In 2002 I met Melvin Van Peebles at Indiana University. Professor Audrey Mack invited me for a weeklong celebration of his legendary life. As a part of the deal, Peebles agreed to read some of our scripts and offer advice. AFSCME union commissioned me to write a play on AIDS in the Black community so I brought that with me. I had no expectations, no career, one script. Mr. Peebles was hilarious, prophetic, profane, no bullshit, and "Off the Wall" like MJ. There were more than a few workshop sessions where Peebles would say something and I would look around like 'did this ninja just say that to these sweet cornfed Midwestern students?!? LOL, oh lawd!" Peebles was like that uncle that's seen it all and just didn't give AF. He handed out his new memoir about the making of "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song." I expected the book to be a serious study of cinema history. Instead it was a wild west, x-rated, 2 Live Crew, rant from a Jean Genet-like genius.
At the end of the week, Peebles gave an after-dinner speech to the nice townsfolk. A symposium for high-minded thoughts. In the middle of the speech, Peebles spontaneously decided to read from part of his memoir. Other students were like 'oh no...no that's not a good idea Mr. Peebles.' WTF section is he going to read to these Golden Girls? Half the book is him fucking and the other half is him cussing out white people to get the money for the movie. He flipped between the memoir's pages, trying to find a few G-rated paragraphs to read. I looked out at the audience at all these serious old white people waiting for words of wisdom...and started to laugh. Other students started stifling their giggles as Peebles grew frustrated with his decision to read his memoirs like 'damn...can't say that...can't say that either.' It was glorious. He finally managed to string together a few disjointed sentences from various pages. Afterward, me and other students were legit crying. Towns folks thought we were moved, but we were actually cry-laughing. Peebles turned to the students and shrugged like "you know I can't say that shit to these white motherfuckers." In that moment we were forever bonded together by a camaraderie of a secret understanding.
That's my Melvin Van Peebles memory. Rest in Profanity. Rest in Power. Rest in Peace.
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