I was lying in bed, sweating out toxins and practically hacking up a lung, when it came across my feed. I had no reaction because quite frankly, I didn’t believe it. Blogs and social media posts from randoms are not considered “real news” to me without a major outlet backing. That was yesterday.
By this morning, Comedian Marlon Wayans (still a random when it comes to news) posted about his death on Instagram. Which led me to a Google search. NBC confirmed it. His mom was quoted in the article. So it’s official.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER KEVIN SAMUELS IS DEAD AT 56 YEARS YOUNG.
I am not a fan nor a follower. His death will not change my energy.
His voice and presence had actually put another fire under my butt to complete the documentary work that I started in 2015…a piece that gives voice to a demographic about which he didn’t have many uplifting things to say. That is the over 35 unmarried childless Black Woman.
BEFORE his viral “Average At Best…” video, he came up on my Youtube suggestions feed. It was the first time I laid eyes on him. I watched quite a bit of his call-in show that day. I was…intrigued. He was arrogant, condescending, nice/nasty, judgmental, rude….but looked like he smelled good. Aight. It was entertaining on one hand. And completely appalling on the other. Appalling because WOMEN…BLACK WOMEN were actually calling in and subjecting themselves to evaluation advice from this person. Not sure if they had such high…or low self esteem that they thought they would be able to break his pattern of meanness in the spirit of “keeping it real”. Pure nonsense.
Ironically, while typing this…my phone rang.
“People don’t understand what just happened. This is a prophetic move. Those who have a lot of influence have to be very careful in this season.”
She went on to say that God is basically cleaning house…and that in this season He is really highlighting Women and that Kevin Samuels’ message was leading so many astray, but specifically women and how we see ourselves and our “value”. Plus plus plus.
Whew chileeeee!
Now this is not to be confused with the idea that God goes around striking folks down. I do not believe He does that. He does ALLOW things to happen though. Clearly. And then SOMETIMES, it’s not that deep.
As humans, some of us lose our bodies and have to leave the planet due to our own actions or inactions every second of everyday. If one has eaten and stressed oneself into hypertension and diabetes…or one lives a high risk lifestyle where one contracts a deadly disease (i.e. HIV via promiscuity, drug addiction) or one gets shot while living the “thug life” (drug dealing, gangbanging)….then we need NOT bring God into “The Why” one’s demise came. Cause and Effect is a universal law that in our human emotional state of grief we often reject. I get it. I’ve done it.
I am, however, a very spiritual person…and I must say, that even before his death was confirmed, I felt….there is irony but no coincidence in this moment.
That said, I AM a lover of life. I find no joy in Kevin Samuels’ death. And I don’t think it serves anyone to do so, including Black Women. His legacy will prove to be complicated for the moments that it is pondered…by those who care. I mean he garnered millions of followers, for mixed reasons.
At the end of the day, there is a lesson….whatever we put into the world is not only coming OUT OF US, but will come back TO US. A heart whose motive is to truly help and not damage…that heart will touch the heart of others and the motive will be clear. I think something we can all ponder as a result of Samuels’ untimely passing is what do we want our own legacy to be? I personally do not wish to be such a polarizing figure that anyone throws the equivalent of a virtual “the wicked witch is dead” party at even the rumor of my passing.
But we all have our choice of weapon. There’s honey. There’s venom. We choose which one we will use in this life…because as humans…other humans tend to be attracted to….both. Selah.
My condolences to the Samuels’ family.