RIP Don Cornelius

This hurt to hear.

In my late 70s "white flight" neighborhood, watching Soul Train was about the only contact I had with people who weren't white or Asian. I freakin' soul train.

Especially when my grandmother couldn't understand why I liked that "colored music" as much as I did (and still do).

RIP to a pioneer who, whether he knew it or not, actually bridged the racial gap through music.

 

Certainly Soul Train taught millions of young white Americans who otherwise would have no contact with black people the importance, and application of, Afro-Sheen, and why it was a product that could invoke the ghost of Frederick Douglass.

 

Keenan Ivory Wayans beat you to that idea:

Check it out at 1:36. Of course, the whole sketch is worth watching.

Funny thing is, ILC made such fun about how old Cornelius, and at the time this show aired, he wasn't even 60 yet.

 

I'm wondering if he had some terminal illness and decided, "screw it. I'm not withering away." It doesn't sound like he had any money issues and any money leftover is apparently going to the one person he didn't want getting it.

 

Peace, Love and Soul, my brother.

 

If it's a suicide, no insurance will pay out.

 

Not true (according to the linked story):

 

That is usually, the case, for suicides and a 2 year wait. If you can hold out 24 months, your loved ones get paid.

 

And your "despised" ones too.

 

at least he out lived Dick Clark

 

I find that really, really, really hard to believe; that any insurance company has to honor a life insurance policy where the buyer kills himself.

Only in California.

I think it will be a while before the ex. actually gets her hands on that money though.