From Ciroc to CNN

I have not watched a single episode of Grey's Anatomy, but here are five reasons why I love Jessie Williams:

Photo: Twitter

1. He identifies as Black -  In Toni Morrison's novel, Tar Baby, one of the characters says, "Yallas don't come to being black natural-like.  They have to choose it and most don't choose it.  Be careful of the stuff they put down."  Williams has chosen blackness in an era when many celebrities act as if they have the option not to.

Refugees from Blackness

2. He is courageous and articulate - When Williams talks about race he does so without apologizing for his anger.    He is passionate yet clearly knowledgeable about history, politics, and pop culture.   My favorite part of this video is when he says "if you don't live around black folks, and you just watch television you are going to be racist," but black culture is America's most profitable export.  I wonder how Williams's words would be received if he was a dark-skinned actor on a hit television show. Would he even still have a job?



3. Has a black wife with a normal woman's body:  I know this guy, let's call him Hakeem, who will complain about gentrification any chance he gets.  If I mention a new restaurant in Harlem, I have to be prepared for a lecture about how I shouldn't give my money to businesses that were not created with "us" in mind. However, his longtime girlfriend is white and he sees no contradiction between griping about gentrification and being gentrification personified.  Sometimes a person's choice of partner is more political than anything that comes out of their mouth because who they choose to spend their life with makes a statement about what they value in the world.

Photo: people.com

Photo: dailymail.com

4. He used to be a teacher:  Both of Williams's parents were teachers.  After attending Temple University, where he double majored in African-American Studies and Film and Media Studies, Williams taught high-school in Philadelphia's public schools for six years.

5. He's fine.  Williams is already being compared to Harry Belafonte.   Both are good looking, charismatic men who blur the line between artist and activist.  Considering the fickle nature of the entertainment industry and the lack of roles for black men, let's hope that Williams is able to have the longevity of Belafonte.  If not, I'm certain that he would be welcomed back into the classroom!

I love the fact that he wears a shirt and tie in a Vodka commercial and a hoodie on CNN!