We lost one of our own today...
The venerable actor of stage and television, Sherman Hemsley died today. Now I have to admit that when I say he's "one of our own," I mean it on a number of levels. Reportedly, (but never confirmed by him) Sherman was a same-gender-loving man. And although Sherman never acknowledged this publicly, I could always understand why he didn't... he was from a different generation when being open about such things would have closed important doors in his life and in his career. But beyond being an accomplished actor, Sherman Hemsley did much more than one might at first imagine. The most famous and memorable character that he portrayed, influenced and brought to life on the television screens of millions of homes across America and around the world changed attitudes and beliefs about what it meant to be a black man in America - If not for Sherman's skillful portrayal of George on the "The Jefferson's" it might have taken much longer for a Barack Obama to emerge and inspire a world of possibilities where the content of character finally mattered more than the color of someones skin.
I remember quite well as a boy, absolutely loving the character of George Jefferson... For the day, he was an uncommon black man, much like my father - hard working, plain-speaking, loving and yet just as prejudiced and bigoted by the circumstances of his history as any other man. And yet moreover, he was first and foremost proud to be a black man... He was a black man who could meet the bigotry of "Archie Bunker" head-on and not only not back down, but be just as stubborn and just as bigoted and still manage to win the day in the end. This fictional character brought to life by the genius and truth of Sherman Hemsley's own life experiences had a profound effect upon me and I suspect upon most of America. I know I wanted to be like him... for beyond the pompousness of satirical situation comedy, one saw the pride in himself that shone through the ridiculousness and it made you happy to see someone like yourself succeeding and living the American dream.
Whether you were white or black, you could find something in Sherman's portrayal of "George" that rang true... maybe you loved him or maybe you hated George Jefferson, but you knew him because you knew someone like him and you loved to love or hate him, and that relationship changed you and made you better for the experience. I will miss not knowing that one of my cultural icons, Sherman Hemsley is among us, but I am thankful that he left behind the legacy of his portrayal of "George Jefferson" - that half hour every week for nearly a dozen years brought laughter, joy, and hope to millions including me and how many of us at the end of this life will be able say that...
Thank you Sherman, you will be missed and long remembered!
In this clip from "All In The Family" you'll see why "The Jefferson's" were spun off to become one of the most successful television programs of the 1970-80s
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