Bruce Lee & Jimi Hendrix both died on the cusp of becoming great. Had they both lived just 12 months longer they would've seen themselves catapulted from national, international to global.
An uncle of mines (may peace be upon him) saw Jimi play at what he described as a very small nightclub called the unicorn. Within 2 years of that show he passed away.
At least Europe gave him love. white owned Radio stations in USA wouldnt play him while he was alive. The few black owned wouldn't play him because their audience was at the time ; totally Motown driven sound.
Yet the word was- when he did play and wherever it was always standing room.
He was questioned by his community for playing what they called rock music taken away from the Fats Domino & Lil Richard (which their parents listened to) would be transformed into a get-high hippie sound not of their taste.
And the Elvis Rock scene, which was totally segregated. So Jimi was in a no-man's land. He broke the barrier for whites and black youth of that era.
Thanks to Jimi rock isn't a white or black genre. Today be it South Korea, Europe, USA, Rock is universal!
We know Lee took a lot of hate from his people because they too had a bad history with certain Europeans, even questioning why would he teach his beloved skill to white or black people.
Thanks to Bruce Lee Martial Arts is the art of human defense by [INTEGRATING] the best systems of fighting inside, outside, flipping, striking, kicking submissions. That Asian brother is a Legend in every way!
if Bruce Lee were alive today to see Dana White, OMG! To see his idea of telling his own people; there is no best art or style. It all depends on the situation. You have to adapt and mix the arts.
To see MMA today, I think Bruce Would've cried tears of joy.
If Jimi were alive today he would've cried to see black kids like me running to the guitar store with my good friend Mark a Jewish kid to buy our 1st guitars together. Record head on 76th & Hampton. Today he is a huge success playing Jewish Folk but up to his mid 20s he was a MAJOR blues player and can play harmonica like a black old blues great.... and I was known for shredding LMAO! Hearing all the way in the back of the store..."Hey, there's a black guy up front playing Van Halen's Spanish Fly!!"
Benny Hill.
I read that when he died- there was a changing in culture and some of his routines were considered risky. He died not knowing (it seems) that he was loved by all races. I dont use terms like cancel culture, because it started decades ago and Benny was the recipient of it- as a result the popular comedian was quietly being censored/banned or as I understand it.
If Benny Hill were alive today and could see blacks in America telling him- man U had some bad bitches dances on some of those episodes. He would've dug that!! Oh & some funny skits. I don't think he would cry, I think he would cash in his black-card when he learns that some of us would say, Man the way Benny use to slap that lil old nigguh on his bald ass head was funny.
Oh, He would do a comeback skit as a PIMP. N-word would be riddled thru it...cause he'd get permission from the gatekeepers ala Kat Williams Mike Epps to name a few!!! Snoop Dogg would guest star I know he would accept it!!!
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