The Coveted Commandment: Was Olivia Pope Snubbed from the 50th Anniversary of The March on Washington? 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

Was Olivia Pope[1] Snubbed from the 50^th Anniversary of The March on Washington?[2] (revised)

August 28, 2013 marked the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington[3], and Dr. Martin Luther King’s infamous “I Have a Dream” Speech[4]. Many speakers came forward, including two former U.S. Presidents, Bill Clinton[5], and Jimmy Carter[6], and our current President of the United States, Barack Obama[7]. This 50^th year commemoration was organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network[8], and Martin Luther King, III, President of Realizing the Dream[9], the NAACP[10] and others. This 50th year anniversary theme: Jobs, Justice and Freedom[11], compared to the 1963 March on Washington’s theme: Jobs and Freedom[12], was celebrated over a five day period culminating on the actual anniversary date, August 28, 2013, where many of thousands had turned out to remember, and commemorate this historical time in American history.

And you are? Olivia Pope (ToBusy Gladiating Videos)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=610DBA7EIiw

Common among the speeches was the acknowledgement that while much had been done over the course of the 50 years since Dr. King’s iconic I Have a Dream! Speech, there was the unequivocable (sp?) agreement, that there was still much work to be done. And, despite the atmosphere of this historical moment, there was a reported snub of the 1^st Black Senator from South Carolina, Tim Scott who was appointed to the office by Governor Nikki Haley. [13] But perhaps that snub will pale in comparison to another snub. (Your snub list may differ). This one of a kind, very powerful character maneuvers through Washington, D.C. working among the very powerful and the elite. Whom: Olivia Pope of Scandal[14] fame.

She Ain’t Real

Why not invite a very powerful Black woman to speak during this historic event, who has connections within Washington D.C.’s halls of justice, Congress and yes, the White House? Ridiculous? Or is it? No, she is not real. Some might say that one powerful Black woman is enough, in the form of Oprah Winfrey of the OWN network[15]. That to have two super powerful Black women at the Lincoln Memorial would overshadow the message of Justice, Jobs and Freedoms. But in reality, Oprah, she don’t know nothing, at least, nothing about Washington insider tricks. She’s just another pretty face for the board rooms and talk tv.

And while I suggest that Olivia Pope was snubbed, there maybe a good cause why she would not have been considered as one of those to speak before the throngs of thousands between the Lincoln and Washington Memorials. We may all conclude initially, that she isn’t real, but she is powerful as embodied by Kerry Washington.[16] And if she could be embodied on a weekly tv series where she takes on Washington politics and Washington insiders’ problems, why couldn’t she take on the hopes and dreams of people who, for too long, depend on Washington to provide them justice, jobs and equality? It is my contention that she should have had this one opportunity. How much more harm could she do that 50 years since the March on Washington has cost a very important part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?[17]

Who is Olivia Pope?[18]

In all fairness, we know that besides being a fictional character, we know that she is the creation of Shonda Rhimes, [19] the creator of the ABC hit series, Scandal[20]. The star of this high-powered drama is the very beautiful, and talented, award-winning Kerry Washington. Portraying the role Olivia Pope, Kerry brings to life a no-holds barred, independent black woman whose major flaw, per the Scandal storyline, is that she is weak for the President of the United States, the leader of the “free-world”. Or perhaps, the President (Scott Fitzgerald) played by Tony Goldwyn [21] is weak for Olivia Pope? While this is not a plug for the program, I suggest you tune in and see Whose Zooming Who.[22]

The real point here is that a fictional character is being suggested as having been overlooked from the lineup of many of this nation’s greatest Civil Rights leaders, and current dignitaries from all across this great country. How immature, or perhaps, as some may see it, sacrilegious! Or, maybe this is a sad attempt by this writer to make a name for himself. And perhaps so. But it is with good intent that Olivia Pope be proposed. The storyline regarding Olivia Pope, also places her in a role unimaginable by today’s standards. Although we are in the early 21^st century, women being seen as anything other than as assistants, or second-class citizens by their pay, would hardly be seen as “a fixer”. A what? A Fixer![23] What the hell is “a fixer”, surely you ask. In the Scandal storyline, a fixer is a Crisis Management firm developed by Olivia Pope & Associates[24] apparently designed to help Washington’s elite to put a positive spin on a negative situation for which many Washington’s elite and politicians can relate.

Although the storyline is based on an actual person within the Washington political belt, to me, the closest to reality that Olivia Pope comes to in my mind, politically, is Donna Bazile,[25] CNN Political Consultant and presidential campaign manger to former Presidential candidate Al Gore[26], and former Vice President to Bill Clinton. That proximity however may not translate to being good enough to being invited to speak on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the character of Olivia Pope. But there remains a strong indication that someone like her was needed to balance the number of speakers who had delivered their various messages of congratulations, and acknowledgements to those who had helped promote Dr. King’s dreams over the past 50 years. So what could someone like an Olivia Pope have brought to the table, or the mall, as it were?

How does fiction convert to reality?

How often is a fictional character proposed as an alternative to life’s real circumstances? Perhaps more than we know. When it comes to real life crime, we can all use a Hulk, Captain America, [27] or Superman[28]. How many young girls fashioned themselves after the “Barbie”[29] doll to make themselves thin or what they are led to believe is attractive? So proposing that a fictional character such as Olivia Pope have a strategic role, a speaking role, no less, honoring one of America’s most iconic and historical events, may not be a far stretch.

Whose to blame?

Section 4 of The Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been gutted with the most recent decision of the United Supreme Court.[30] If this was all, it maybe okay. But also note that in October, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case of Fischer v the University of Texas.[31]. These two cases are indicative of what is to come. And while it appears to be racially motivated, many Americans don’t understand how many of the rights that were rescinded were done so against People of Color. The fights for those rights were by Whites and People of Color, and subsequently by women (the 19^th Amendment[32]) who fought for the right to vote, and subsequent to that, people who were handicapped (ADA[33]); those with families and children [34], and most recently, those who are LGBT[35]. Whatever rights that are generally guaranteed by the Constitution are constantly in play, and before long, as many of us believe that it is the responsibility of someone else to ensure our rights, those rights will be gone, in totality. Whose to blame? We all are, because we believed that our rights, while guaranteed, are rock solid, and nothing is more closer to incorrect. Rights must be fought for all the time.

“What is your end game?” Harrison to Olivia Pope (ScandalousGladiators Videos)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIzVgdgQ4uI

We need an Olivia Pope, someone who dares us to sleep, dares us to dream; someone who will not hold our hand and coddle us while our rights are being taken away. We need an Olivia Pope who will treat us like the Gladiators that surround her, and will give us our marching orders, and will expect nothing less than our best while we actively pursue our dreams, but don’t take for granted the rights that are constantly being attacked.

Harrison Wright: 101-Scandal (ABC Network Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OGIWQ-ec_E

WWOPS or, What Would “Olivia Pope” Say?

The character created by Shonda Rhimes, is no doubt, in my mind, Shonda Rhimes herself. The character personified by Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, is not just the actress portraying a woman caught up in a tumultuous love affair with the President of the United States, she is, as a Crisis Manager, managing a crew of professionals whom she refers to as her Gladiators[36]. Whether Olivia Pope is the voice of Shonda Rimes or the embodiment of Kerry Washington, she appears to be every person who has ever wanted to stand for something, or stand up to someone when it came to their future. But, that in itself could be the very reason why Olivia Pope would not be invited to this historical event.

However, if she were allowed to stand at the podium, on this historical moment, here is what I envision. As she is flanked by her “Gladiators” (Harrison Wright, played by Columbus Short[37]; Abby Whelan played by Darby Stanchfield[38]; Huck played by Guillermo Diaz[39]; Quinn Perkins/Lindsay Dwyer played by Katie Lowes[40]), Olivia Pope would look out over the thousands of attendees and would remind them/us of these important things, in keeping with the theme of pursuing Jobs and Freedom:

v The Constitution of the United States[41] is a living breathing document. We know that it is living because despite being born in 1776, it’s most recent Amendment was at least in 1992[42];

v The Constitution of the United States guarantees every American the right to life, liberty and (the right) to pursue happiness[43], it’s not an option;

v The right to pursue happiness means that we are not to be coddled, or have our hands held, hoping that our rights will always be there;

v We are to be reminded that everyday is the pursuit of happiness in these United States, that everyday is the pursuit of liberty and that everyday is the pursuit of fulfilling our dreams. Why is this important? Because, conversely, everyday someone is working to take away those very rights, guaranteed by the United States Constitution;

v We are to be reminded that everyday someone is working just as hard to place a tourniquet around the 14^th Amendment, the 15^th Amendment, the 1^st Amendment, and/or the 2^nd Amendment. Many of those who are working everyday to suspend or rescind those rights are right here within the Continental United States, and, who are just as protected as each one of us by the same Constitution to diminish, or eliminate our rights;

v The challenge to each and everyone of us, is not to come back 50 years from now, whining and complaining about the rights we lost because we sat back, laid back, or stood on the sidelines and watched each one of our rights get taken away;

v The challenge before us, from this day forward, is not to come back to this hallowed place again to commemorate what happened in 1963 unless there are victories to celebrate.

v No one should ever gather at this hallowed place 50 years from now unless or until, every American can rest assured that each and every right guaranteed by the Constitution is secured; that each and every citizen of the United States can wake up each day having truly achieved the American dream.

v Until then, no one sleeps, takes a break; no one looks for a leg up, or a hand out. Everyone must pull their own weight, everyday, and every time their rights to freedom is challenged, or threatened;

v Whether by phone, carrier pigeon, letter writing campaign, or telegraph, everyone is responsible for securing the rights afforded by the United States Constitution;

v Finally, the United States Constitution continues to breathe because of the men and women of our United States Armed Forces, who fight for the freedoms that many of us enjoy, but not only that, what many of us also take for granted. But that does not mean that we, as American citizens, stand at Parade Rest while political and community leaders stiff-arm us only to carry out an agenda that puts each and everyone of us at odds with the very thing that the Constitution prescribes-life, liberty and (the right) to pursue happiness. The Constitution is interactive, and therefore requires that we as citizens all take an active role in its longevity by standing up everyday for all that it provides.

Whether Olivia Pope would have said anything remotely close to the above points will be up for a debate (for no more than a minute). But why would anyone who may have said something to this effect not be a speaker at the 50^th anniversary of the March on Washington? Here is why?

Olivia Pope does not have that nurturing nature that many citizens have been led to believe is what political leaders and community activists seem to incorporate into their leadership strategy. She does not do that lead from the rear, or puts you on hold while she achieves her own success, while your success is seemingly far out of reach. From my perspective, Olivia Pope has the all hands on deck approach to achieving our individual and our collective dreams, leaving no one behind. She holds everyone accountable and she does not entertain excuses for failure.

“We owe her”- Harrison to Abby (Scandalous Gladiators Videos)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZfWeUvfXys

Olivia Pope is real!

Yes, she is as real as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. Olivia Pope is as real as her creator, Shonda Rhimes; as real as Kerry Washington the actress who personifies the character, herself. Olivia Pope is as real as the rights that many of us take for granted, but don’t register to vote, or vote at all. She is as real as the political leaders whom we continue to put in office term after term, and complain because there is grid-lock in Congress; Olivia Pope is as real as the sponsors that pour millions of dollars into the commercials that promote the Scandal program. The reality is that for all intent and purposes, as we have come to know it, reality is not really appreciated. We have been taught or led to believe that everyone else knows what is best for us. And for our own failure to standup to those who mislead us, we don’t get the privilege of an Olivia Pope. She, nor anyone who remotely resembles her, will be allowed to speak from so hallowed a place, and challenge us to stand up for our Constitutional Rights. But, I have been known to be wrong.

Conclusion

When Dr. King was shot in 1968,[44] my father was in the hospital. He was recovering from an appendix surgery. On that night, my mother Sarah, and Aunt Polly received word from a neighbor that in response to Dr. King’s assassination, there would be retaliatory actions against anyone who did not tie a black rag on their doors or fences. My mother hurried and found a scarf and tied it to the fence in our front yard. Very shortly thereafter, we saw men down the street trying to set fire to a corner store. We hurried inside and through a side door to our backyard and climbed a fence to our neighbor, Ms. Annie Mae Spain, whose husband had already past. That’s all I remember about that night. My young years are a vague recollection of assassinations of President John F. Kennedy[45], his brother, Robert F. Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention[46], Malcolm X,[47] and Dr. King. I share these brief memories to let you know that I understand the seriousness of the situation of the March on Washington (1963 and 2013). As I suggest a fictional character as having been snubbed at the 50^th anniversary of the March on Washington, I don’t do it lightly.

Men and women are still dying today for the very rights that are on the chopping block before the Supreme Court. But too, young people are dying at by gun violence, by their own hands as well as adults. To suggest that a fictional character has a better message than many of those who stand before us, is to suggest that the seriousness of these times are lost on young people who are content to wear their pants below their butts; that the seriousness of these times are lost on young people who believe that drugs, guns and domestic violence are more important than the rights that are being shredded right before our very eyes; that the seriousness of these times are being lost on many of our young people who fail to realize that schools are being closed, and training opportunities that are no longer provided are the basis for more jails to be built and to ultimately have a society that does not question, that does not think for itself, or a society that will have less of a role in the selection of its leaders who are capable of actually leading.

Yes, Olivia Pope is fictional. But she is the closest to what used to be the kind of leadership that many of us can only dream of today when it comes to securing many of the rights that are being hacked up, repealed, or watered-down. Maybe we don’t need an Olivia Pope, but hopefully there is an alternative that is damn close, and she, or he, won’t take a leadership role unless we register to vote, actually vote and hold accountable those who represent the very best of what the Constitution of the United States guarantees: Life, Liberty and (the right to the) pursuit of happiness. Maybe its time we become Gladiators- Gladiators in a suit[48]. Correct me, if I am wrong.

Scandal Quote:

“We do. Not. Give. Up.” Olivia Pope[49]

Disclaimer: All information provided here is deemed to be from reliable sources but are not guaranteed. No endorsements are implied, suggested or paid for in this posting. Please consult your respective political representative if you have any questions. Register to vote. VOTE!

[1] Olivia Pope?: http://scandal.wikia.com/wiki/Olivia_Pope

[2] “I Have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March on Washington 1963- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs

[3] 50^th Anniversary of the March On Washington- http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/24/us/march-on-washington

[4] Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech: http://www.archives.gov/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf

[5] President Bill Clinton- http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williamjclinton/

[6] President Jimmy Carter- http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jimmycarter/

[7] Barack Obama- http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama/

[8] Rev Al Sharpton and National Action Network- http://nationalactionnetwork.net/

[9] Martin Luther King, III and Realizing the Dream- http://realizingthedream.ua.edu/

[10] NAACP- http://www.naacp.org/

[11] Theme for March on Washington 1963: https://abagond.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/march-on-washington-1963/

[12] March on Washington 1963-Jobs and Freedom- http://www.suntimes.com/news/jackson/21891194-452/kings-march-was-for-jobs-and-freedom.html