Knew the day would come, but still can't believe it - Gil Noble has died

[janedrake]

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?sectio...id=8609635



Growing up in NY in the 70's, on the weekends, watching Gil Noble's public affairs show "Like It Is" on Sunday afternoons was a traditional part of our family's weekend. To this day, even though my sisters are grown and have children of their own, they still recall in hushed tones Gil Noble's graphically unapologetic program on the horrific toll caused by drug addiction. They can still remember begging to be let out of the room, but my mom insisted we watch the whole thing - to this day, she thanks Gil Noble in part for the fact that none of us has ever touched drugs. A couple years ago, I caught a re-airing of that program, and it still had the same effect of horrifying and scaring the hell out of me!

That story aside, Gil Noble garnered seven Emmys during his career, but his real legacy has got to be having been a kind of honorary "elder" of NY African-American families, especially through the 70's and 80's.

God rest him. Although I hadn't watched the show in a couple years, it was comforting still knowing he was there broadcasting every Sunday - there are very few "roots" left from my childhood, but he was one of them. The world already feels different without Gil Noble in it.

[jaxx]

There is a nice piece about Gil Noble at the Grio today. He touched a lot of lives.

http://www.thegrio.com/opinion/thegrio-w...-noble.php