Guest Column:Between the Lines:Hilton, Washington and Celebrity Justice

This week's guest column comes from a fellow colleague and someone whose thinking often mirrors my own, Dr. Anthony Samad.  His column this week on Paris Hilton and Isaiah Washington really speaks to the issue of race in America.

There's no drama like Hollywood drama. Yet, in two different situations, two different extremes played out to show how race in America offers great disparities in opportunities to correct social wrongs.
      
The lessons of race in America continue to frame how we perceive each other and how the institutional systems react to those who violate law and social protocol.

First, I want to say that there are much more important things in the world than Paris Hilton. This hyper-intensive media coverage of the adventures of a blonde bimbo hotel heiress sums up what popular culture has become, in terms of how the media feeds our minds irrelevant "garbage" for intellectual sustenance.
      
The life and times of Paris Hilton knocks war, poverty, space shuttle launches, and of course, political controversy off the front pages of newspapers in America. With an attention span of a five year old and celebrity fever feeding our intellect, no wonder President Bush was able to pull the wool over the eyes of most of the nation. Since when is Paris Hilton violating probation and being sentenced to 45 days in jail really a "news item?"
      
When celebrity justice made a mockery of the criminal justice system. That was worth paying attention. Paying our debts to society for running a fowl of the law, has always been part of the American nomenclature. Except if you're a celebrity in America. It's common knowledge that celebrities rarely do time. And if they do time, it's often soft time. Drug and alcohol "rehab" frequently was the alternative to jail time. It's now a running joke.
      
Enter Paris Hilton, a known "party girl" with a penchant for wild parties and alcohol, who got caught driving drunk, had her driver's license suspended and was on probation, now set out to make a joke of the criminal justice system by blatantly defying a court order not to drive. Caught again, Hilton who could afford to be driven from L.A. to New York (by taxi) if she wanted, showed her blatant disregard for the system by showing up in court, painting herself as "a victim" and to the surprise of all was sentenced to 45 days in jail (which she only had to serve 23 days). Now in L.A. County jail, you can pick your jail, "buy up" your accommodations and do your time. Not Paris Hilton, after three days-she ends up back home and a national firestorm ensues. Why? Because a spoiled rich white girl somehow manipulated the system, again. The public finally recognized celebrity justice as social injustice when double standards afford the rich and famous numerous opportunities to break the law and avoid jail.
Media activist Najee Ali, who had to do his whole 45 days for the same violation (driving on a suspended license, not the DUI), went ballistic. And he should have. Yes, the jails are overcrowded, but there were a lot more low level offenders that could have been released before Paris Hilton. The corrections system got straight up fronted off the court system, and we can't have that, can we? They usually work in collusion. The point is, Hilton did nothing the system wanted her to do, and still got "all the breaks" (loopholes and technicalities) the system could afford. The public objected to what was clearly preferential treatment, Paris was sent back to jail (to do her full 45 days) and all is well with the world again. Or was it?
      
The same day, another firestorm concluded when actor Isaiah Washington lost his feature role as part of the ensemble cast of the top rated television show, Grey's Anatomy. Washington, who created the firestorm by choking "Dr. Dreamy" (Patrick Dempsey) and coincidentally commenting that he was "not his little 'fa**ot'" like another cast member who was in the closet at the time (but has since come out), had been trying (and managing) to repair his reputation over the past six months. 
      
But the altercation became secondary to Washington's perceived "homophobia," and Hollywood being an industry run by...well, you know, weren't going to rest until they had Washington's head on a platter. They first put the "angry Black Man" jacket on him, which goes on anyone articulate enough to redefine themselves and defend their views. White boys with anger issues, like Sean Penn, Johnny Depp or Alec Baldwin, are "rebels," "bad boys" or complexed.  Black men always have to be angry. I've had it thrown on me a couple times myself. It's a tough one to shake, and the more calm you get-the more people try to provoke you. They asked Washington to take anger management "rehab," which he did, then they provoked him again at the Golden Globes when Washington denied what he had said-and the standard in Hollywood is to deny everything-even when you know it's true.
      
Well, Washington again was held to a different standard and his denial of course brought out gay and lesbian activists wanting Washington to come in touch with his gay-sensitivity side, asking him to meet with them, renounce homophobia and do public service announcements, all of which, again, Washington did. All of this was done in the attempt to restore harmony among the cast, knowing how networks resist tampering with successful formulas, and the Grey's Anatomy cast is not the first cast to feud while in the top ratings spot. And he was not the only one to snap off camera, and go into a rage. The only difference between him and Alec Baldwin, who is also on a top rated show and has also gone through numerous forms of counseling, is that NBC stood by him. Only Baldwin berated his own child and not a whole segment of the population (I suppose). Still, Baldwin, who's punched photographers (and anybody else who gets in range) doesn't have an "angry white man" jacket on him. The parallels here are the stunningly similar, but their outcomes are far from the same. It's about how many life chances one gets to succeed (or fail).
      
Clearly the assumption here, whether stated or implied, was that if Washington-who is a central figure in the primetime drama-conformed and renounced his evil (socially impolitic) ways, he would be welcomed back for another season. Well, surprise, surprise, he's not coming back-even though he did everything ABC asked him to do (causing his publicist Howard Bragman to suggest they made Washington "jump through hoops" for nothing), and it still netted him no reconsideration. Why? Because the black man in American society rarely gets a second chance at anything-much less a prime opportunity. Washington publicly showed remorse and appreciation for the support he received during this controversy at the NAACP Image Awards earlier this year, but the "powers that be" never forgot what he said or what he did. Washington had earned his "Uppity Ni**er" status as far as they were concerned and his lynching (exit from the show) was now inevitable. No "good behavior" credits could be earned on his tainted, but repented, slate.  He was served up. Paris Hilton, on the other hand, is still being viewed as a victim of her own celebrity-not as an unrepentant lawbreaker. Sympathy for her is overflowing. For Washington, it's, "Oh well." The paradox here goes beyond just celebrity. It's about life chances, historical racial intolerance and disparities in opportunities. Hilton had (and has) many chances to fail. Washington had just one chance to fail. It's one shot and out for the black man.
      
Both Hilton and Washington were losers in the outcomes of their controversies. Mistakes were made by everybody, but one got more opportunities to correct their mistakes. One just got more opportunities to "lose" than the other. One deserved to lose because she complied with nothing asked of her, while the other one didn't deserve to lose because he complied with everything that was asked of him. One got all the breaks (none of which she deserved to avoid jail), while the other got no breaks (and deserved at least one, a chance to return for one more season). Just another day in the life of Hollywood, and the racial construct of America.
      
There is no drama like Hollywood drama, and race drama, in America. When combined, it's over the top, in ratings and reality. Some things never change and are as plain as black and white. They just manifest in newer, more contemporary forms. And there is no injustice like celebrity injustice.

Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D., is a national columnist, managing director of the Urban Issues Forum (www.urbanissuesforum.com) and author of the upcoming book,Saving The Race: Empowerment Through Wisdom. He can be reached at www.AnthonySamad.com

Comments

[elgin lee baker]

HMMMMMMMMM FIRST PARIS NEEDED TO DO HER TIME ....and you are right .....except you come off as a bit of a bigot .........
second as for mr washington he needs as do all homophobic people do to catch up ......its on there will be no more allowance of that kind of behavior .....now i do have a problem with this cut line of yours "hollywood is run by what ?jews gays oh my ........again its time to catch up ....as for him being led to believe he would keep his job ...i think he might be having some metal health issues ...you dont go into treatment for using the f word or the n word for that matter unless you are acting out to those around you ....he likes the drink.... people.... and his behavior as been here and there ....

[douglass]

People don't realize that bird flu is still around and fatal. It took another vietnamese life recently,but we wouldn't know,because of this frivolous paris hilton shit!

[Anthony]

As a sgl black male I was offended by Isaiah Washington's casual use of the word F@ggot during the awards telecast. The fact that he is black male was all the more hurtful because as a black man he should know how harmful words can be. I am not thin skinned in the least I have been called a N!99er one time too many by ignorant folks who didnt care to get to know me. But when my own makes a disparaging remark about one's sexuality and it just so happens that that is how I identify well I can't uphold him. Wrong is wrong and to say he is held to a different standard is right 'cause he'd be amazed how many of us GAY black folk voted for him to receive that NAACP award.

[Esther]

Ted, it is because of race that he is no longer in the show. It has truly become a show about appearance. The only actors that are not super skinny on "Grey's" are hispanic or black. Even TJ's character has lost a lot of weight.

It will look really silly if "Grey's" tries to replace Mr. Washington with another young, attractive, black actor.

Ms. Cannick, thank you so much for posting Dr. Samad's article. It rung a lot of bells in my head, and I have thought all the things he has written (though I haven't put a lot of attention on p.hilton). I have wriiten a letter to ABC to express my views and am tempted to write another with reflections from this wonderful note from Dr. Samad.

[tennisguyaz]

Great article, and spot on!

Amusing to say the least, black folks now have a get out of jail free card, wow, why didn't I get mine? And, as far as America "grown intolerant of people who use hateful language," I missed that memo as well. I just saw Ann Coulter spewing the other day, for every endorsement she loses, she gains two, as there are millions who like and agree with her. You don't get #1 on the NY Times best seller list if you are loathed. And, Don Imus will be back before you know it, so, sorry, that does not work as an comparison.

The article was great, and showed, its still all about race, no matter what these alleged black apologist claim while having issues with any black person who does not agree with the mainstream, intolerant gay organizations. And, no matter how many of these cyber blacks so race wasn't and isn't the issue, I guess being in the big house has helped shape your image, which isn't in the real world.

Washington was a loud jerk, but, he is not he first and won't be the last, and funny how this rabid hatred of Washington didn't carry over to Miss Hilton who spewed racist and homophobic remarks, but, hey, she's blond and rich, until that get out of jail card was revoked, LOL!

Sorry peeps, IW was wrong and for most of you, will never be forgiven as you are perfect, and so are all the ones who want him strung up on a tree as an example to not be mean to the gay crowd, especially one as weak as T.R., way too thin skinned, and really need to get some backbone, because, you will never get respect when viewed as cowards and whiners, which is what they complainers are. But, whine on about a multimillionaire when you've got states slashing your rights, and making sure you can't live as a full citizen, and a right wing Supreme Court with members who make IW seem like a small cog in a system that will never allow full gay rights, best to go after a television star, and think that's going to help the cause, yeah, right.

[Ted Clancy]

I'll agree that Washington's dismissal was unexpected and surprisingly severe. But I don't think it has anything to do with him being black.

Ann Coulter, Don Imus, and Mel Gibson have also all suffered severe backlashes following recent remarks they've made about gays, black women, or jews. (Don Imus was fired, just like Washington. Ann Coulter lost sponsorship deals. All of them have lost popularity.)

The issue here is that America has suddenly grown intolerant of people who use hateful language, including Washington. It's surprising, but it's also about time.

[douglass]

Washington, shouldn't get a free pass either because of his skin color,but they shouldn't lead him to believe he was going to keep his job either. People have to understand there's consequences that goes along with your actions and I'm not agreeing that IW should of gotten fired,but seem like they used him to finnish up the rest of the season at greys.

[Claude]

"But the altercation became secondary to Washington's perceived "homophobia," and Hollywood being an industry run by...well, you know,"

No, I don't know. Tell me. Would that be gays or the Jews?

That, putting homophobia in quotes and labeling Washington's behavior "socially impolitic" should tell you everything you need to know about the author and about the blogger who chose to print this guest columnist "whose thinking often mirrors" her own.

There is a word for this kind of thinking. It's called bigotry.

[Cadence]

Douglass is right. I'm tired of "journalists" bemoaning Hilton's celebrity, here's a hint, if you don't talk or write about her, then she won't matter. It's funny that this writer chastises all the media attention that she gets, even though he is part of the problem.

Also, can we please stop comparing apples and oranges. Washington doesn't get a pass just because there are other people in the world who are bigger jerks than he is. This whole areguement didn't work when we were kids and trying to get out of trouble by saying it should be okay because somebody else did the same thing, and it doesn't work now.

[douglass]

Amen to that! You can only blame parisite hilton for so much. I blame the media,because they keep throwing that tramp in our faces. That means they're Surpessing information that we should really know.