Beloved actor and musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner suddenly passed away at 54. He leaves a rich legacy of artistic work and service. Although he kept his family life private, he adored his family publicly and had these three beautiful things to say about love.
No Rush: "I met my wife at 45. It's ok to wait. You don't have to be in your 20s looking for your soulmate when you don't really know who the f–k you are." The world makes us feel like we have to find true love when we are young, or we won’t find it at all. This is a beautiful reminder that Black love is abundant and not inherently time-bound.
Compassionate Communication: Warner shared that while he and his wife didn't always agree, they never had a fight or even exchanged harsh words. Even when we don't see eye-to-eye, we can always commit to centering love in our communication.
Protect Your Love: Warner intentionally kept his family out of the public eye. We know the world won't look out for us as well as we do. Protecting and keeping the people and things you love close to your heart is ok.
Black love—whether romantic, platonic, or familial—is sacred. Take this as your sign to tell someone dear to you that you love them today. May Malcolm-Jamal Warner rest in loving peace.