Malcolm X and the definition of authenticity

May 18, 2016 by Soul On Ice

One of the challenges of writing is starting; simply banging away at the keys or scribbling words on a piece of paper is a process that can be daunting in itself. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. A great man who once mentored a budding writer said, “Don’t think. Just write.” Granted, that great man was William Forrester and the budding writer being mentored was Jamal Wallace in Finding Forrester, but that’s not the point. What he was trying to convey to Jamal was not to complicate the process. When it comes to writing, the first draft is written with your heart, and the second draft is written with your head. When a person writes from the heart, that person is being authentic. Authenticity doesn’t always equal a terrific piece of writing, but it does equal an honest piece of writing. The goal when it comes to writing about Malcolm X is just that: an honest piece of writing, a piece of writing written from the heart.

Tomorrow, May 19th, is the birthday of Malcolm X, who would have turned 91 years old. One of the biggest things that has always struck a chord is the lack of reverence for X in relation to other historical figures in the world of history. The reasons for the lack of reverence are open to discussion and there are likely some plausible ones. However, for someone whose words, actions and transformation played such an integral part in this life, and still do, it’s hard to imagine that he isn’t more revered.

Experiencing Purple Rain for the first time

May 02, 2016 by Soul On Ice

Two pieces appeared on this site over the past 12 days which are central to what is going on with today’s post: one piece was about going to the movies and the other was about Prince. Going to the movies, while fun, is not what it used to be and some of the reasons why are highlighted in the piece. As it pertains to Prince, the theme was Prince being appreciated from afar, realizing the talent and gift he shared with the people, and realizing that joining the party late was one of the biggest regrets topping the personal list of regrets.

One thing that never took place, until last Saturday night, was seeing Purple Rain. Sure, there were opportunities to watch the movie in the past, but those opportunities mostly consisted of the movie coming on television. When a movie is scaled down for television consumption, the drawback is usually an abbreviated, bastardized and compromised version of the authentically-told film that was in theatres or elsewhere that is not constrained by being on TV. As much as there was a desire to watch the movie, watching it on TV wasn’t going to work. Luckily, movie theatres around the country realize the magnitude of the loss of Prince and brought it back to the big screen. A local theatre in Dallas with some history of its own advertised a 9 P.M. showing for Purple Rain a week in advance, and plans were set in motion to make sure to be there.

Observing Prince from the sidelines

April 25, 2016 by Soul On Ice

This is prefaced by saying there are many Prince tribute pieces in the universe which are much more nuanced all over the internet. Hell, acquaintances, some of who will be mentioned throughout this piece, and who ingratiated themselves with Prince at a consistent and feverish pace, have written lengthy, informative, and entertaining pieces about the purple one. Pieces such as one published on his dreams and having the ambition to see his dreams manifest into reality while the world seemingly played catchup (1) are spot-on. Articles about Prince’s seemingly effortless ability to maneuver through time (2), on his unapologetic manner of bringing depth to a preconceived definition of blackness, gender and sensuality (3) or how Prince was a hero to strippers (4), or his ability to push boundaries and showcase his independence (5) are proof of such.

This is more of getting to the party late, or starting the race after countless others took off. It is akin to being a part of a team, but not getting any playing time. It is one thing to observe the action on the court, but it’s another to actually be a part of the action on the court. It’s one thing to watch the game; it’s another thing to feel the game. For years, watching the game from the bench was sufficient, but as time passed, it became a necessity to go from a mere spectator to a full-fledged participant. The goal wasn’t to win the MVP; it was simply to blend in the crowd and the action after being so far behind. Embracing a new sound, one that had been previously listened to in a more casual manner, and allowing that sound to become an extension of your evolution as a person, is what Prince did for the last several years.