So are there any universally revered old black men left?

The only one who comes to mind is John Lewis but I don't think he is that universally known (I actually had to google him because I couldn't remember his name for a second).

Mandela dead.
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton get chased out of Furgeson.
Bill Cosby (welp).

And this post wasn't really prompted by Cosby. I've notice since Obama's first election that Obama kind of rendered every black male leader older than him irrelevant (hence Jesse Jackson wanting to cut his balls off).

So in the mean time we just have to wait for Obama to get older?

Is it us (America) or them (Old Black Men) that's the problem?


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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

I think they went underground. The old heads know when it's time to lay low.

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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

But generally, yes. It's hard out there for the old brothers.

During election time or something?


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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

once was.

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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

Shit a lot of black folks probably don't know who he is either.

Sidney Poitier, too.

~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

yes

but Berry is not on Sidney's or Harry's level.

so, Berry is up there for me.

i don't think Berry is revered by as many ppl as Sidney or Harry, that's all. especially Sidney.

universe did Sharpton get "universal reverence"?

the post mentioned Mandela who was universally revered and is dead.

Sharpton is mentioned as an example of an old black man who is NOT revered universally.

the question is are there any LIVING universally revered old black men?

so far we've added Sidney, Harry and Ali to the list, it seems.

Berry might fit too but i'm not sure how much he's known.

George Clinton is not on the list b/c he's not well known - not like Poitier, Belafonte and Ali, at least.

There's is no other reason to mention Sharpton if Sharpton was just another figure who had no standing or high profile whatever.

universally revered.

I think you are right about Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte.

I would agree with Berry Gordy or George Clinton. I'd actually put Quincy Jones before either of those two.

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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

uh, so how did the categorization of Jackson and Sharpton "fit" between Mandela (who was "revered" but died) and Cosby (who was "revered" yet is currently..........)?


?

the question is - are there any universally revered black men alive today?

at all, if they never had COMPARABLE STATURE/STATUS.

I mention those two because despite big exposure (both ran for president) and a long history of civic activism, they are not on the level of Mandela or Bill Cosby pre-scandal.

Now folks might think there are obvious reasons personal to both of them that keep them from the stature and I wouldn't disagree but I can imagine if a couple of things happened differently they both could have been revered elder statemens.



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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

album has some above-average moments (even with his raggedy rough singing)

So....George possibly.

the post asks about universally revered old black men. Mandela is posited as an example. Dr. King is an example.

Clinton? no. relatively few ppl (white ppl) have even heard of him.

~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

level.

Belafonte and Poitier had mass appeal, but Cosby was a couple of rungs above.

Belafonte and Poitier both seemed to change lanes as they got older and do more behind the scenes. That's another reason why they're probably less "known" than Cos.

as much as their film career.


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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

hand delivered by them.

>as much as their film career.

he might belong on the list then.

EDIT: I think he's #1

combated apartheid; poverty; hiv; gay rights(for)

advisor to the UN for genocide prevention

I've never heard a bad word about him.

so if i made a ranked list he wouldn't be #1. but he'd be on the list.

i answered the phone and he was on the other end, offering condolences for the death of my grandfather, who he had worked with

i didnt make much of it at the time, but man. what a thing

*universally

a few of the folks named i feel like although white people know them and don't hate them
they don't necessarily LOVE them like they did bill cosby.

we're not old enough to have experienced it but the older folks tell me Sidney was the original and Bill is the 2nd version.

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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

Every time I hear black people poop on these two they sound like they are dropping fox news talking points.

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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

it seems like the media won.


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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r

______________________________________________________________________________

"To Each His Reach"

but.....

Fuck aliens.

who passed.


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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

Noticed Desmond Tutu above, so I guess we're going International.

Sir Trev is the face of everything that is good, honest and pure about the world... even if his job has mainly consisted of telling us what's gone wrong in humanity today.

Still alive right ? I think he still speaks at a lot of events. I was glad to hear he was mentoring rapper Killer Mike in his role as an activist .
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"You can win with certainty with the spirit of "one cut". "Musashi Miyamoto

Love this dude and I can't wait to read his memoir if he writes it anytime soon!
_____________________________________________________
"You can win with certainty with the spirit of "one cut". "Musashi Miyamoto

I understand you got to get your bag after a lifetime of public service but they started representing some not cool folks in their private sector practice.


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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

And when he passes I can see David Allen Greer moving into that slot

And DAG has been doing pretty well for himself

What's worst is that a lot of folks already mentioned are dead now.



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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

Quincy Jones
Spike Lee

these people anymore?

Like even with the death of Offsite, isn't it strange how charleston white's opinions and takes end up in my social media and timeline before Chuck D or Spike?

Can't really blame the media, it's not like there we collectively looked to them to get their reaction.



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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

The last universally beloved brother.


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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

this is why there are so many powerful old white men...we don't get to live long enough to change shit.

d


"i do more for both our communities than you'll ever know." - Heinz
"But rest assured, in my luxurious house built on the backs of people darker than me, I am sipping fine scotch and scoffing at how stupid you are." - bshelly

I read about 80 year old white folks playing tennis and get jealous.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"