going to beat it, gain weight and prepare for his next project. His untimely death ushered in a new concern for young African Americans, since colon cancer is more likely to affect us in higher percentages than most other races. Chadwick Boseman really made an impression on our culture and demonstrated the best of us artistically. He will always be remembered as the Marvel hero that broke the box office, when no one thought that he would. Rest in honor our King, we have your celluloid representation whenever we need a pick me up of culture.
As there are many more heroes, heroines, athletes, political figures and atistic giants that I could have included in this piece, I chose the few that spoke to me directly. In no way am I minimizing the contributions of other greats, but this article could be a book. We have some incredible people within our ranks that should always be celebrated. The year 2020 has been pivotal with so much loss in a short period of time. The year ushered in civil unrest, economic disaster, profound social change due to a pandemic disease, loss of notable public figures and an election that I pray we are ready for.
