Feeling my age after hearing the news this morning that Soul Train creator Don Cornelius was found dead at his Sherman Oaks, CA home at 4 AM PST from what police and TMZ are reporting as a self inflicted gunshot wound.
The 75 year old Cornelius was a journalist who realized that there was no show like American Bandstand that featured the music of African-American artists and created the long running syndicated show in 1971.
Soul Train quickly became must see TV for African-Americans and an iconic part of my childhood and any other kid who grew up in the 70's, 80's, 90's and early 2K's and ran until 2006.
Soul Train was instrumental in getting wider television exposure to Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, and James Brownamongst many otheracts in the R&B, and hip hop music world.
Soul Train was so popular that even Elton John and David Bowie made appearances on its stage and Spike Lee described the show as 'an urban music time capsule'.
That it is. The TransGriot and more than a few other peeps learned the latest dances by parking ourselves in front of the TV and watching the multicultural and gracefully acrobatic Soul Train dancers execute their moves every Saturday.
And yeah, I'll admit was more than jealous of the sistahs that strutted their stuff on the show in the fashionable clothing and hairstyles of the day.
Soul Train is also responsible for something that is an iconic part of African-American culture, the Soul Train line that you see at every wedding, social gathering and party in ours and other communities..
I'm sure the story of what happened to Mr. Cornelius will continue to evolve and come out, but in the interim the only way to close this post about an iconic broadcasting pioneer is use his classic Soul Train show sign off line.
I mentioned that Chicago's Lois Bates, one of the African-American trans community's builders and pioneers passed away on November 17 just three days before the TDOR.
Thanks to Rod 2.0 found out that her homegoing ceremony was held at 11 AM CST yesterday at Galting's Chapel on 10133 S. Halsted in Chicago. The wake was held on Sunday, November 27 at Pillar of Love Fellowship UCC.
She's had some health challenges over the last few years, but that still didn't stop her from serving the local community. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her in the Chicago area and in the national African American trans community.
First Tripoli and Muammar Gaddafi's vaunted Bab al-Aziziya compound got overrun and sent the former Libyan dictator scurrying in haste to his hometown of Sirte to avoid capture and to set up his last stand against the surging Libyan rebel forces.
Now comes word from the Libyan government today that Sirte was finally overrun and Gaddafi was killed.
Hmm, the end of the Gaddafi regime and another foreign policy success for the Obama Administration. Don't you conservafools just hate that, especially when it's the intelligent African-American president that's doing it and doing it well?
But hey, since the GOP will refuse to give him credit for it, I'll let the POTUS have his say on these electronic pages.
Good afternoon, everybody. Today, the government of
Libya announced the death of Muammar Qaddafi. This marks the end of a
long and painful chapter for the people of Libya, who now have the
opportunity to determine their own destiny in a new and democratic
Libya.
For four decades, the Qaddafi regime ruled the Libyan people with an
iron fist. Basic human rights were denied. Innocent civilians were
detained, beaten and killed. And Libya’s wealth was squandered. The
enormous potential of the Libyan people was held back, and terror was
used as a political weapon.
Today, we can definitively say that the Qaddafi regime has come to an
end. The last major regime strongholds have fallen. The new government
is consolidating the control over the country. And one of the world’s
longest-serving dictators is no more.
One year ago, the notion of a free Libya seemed impossible. But then
the Libyan people rose up and demanded their rights. And when Qaddafi
and his forces started going city to city, town by town, to brutalize
men, women and children, the world refused to stand idly by.
Faced with the potential of mass atrocities -- and a call for help from
the Libyan people -- the United States and our friends and allies
stopped Qaddafi’s forces in their tracks. A coalition that included the
United States, NATO and Arab nations persevered through the summer to
protect Libyan civilians. And meanwhile, the courageous Libyan people
fought for their own future and broke the back of the regime.
So this is a momentous day in the history of Libya. The dark shadow of
tyranny has been lifted. And with this enormous promise, the Libyan
people now have a great responsibility -- to build an inclusive and
tolerant and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to
Qaddafi’s dictatorship. We look forward to the announcement of the
country’s liberation, the quick formation of an interim government, and a
stable transition to Libya’s first free and fair elections. And we call
on our Libyan friends to continue to work with the international
community to secure dangerous materials, and to respect the human rights
of all Libyans –- including those who have been detained.
We’re under no illusions -- Libya will travel a long and winding road
to full democracy. There will be difficult days ahead. But the United
States, together with the international community, is committed to the
Libyan people. You have won your revolution. And now, we will be a
partner as you forge a future that provides dignity, freedom and
opportunity.
For the region, today’s events prove once more that the rule of an iron
fist inevitably comes to an end. Across the Arab world, citizens have
stood up to claim their rights. Youth are delivering a powerful rebuke
to dictatorship. And those leaders who try to deny their human dignity
will not succeed.
For us here in the United States, we are reminded today of all those
Americans that we lost at the hands of Qaddafi’s terror. Their families
and friends are in our thoughts and in our prayers. We recall their
bright smiles, their extraordinary lives, and their tragic deaths. We
know that nothing can close the wound of their loss, but we stand
together as one nation by their side.
For nearly eight months, many Americans have provided extraordinary
service in support of our efforts to protect the Libyan people, and to
provide them with a chance to determine their own destiny. Our skilled
diplomats have helped to lead an unprecedented global response. Our
brave pilots have flown in Libya’s skies, our sailors have provided
support off Libya’s shores, and our leadership at NATO has helped guide
our coalition. Without putting a single U.S. service member on the
ground, we achieved our objectives, and our NATO mission will soon come
to an end.
This comes at a time when we see the strength of American leadership
across the world. We’ve taken out al Qaeda leaders, and we’ve put them
on the path to defeat. We’re winding down the war in Iraq and have begun
a transition in Afghanistan. And now, working in Libya with friends and
allies, we’ve demonstrated what collective action can achieve in the
21st century.
Of course, above all, today belongs to the people of Libya. This is a
moment for them to remember all those who suffered and were lost under
Qaddafi, and look forward to the promise of a new day. And I know the
American people wish the people of Libya the very best in what will be a
challenging but hopeful days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Thank you, very much.
***
Goodbye and good riddance to Gaddafi. Now the Libyan people can get on with the job of organizing and execuitng the post regime governmental phase complete with free and fair elections.
As many of you readers are aware of I do like to talk about things that occur in Canada from time to time. Since I do have dear friends in the Great White North and TransGriot readers who live above the 49th parallel, it's only fair that I delve into subjects that affect them.
If you were keeping up with my coverage of the Canadian elections earlier this year, you heard me mention NDP leader Jack Layton's name more than a few times
Layton has helmed the New Democratic Party since 2003, and under his leadership the NDP steadily built support to 37 seats in Parliament.
In this recent 2011 election they rode a wave of historic support, especially in his native Quebec to garner 103 seats and become the Official Opposition party in the next parliament for the first time in their 50 year party and Canadian history when it cranks up for business later this fall.
In the 2011 election campaign he did so while recovering from a broken hip and battling prostrate cancer. But unfortunately since that election Layton's condition worsened and he passed away on Monday at age 61.
New Democratic Party interim leader Nycole Turmel echoed the feelings of many shocked and stunned New Democrats when she wrote this message that was posted on the party website.:
New Democrats today are mourning the loss of a great Canadian.
Jack was a courageous man. It was his leadership that inspired me,
and so many others, to run for office. We – Members of Parliament, New
Democrats and Canadians – need to pull together now and carry on his
fight to make this country a better place.
On behalf of New Democrats from coast to coast to coast, our thoughts
and prayers are with our colleague Olivia Chow, Jack’s children Sarah
and Mike and the rest of Jack’s family.
And we remember the Tommy Douglas quote Jack included in every email
he sent: “Courage my friends, ‘tis never too late to build a better
world.”
Like Nycole, Renee and many Canadians I liked Jack Layton the more I saw, read about and heard him speak. I would have loved to see him get the opportunity to lead Canada as its prime minister.
He won't be around to shepherd his party as the Official Opposition, but before he passed away he wrote this letter to his fellow Canadians.
Layton closed his letter to Canadians with these words.
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear.
Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and
optimistic. And we’ll change the world.
I'll try my best to remember that.
Rest in peace, Jack. Your family, your party, your country and all who treasure human rights and a fair and just society in Canada and around the world are going to miss you.
The 75 year old Cornelius was a journalist who realized that there was no show like American Bandstand that featured the music of African-American artists and created the long running syndicated show in 1971.
Soul Train was so popular that even Elton John and David Bowie made appearances on its stage and Spike Lee described the show as 'an urban music time capsule'.
