I noticed a funny thing the other day. Bill Cosby is gone. Literally! No more Cosby on cable or in the book store. When I mean Cosby, we are not just talking about the Cosby show. I mean all of his career. The first Cosby Show and I Spy can not be found. I thought to myself, this seems significant is some way. So, I did some further exploration. Unfortunately, the removal of Cosby is another example of injustice towards African Americans. Here is when whites stop reading and say, "Here we go again." However, think about the differences. While Cosby has been yanked, 7th Heaven has quietly reappeared on TV. At first, we may think, "no big deal." However, it is a big deal. It is an example of power structures and inequality. That's right, inequalities exist in Hollywood beyond the Oscars.
Stephen Collins is an example of Hollywood's elite. Just like Mr. Cosby he committed what society has deemed, a crime against humanity. On more than one occasion, he was a pedophile. In the eyes of many, a horrendous crime. Television and movies pay actors royalties long after the showing of an episode or movie. The actors and their families will earn royalties for a lifetime. By airing 7th Heaven, the royalties continue to flow to the entire cast which is predominantly white. (Including a young Jessica Biel) I just find it interesting the an entire African-American cast will no longer receive their royalties for a show equally as popular and thoughtful as the Cosby Show.
This inequality has many examples that go beyond 7th Heaven. Woody Allen and Roman Polanski are still considered geniuses by the Hollywood elite. There movies are replayed and their careers were allowed to continue. Is it not fair to ask, why the difference?
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