Hugh Hefner has died. It seems sort of odd to write this because he was one of those people that seemed like they would live forever. In a way, he will.
While the man himself has fallen, the legacy he left behind impacted the world in the twentieth century and even into the twenty-first century. Sure, some will condemn him for what they see as peddling smut and the man had his faults as every legend in their industry has.
Hefner left behind a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come. His legacy is more than being the founder of one of the most famous magazines in history, although his magazine did contribute to igniting the flame of the sexual revolution.
He fought against censorship, donating money to various organizations and causes that promoted first amendment rights.
An animal lover, Hefner donated to various causes that raised money for animal rescues.
During the sixties, Hefner was a supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. He once stated that he never understood why people would judge others solely based on their skin color. Playboy magazine published the last written essay by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
When his Playboy Clubs opened up at locations such as New Orleans, Hefner personally fought against those who cited Jim Crow laws that attempted to prevent African-Americans from entering his clubs alongside Caucasians.
On his TV show, Playboy's Penthouse, which aired in the late fifties to the early sixties, Hefner invited African-American entertainers to appear on his show despite the public outcry of doing so. Guests included Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Hefner supported legalizing same-sex marriage, stating that it was a right of all people to marry the person they love.
He donated money to universities to better sociology, film, and humanities departments.
A student at my university who attended at the same I did, supported herself through stripping at a local club. Admittedly, not her preferential choice to raise money, but she had no support system to help her through college and her financial aid package was limited in what it paid for. She needed to pay for books, room and board, and the basic necessities that any young adult needs. When my university found out how she was supporting herself, she lost her financial aid package. Hefner, hearing about the situation as it made local news in Southern California, paid for her college and living expenses for the rest of her college career.
With Playboy, Hefner published short stories by notable authors such as Ian Fleming, Arthur C. Clarke, and Margaret Atwood. His magazine would often interview notable people such as politicians, social activists, religious leaders, journalists, and more.
Finally, after decades of not receiving one cent from the revival of her images, Hefner helped Bettie Page secure representation to help her from dying penniless. Hefner even paid for Page's bills until she was able to land on her feet. And this wasn't the only former Playmate that he helped during their rough times.
On the surface, he will be remembered for his girlfriends, magazine, the mansion, and the smoking jacket, but he was much more than that. He was far from perfect, but overall he left a positive impact that helped propel society forward in the twentieth century, vaulting him into being a legend.
