EURweb |
OUSTED 'GREY’S ANATOMY' ACTOR FULFILLS A GREATER PURPOSE: Isaiah Washington Seeks to Open America’s Eyes via the ‘Reach One Million’ Project
Actor and philanthropist, husband and father, Isaiah Washington, refuses to sit back and let the controversy that led to his dismissal from the hit ABC show, "Grey’s Anatomy," become his legacy.
Armed with passion and a renewed sense of purpose, Washington recently sat down with EUR’s Lee Bailey to talk about his removal from the show, the DNA revelation that changed his life; and his action-oriented approach to being what he truly is: A vehicle for change.
“I had to stop saying ‘Why?’ and understand that ... men that I adore so much, Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Martin L King, Jr., James Baldwin and all the other heroes ... suffered some indignities in human relations far greater than I could ever imagine,” comments Washington whose Burbank, California office is decorated with beautiful African art and photos of his most prized moments; including one with President George W. and Mrs. Laura Bush.
Today, instead of dwelling on the animosity that he feels fueled much of the "Grey’s Anatomy" aftermath; instead of finding pleasure in the fact that the show’s ratings have dropped significantly since his departure, Washington is proud of the impact - that the character he molded over a three-season period - has made on people around the world; people who never imagined a surgeon could look like him. It warms his heart knowing that because of his excellent portrayal of Dr. Preston Burke,” New Orleans’ Tulane University - whose T-shirt his character often wore casually - is now experiencing its highest attribulation of students seeking to become cardiothoracic surgeons.
“These are the very guys I call my ‘go to’ guys,” says Washington, thinking about his heroes. “... So cowboy up! Take the hits, grow from it, learn from it, and then understand it,” he concludes.
Right. But let’s keep it real. If you think this “understanding” came easy for Washington, think again.
Simultaneously baffled and disappointed by the apparent dismissal of his lengthy, humble and sometimes self-effacing apology for his use of the six-letter-epithet that caused the ruckus in the first place; his statement read, in part: “I apologize to T. R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance...I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I’ve asked for help ... With one word, I’ve hurt everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted.”
Even after that, Washington’s willingness to do PSAs and participate in ‘executive counseling’ sessions did no good. The network had made up its mind and on June 7, 2007 issued a public statement that the actor’s contract would not be renewed.
Angered and hurt by the announcement, rebuttals from Washington came via his appearances on television programs such as Larry King Live on CNN, and included the infamously borrowed line, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” and “They fired the wrong guy!” which sent rumblings through the entertainment industry about a potential lawsuit.
“But the more I felt I tried to fight to hold on ... [I got] ... a lot of advice from congresspersons and politicians who said, ‘You know, this is not going to end the way you think its going to end. You need to leave. They’re just using you to do xyz...’ to which Washington replied, ‘No, I’ve got enough credit ... I’ve been a good boy ...’ [But] I realize it wasn’t about that. It was time for me to go. It was time for me to go on so many levels, and none of them had to do with what I wanted ... Because I ... wanted to do something that wasn’t God’s Plan.”
But time and distance can prove to be the greatest medicine; and before long Washington was able to reflect on and appreciate the totality of his experience and its outcome; thanks in part to an affirmation from someone he deeply respects. “The 'plan' was you did what you set out to do ... This is what one of my mentors, Sidney Poitier, told me,” says Washington. He said, ‘You’ve been that prince. You’ve shown the world that not only does an African American man exist this way; but you’ve shown those that could not possibly accept this image as a ... surgeon [or] a doctor at all ...”
Additional help in separating himself from the issue and moving on came from work. NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman was eager to work with Washington, and cast him as a guest star on the new—albeit short-lived series, Bionic Woman. Washington also followed up with roles in a few independent films. Most notably, a recently-wrapped film in New Orleans at Tulane University; where he met students from the Middle East, Asia and America who showed love for his Grey’s Anatomy character saying “I want to be like Dr. Burke!” Washington was especially touched noting, “They didn’t preface it saying ‘...the African American Doctor ... the Black doctor ... or ... that Black actor playing the doctor’ -- but ‘Dr. Burke.’” He continues, “[Dr. Burke] became a brand ... the representation of the medical community.”
If everything happens for a reason, and there truly are no accidents; Washington’s dismissal from the show may have been a blessing in disguise. Without it, he may never have had the time to immerse himself into The Gondobay Manga Foundation, the nonprofit he founded shortly after taking the DNA test that confirmed he is 99.5% Sierra Leonean; and that he, because of his mother, is a product of the Mende people -- traditional rice farmers from the southern part of the country.
“People ask: Why are you so focused on Africa,” Washington states. “I’m not focused on Africa. I’m focused on Sierra Leone, the place where I have my ancestral link.”
The actor, who has earned two NAACP Image Awards; a SAG Award, and numerous other accolades, admits that this revelation has heightened his sense of Sancofa (the concept of knowing your past and its connection to the present as a determinant of the future) and shows high regard for Edward Wilmot Blyden; an educator, writer, diplomat and politician born in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to free parents, and traveled to Liberia in 1850 and became deeply involved in its development. Blyden, who died in Sierra Leone in 1912, was a visionary with strong ideas on how African Americans who were discriminated against in the U. S. should leave America and return to the African Continent. Referencing a quote from Blyden, Washington states:
“The only way Africa can be developed is that the Americans...the Africans in America at that time, or the Negroes, have to come to the realization that we have to come together and start being a very prevalent and integral part of this continent.” Washington adds, “There is no way we’re going to be respected throughout the world as African Americans, there’s no way we’re going to be treated with any sense of genuine, if we continue to ignore this.”
Now, with his “Reach One Million” campaign, created to benefit the people of Sierra Leone, Washington is putting his money where his heart is. Launched on his 45th birthday, the campaign will engage and educate Americans on the plight of Sierra Leonean children; 47% of whom, under the age of 5, is afflicted with malaria; and 28% of the population is unable to meet basic food requirements.
By invitation, Washington took his plight to The White House; where a historic summit on Malaria took place and 1.2 billion dollars was allocated to eradicate the disease out of 15 African countries. Unfortunately, Sierra Leone was not one of them.
“So this ‘Reach One Million’ is fundraising,” says Washington. “It’s to raise $250,000 ... But not unlike Senator Barack Obama, it is to fund my efforts to change something ... In addition ... I have to cover operating costs, which is minimal ... It also allows me to get on a plane and build seven [water] wells ... I can bring Anderson Cooper’s team and Roland Martin from CNN ... [This money will] fund breaking ground on 3, 4, 5 other schools. And you can see it, physically, because I will have CNN there ... you will see us put a stake in the ground and say this is where a school is going to be.”
Washington has already built one school. Well actually, he is quick to point out that he “supplied the equipment” but it was “the people” who built the school, which opened in November 2007. Chief Foday Golia Memorial School, equipped for 150 students in grades K-5, is located in the Njala Kendema Village. The new school replaces a condemned building and is named in honor of the former leader of the village. In addition to building the school, Washington and the Gondobay Manga Foundation donated uniforms and school supplies for each student.
A strong believer in documentation, Washington has 150 hours of taped footage.
“So many times people are donating their money to things and they don’t see where it is going,” he asserts; and uses his website to show people like fellow "Grey’s Anatomy" cast mate Chandra Wilson, exactly how her $3,000 donation was used.
To date, Washington has put nearly one million dollars of his own resources into the Sierra Leone project and placed many of his personal items up for auction on eBay; including a rare framed, autographed photo of the original Grey’s Anatomy cast; autographed copies of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd season scripts from "Grey’s Anatomy" and other memorabilia. Interested parties can pre-qualify online at www.ReachOneMillion.org. Donations can also be made on the website. Later this year, Isaiah Washington will be the first African American to receive dual citizenship from the Sierra Leonean government. Hopefully, with the help of your donations, CNN will be there to capture it.
DeBorah B. Pryor is a Los Angeles-based journalist and the president of The Art of Communication: Public Speaking for the Private Person. She is a partner in the public relations firm, The Bio Shop. Her website is www.dpryorpresents.com
Related story: WONDER DONATES $5K FOR AFRICA PROJECT: Money goes to Isaiah's 'Reach One Million Campaign.'
---------------------
$500 - $1000/Per Day (CA$H)
(Just Returning Phone Calls)
**No Selling **Not MLM **No Boss
Full Training & Support 24/7
Learn From Successful Mentors Daily
For Audio Details Visit:
www.missionarycmoney.com
(888) 304-9888 (Be Financially Free)
WATCH A NEW FILM ONLINE FREE ...
then join our movie club and get a free DVD!
http://www.urbanslam.com/ClubPremiere.html
Click for the latest Obama - Political headlines
Share and Bookmark |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
.jpg)
