The end is near for Tookie Williams. At 12:01 AM (PST), Tookie Williams will be put to death by lethal injection at San Quintin prison. On Saturday, December 10, 2005 Richard Pryor passed away due to a heart attack. Both of these black Americans have been written about heavily over the past 3 days. I have found several articles about their impact on black culture in the United States. Stanley Crouch wrote an excellent article concerning the ill effects of Richard Pryor's comedy on American culture. I really respect the writings of Stanley Crouch, I mean come on, he has written more Wynton Marsalis liner notes than I can shake a stick at. He is also a co-founder of the Jazz at Lincoln Center department. As for Tookie Williams, well, every article I read that is in support of his life inprisonment, comments on his self redemption by speaking out against violence and writing children's books on the evils of gang life.
I am by no means comparing Richard Pryor to Tookie Williams. Talk about apples and oranges. One is a convicted murderer and the other a famous comedian and actor. I am very interested in the portrayal of these two men in the media and in the minds of their supporters and opponents. As Stanley Crouch points out the vulgarity and racial degeneration that Pryor created with his real life comedy, several actors, superstar rappers and Jesse Jackson defend a man who murdered 4 people and helped create one of the deadliest street gangs in the United States. In fact, several times, Tookie Williams was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by a Swiss Legilator, college professors and others. Many of Tookie's supporters say that executing him will send the wrong message. I wonder what that message will be? It seems that after 26 years, the messag to the families of the dead is that there is justice in the world.
Richard Pryor has always made me laugh. I know that his stand up was vulgar and his reference to black Americans was in itself insulting to his race. Every movie of his that I have seen, from "Superman III" to "The Toy" has made me laugh. The movie "Hear No Evil, See No Evil," with Gene Wilder is one of my favorites. Yeah, I know, many say that is a terrible movie, but I believe the comedy in that movie and the interaction between Pryor and WIlder is amazing, much like in their other films together, "Silver Streak" and "Stir Crazy."
So in the death of these two men, we see two sides of the coin. The actor, comedian, writer gets the worst of it. The articles are written about his junkie habits of the late 70's, his accident with setting himself on fire and his decadent abuse of his racial history. Never mentioned is the fact that after visiting Africa in the 1979, he never once used the "N" word again in reference to his black heritage. His REDEMPTION wasn't great enough to warrant a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. His tireless work to stop animal abuse around the world wasn't enough, his numerous awards and achievements weren't enough either. Nope, they just mention his shortcomings and flash his picture on the screen. Tookie on the other hand gets candlelight vigils and star endorsements. He even gets this from the NAACP..."Too often I hear the governor and many who are around him talk about his values system," said NAACP President Bruce S. Gordon. "In this particular case, those values seem to be cast aside. There is absolutely no recognition given to redemption."
I think that last line says it all. "There is absolutely no recognition given to redemption." It looks like to some, sitting on death row for 26 years and finally "coming around," decrees redemption and honor.
Why did I write this? Mainly to get my own confusion concerning the treatment of these two men by the media out of my brain and onto "digital" paper. This is just my opinion, and I placed it here, well, because I can. Let me know what you think...or not. The 22 people who read this blog each day might have a better take on it than I do.
manteca
