RIP - Bernie Mac

Actor Comedian Bernie Mac passed away today at the age of 50. That used to seem like an old age to me. Now, not so much.

My impression of him was that he was a very gifted comedian, who happened to be black, rather than a "black comedian." On his own TV show, and in many of the characters he played, he was a middle aged, middle class family man, who seemed surprised when people noticed his race and acted like it was important.

I remember he was on the King of the Hill, and the Hill family dog didn't like him, and everyone got upset because it seemed like a racial issue. It was a small part, a tiny footnote to a proud career. But to me, that was sort of who Bernie Mac was, he was a guy who lived in a world that was past racism, and was always taken aback by those who were still behind the times.

He had much more left to share with us.