Urban Thought Collective

Actor and philanthropist Isaiah Washington works bring better education to the children of Sierra Leone. Presented by Electronic Urban Report.

One only has to go through a magnificent drama and prevail to be a true testament to the adage “what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.” Now try going through it, in public.

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….

TO FINISH THE INTERVIEW, CLICK TO VISIT OUR PARTNERS AT ELECTRONIC URBAN REPORT: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur46500.cfm