Free Isaiah Washington
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." -Gandhi
Actor Isaiah Washington of ABC's hit show, Grey's Anatomy, is under fire - under fire for calling fellow cast member T.R. Knight a "faggot" while on the set. Although Washington has since apologized for his misguided slur, there are calls by television critics and some gay media for his firing. An online petition, already with thousands of signatures, has been launched on the internet. Also coming under fire is Shonda Rhimes, the African-American creator and executive producer of Grey's Anatomy. Some people feel that she had not done enough to corral Washington's verbiage.
Citing double-standards, Jasmyne Cannick, a Black lesbian activist, has launched a counter petition in support of Isaiah Washington keeping his job on Grey's Anatomy. It's been circulating for about three days. I have signed it.
Ms. Cannick, who knows Isaiah Washington personally, said on her blog,
"While we don't approve of his use of the f-word at the Golden Globes, Washington has since apologized but the protest continues.
Isaiah Washington doesn’t deserve to lose his job over this incident.
He’s a good person with a good heart who made a mistake and is worthy of forgiveness."
Still, controversy swirls. Allegations of double-standards and racism stem from white-run gay organizations ignoring complaints by the Black gay community regarding Charles Knipp, a 'black face' minstrel known as Shirley Q. Liquor, who perpetuates stereotypes of Black women and mocks Black culture such as Kwanzaa.I happen to agree with Ms. Cannick that there is a serious appearance of double-standards by organizations - including GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) - the lead organization pursuing action against Washington. These same white-run gay organizations have not attacked Knipp - despite the fact concern has been consistently expressed by Black gays and Black gay activists, like Cannick- with the same vigor as they have Washington.
These organizations (GLAAD, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and others) have been eerily silent even as The City of West Hollywood is about to introduce a resolution on February 5th strongly discouraging the Factory Nightclub from letting Shirley Q. Liquor perform, according to Cannick's blog. It should be noted though that the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has condemned Knipp's performance in past years, but not recently.
Needless to say, Knipp still performs all around the country with lackluster humor which stereotypes (as seen and heard on You Tube.com) Blacks. Knipp's shows are mostly attended by white gays at white-owned clubs. Despite calls for a boycott, clubs in the Los Angeles area have kept Knipp as a February headliner.
Although some people see the Washington and Knipp controversies as separate issues, the lingering question pertaining to double-standards, apathy and possible racism by white-run gay advocacy organizations is not, in my opinion.
While Washington has apologized and is supposed to meet with GLAAD to atone for his misguided slur, meanwhile, Charles Knipp has continuously rationalized his black face Jim Crow-era antics with absolutely no remorse. GLAAD is nowhere to be found. To be fair, in 2002 famed Black drag performer RuPaul endorsed Knipp stating,
"i myself have worn blackface, a confederate flag and a KKK outfit. would it make a difference to the protesters if they knew how much “black blood” MR.KNIPP had in him ? just because he appears to be white, it doesn’t mean that he is. my grandfather appeared to be white, until he opened his mouth and spoke."
And the show goes on.
Charles Knipp, as Shirley Q. Liquor, disparages Kwanzaa
In regards to Washington, once a person makes amends or shows true contriteness, I personally do all that I can to find it in my heart to forgive. Even with the Micheal Richards' racist rant, I am on record saying that I would support him once he sincerely apologized for his racist diatribe.
Why carry around unnecessary anger for an infinity? The truth of the matter is, most, if not all of us, have all made comments -whether public or private- that could have been deemed hateful and harmful.
Washington ultimately reaps what he sows, and from my perspective as a Black gay man, he made a bad decision to use the word. Since then, however, he has apologized, and now it is time to move on. He should not lose his job because some bitter, hypocritical gays can't let it go.
If you have not heard about the Grey's Anatomy controversy involving Isaiah Washington and T.R. Knight, God Bless You. I envy you. In case you haven't, here are some good resources in the blogosphere.
Jasmyne Cannick: The Hypocrisy of White Gay America
Jasmyne Cannick: Help Cancel Blackface Minstrel Show In West Hollywood
Keith Boykin: There's Something About Isaiah
Booker Rising: Calls To Sack TV Star For Gay Slur
RuPaul's Blog: 'These Folks Is Just Plain Ignunt'
Sign Petition To Keep Isaiah Washington On Grey's Anatomy
This entry has been recovered and edited for factual clarity.
Labels: Gay
posted by Terrence | 12:28 AM
16 Comments:
It's the blatent hypocrisy that offends me most of all. Not just with this Shirley Q, but with the entire gay community where racism is brushed under the rug. I'd like to see white gay bloggers like Towleroad and the larger gay community discuss racism with the same diligence that they are going after Washington. THEY WILL NOT DO IT. They will exploit the black bodies of athletes and models and nothing more.
I have no respect for Rupaul so....
ditto on the Rupaul schtick!
what is really getting to me; is how in denial many of Us, Black people in general, and Black gays in particular are.
We are going to grovel Our way into oblivion.
p.s. T....
When you getting that pic of Clayton Bigsby off of your site - it is disgusting; LOL!
I agree with all of you. The white gay community seldom takes offense to any issue that doesn't affect them directly. What was GLADD's reaction to MTV Real World (Denver) gay cast member, Davis calling his black roommate, Tyrie,the n-word???? Nothing, because it wasn't an insult on their character.
Right on Jasmyne and Terrence!!!!!!!! You have just as many people in your corner.
Bobby
Thanks all.
I agree with all of you that within the gay community, which is a microcosm of our larger society, there are double-standards.
When the issue rears its ugly head, it must be addressed regardless of how uncomfortable it makes some people feel.
And RuPaul is a circus attraction like his sidekick - Shirley Q. Liquor.
Denise, it took me a minute to figure out what you meant about Clayton Bigsby. LOL!!!
I'll be changing it soon.
Whatever happened to the stoic American? Why is it necessary to react at mere words as if they somehow can cause mortal wounds? Sadly, the resilient cowboy is dead and to the whole world we look like a bunch of whining wimps.
http://intimationsofubiquity.blogspot.com/2007/01/society-whos-faggot-now.html
I have often been amazed that gay white institutions receives so much money and grants from the government yet this money never makes it to the thousands of gay black men who are homeless with out a family. This group of who many are making up the largest growing number of new HIV cases.
About three years ago I volunteered at a DC outreach called Us Helping Us this group was doing great work but surviving on pennies to keep afloat. i saw so many of the men where dying or drugs or homeless.
The gay community like many communities needs to have a real talk about race.
I recall while volunteering seeing Gay publications that were notorious for putting gay black men on the HIV ads but attractive white males on there lates model sections. I often wondered how this could affect the self esteem of young black men who saw these
publications.
It gave the impression that if you are black youre future is HIV if you are white and gay youre future is Will and Grace. I also belive that is these and other things perpetuate the false image that gay=white in the black community.
http://hiphoprepublican.com/index.html
ABOUT ISAIAH WASHINGTON,
IM SORRY BUT I THINK THAT AS LONG AS WE ALLAWD HOMOPHOBIA, ANTISEMITISM, ANTI-ISLAM, ANTI-FOREIGNERS, ITS JUST AS BEING OK WITH RACISM. I DONT CARE IF HE'S A BROTHER, HE CROSSED THE LINE AND IT SHOULD HAVE CONSCECUENCES, HE SHOULD BE FIRED, IF SOME WHITE ACTOR CALLS A COLLEGUE A NIGGER HE'D BE FIRED. SO WHY THE DOUBLE STANDAR? WE HAVE TO BE FAIR. BLACK OR WITHE HE CROSSED THE LINE AND I THINK HE SHOULD BE FIRED.
People who rush to accuse others of double standards most often practice those double standards themselves. With very same Isaiah Washington -- your rush call for forgiveness would be just fine if you would have also lined up to forgive Michael "Kramer" Richards since his stupid ass have also "apologized".
Same with Shirley Liquor et al... I didn't see his show (never had a taste for fart jokes), but frankly I don't see how it is more derogatory to black people than many "mainstream" acts of the sort of Chapelle show or that new flick "Norbit".
What's interesting, I just read Jasmine Cannick and there are two posting side-by-side about Knipp and right below about Norbit. I though "oh Jasmine will kick Eddies ass for derogatory depiction of black women, big time!"... what a naivety -- she actually was ranting for him not getting enough credit. She even managed to inject some antisemitism in there, pretty much completely out of the blue... Now talk about double standards.
Honestly I was extremely disappointed. It kinda took away any moral grounds from the story :-(
Unless Isiah Washington wants to be called a Nigger, he should not call anyone a faggot. He ruined the award show for all of the actors on Greys Anatomy. Instead of smiles on the actors' faces, they were looking down and uncomfortable. It used to be a fun show . . . he has single-handedly changed it. He should be fired since he can't seem to control his actions. The "faggot" incident is only one instance of his unprofessionalism.
I am tired of sensitive gays. They did not and do not have even the slightest battle for equal rights that the blacks did. Gays do not want equal rights, they want special right above all else. If they are contented with who they are, they would not have to constantly belittle others just for making a remark that is so benign.
They make their own problems, not any one else. They could chose to live in society as everyone else without touting their gayness and touting themselves a people wholive different. To attack people for such stupidity is showing them as the most intolerant than anyone else. They judge themselves more than we do. They need to get a grip and pipe down and live as though they really are proud of being gay! Their actions and attacks do not show me they have any pride at all, just loud mouths....cp rush
i cant believe they fired him, he apologized and worked hard to prove that he is sorry.
I write regarding the online petition to re-hire Isaiah Washington. It appears that his losing his job because he used a word that is every bit as hate filled and ignorant as the N word is, is being viewed as racism. If this is the case, where is your online petition to get Don Imus re-hired for his old job? What- do the goose and gander in this case deserve different treatment? I DON'T THINK SO. As in the Imus case, I think the apologies are contrived and I don't care to even hear them. If that attitude and language wasn't in you, it wouldn't come out of you. No amount of apologies, made simply in an effort to maintain their high profile jobs, are worth the hot air it takes to make them. In Mr. Washington's case in particular, he not only made the slur, but repeated it when he was supposedly apologizing. How stupid are we? These apologies are about as reliable and authentic as a bad wig.
Totally agree that a huge injustice happened to IW. The facts seem to support that a lot of the gays who did petition and manage to get him fired off Gray's seemed to be acting out of racism. This has to be the case since even till today one sees them spewing filth for him, which shows it was not about the word he used. It is about his race and that is why they continue to need to denigrate and curse and ruin him. This is not just about that word' and it seems so obvious that it is a wonder that everyone else, who is non-racist and non-bigoted, cannot see it. The black gays expressed disappointment but I doubt they let loose the vile filth and venom seen by Towleroad and Shirley Q Liquor fans. This shows who is really spewing absolute hatred and why. It is time the people stopped being manipulated by a biased media and biased groups and stopped signing petitions to fire a person who needs support from his own race coz the hatred shown him seems to be way in excess. The vile evil venom spewed by the racist gays shows just how sensitive they are, and in fact they should be apologising to IW for the tons and tons of degradation they have puked out.Humbugs.
To the poster above who posted - "It appears that his losing his job because he used a word that is every bit as hate filled and ignorant as the N word is, is being viewed as racism."
That is a completely misconstrued reason why he is fired. The gay petition asking to fire could be the cause and the gay bigwigs(white I'm sure)in higher circles.
Whoever put the comparison between the N word and the F word is simplistic and foolish. There is no comparison and I do not even NEED to qualify as to why. Whoever has the knowledge knows it is in NO way comparable. Also, any words used against gay commmunities is not RACISM. Gays is not a race ..duh..
How many times does one have to clarify that...........N word is racism and not F word. F word is not as hate-filled or with as much history as N word. So, please do everyone a favor and never compare the two. This is a manipulative twist given by the racist whites/gays to seek support to get what they want i.e. fire the black guy. When they first compared the N and F word, I think there should have been much outrage amongst the black community, more than was shown by the gays against IW. Why does it feel like the MO of the whites with a racist agenda. Do not follow, do not be misled or used, by the people who have no concern for your race or orientation.
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