Bernie Mac passed away this morning due to complications from pneumonia. So much for his publicist’s reassuring words ..
‘Oh, he’s getting better’ and yesterday’s update about him being released from the hospital in a couple of weeks. Publicist = paid to bullshit. Seems to me you let people know the truth and give those that can a chance to get in that last kind word.

Maybe it’s how he wanted it handled. Some people don’t want anyone to see or know that they are sick.

For myself, Bernie Mac will always be remembered for those six words on Def Comedy Jam..

“I ain’t scared of you mutherfuckers!”

That was his introduction to the world. Bernie Mac was on the comedy circuit for just about his entire life, but that night kicked open the doors to a bunch of opportunities. He had worked at Doc’s Fish Fry in Chicago - pulling sixty-hour weeks, performed on trains, in parks, and eventually hit the comedy clubs. You know, he grinded it out.

In his autobiography, Bernie Mac wrote about the day he decided to become a comedian.

One night I come in and find my mama in front of the TV cryin’. And you know how it is when you’re a little kid: your mama cryin’, you gonna be cryin in a minute.

“What’s wrong, Mama?” I ask her.

“Nothing, baby.”

I climb onto her lap. She holds me. I look at them big-ass tears coming down her cheeks and I reach up and wipe em with my pudgy little hands. “Mama,” I ask again, “why you cryin’?”

“It’s nothin’, Bean. Sometimes I think sad thoughts.”

“What thoughts?”

She didn’t answer. She was lookin at the TV. Black guy’s talking to Ed Sullivan. I look at him, but I don’t hear but a few words. And I can’t make them out anyway, see, because suddenly my mama’s laughin’ to bust a gut. Her whole lap is shakin’. I got to hold on tight or get thrown clear across the room.

I turn to look at her - this is the same woman that was cryin’ a second ago? - then turn back to the TV. “Who that man, mama?” She’s still laughin’. Takes her awhile to catch her breath.

“Bill Cosby, son. He’s a comedian.”

A comedian?

“What’s that?”

Now she’s laughin’ harder. Tears still comin’ out of her eyes, but she’s happy. She’s slappin’ the arm of the chair, she’s so happy. She’s lettin’ it out. I look over at this Bill Cosby again. I don’t know what he’s talkin’ about - something’s going on in his bathroom - but I know that whatever it is, it’s got Power.

“That’s what I want to be, mama. A comedian. Make you laugh like that, maybe you never cry again.”

Oh man, now she gets into some serious sobbin’.
She’s huggin me so tight I can hardly breathe. “Oh Beanie! she’s saying, wailing. “My little baby. I love you so much. Do you know how much I love you, little Bean?”

Now I had some direction.

I was going to be a comedian.

Rest in peace, Bernie Mac.