When did I live and what have I seen:
Reflecting back on the death of James Brown (the godfather of soul) has caused me to reflect back on this period in man’s history that I lived through.
I was born at the beginning of World War II on 8/7/1943. I lived through the invention of the atom bomb and its first destructive use on Japan. I lived through the invention of the radio, television and the personal computer. I lived through the rise and fall of HITLER, MOUSELINI and I lived through the influence of CHURCH HILL and Kennedy.
I remember the Viet Nam war, Bay of Pigs and the 6-day war. I remember the Watts Riots, Mt St Helen eruption, state hood of Alaska and Hawaii.
I lived on a share crop farm in the rural south of Mississippi and western US. I worked in the US and Japan. I witnessed the fall of communism and the coming down of the Berlin wall.
I lived thru Woodstock, rap and jazz. Thru the peace movement, star wars and Selma. I lived thru Sputnik, man on the moon and mission to Mars.
I lived thru the assignations of JFK, MLK and Malcolm X. thru the death of Princess Diana, Pope John
I lived and worked in Los Angeles, Japan, Savannah, Ga, Seattle, WA, Missippi and Richmond, VA.
I went to school at LATTC, LACC AND UCLA.
I LIVED THRU Mohamed Ali, Apartheid, and Thurgood Marshall.
Thru the 777, air force one, the mustang. Thru vans, SUVs and limos.
I remember the 1st black quarterback, and the first black couch. I lived thru Bill Clinton, Watergate and the recession.
I lived through 7 presidents? And Queen Elizabeth. Through Grenada, Somalia and Saddam Hussein.
Thru save the whales, save the salmon and save the planet.
Thru agent orange, black lungs, red oceans and green peace.
I lived thru earthquakes, floods and hale the size of baseballs. Thru gasoline engines, natural gas and solar powered engines.
Thru pro sports, video games and virtual sports.
I now live in the computer generation of cell phones text messages and the Internet