Ossie Davis Exits Stage Left

Johnny Depp was recently asked on “Inside the Actors’ Studio” what he wanted to hear God say when the actor meets his creator. Mr. Depp said, “Wow.” Ossie Davis, who met his maker on Friday, probably heard just that. And a standing ovation from both cherubim and seraphim to boot. If not, heaven is a much tougher house than one had expected.

To most in the mass culture, Mr. Davis is only known as Heathcliff Huxtable’s father on “The Cosby Show.” In the history-ignorant 21st century, this is beyond a shame and borders on a felony. For the ground breaking “A Raisin in the Sun” alone, Mr. Davis should still be a household name in white America as well as black America, along with Sidney Poitier, with whom he acted in “No Way Out,” and Denzel Washington, who stands most comfortably on Mr. Davis’ shoulders.

Mr. Davis, though, was also a political activist. This journal takes a rather jaundiced view of most entertainers who adopt causes out of passion rather than intellect. Moreover, few have the intellectual discipline to make a positive contribution in politics. However, as a black man born in Georgia in 1917, Mr. Davis was certainly entitled to be a civil rights advocate – he had lived the Jim Crow life and knew details few researchers would ever uncover.

This led him and his wife of almost 60 years, Ruby Dee, in leftist politics in the 1930s. Or as Mr. Davis described it “a flirtation with the Young Communist League.” The 1930s saw a great many otherwise sensible people fall for the allure of utopian politics (the entire nation of Germany comes to mind) – there was, after all, a depression at the time. (Amazing, though, how the ex-reds were hounded while the former friends of fascism were not). After the war, Mr. Davis continued to press America to live up to it own ideals.

Spike Lee said of him, "The great thing I got from Ruby and Ossie is that you could be an activist and an artist, too. They were strong and brave at a time when many Negro entertainers stood on the sidelines. Ruby and Ossie were by Malcolm's side, they were with Dr. King in Birmingham, Selma and the March on Washington, and never worried about the negative impact it might have on their careers."

Mr. Davis was found dead in a hotel room in Florida, where he was shooting a film called “Retirement.” It is difficult to imagine a more appropriate circumstance.

© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.

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