Marc H. Morial
President and CEO
National Urban League
“I look at it this way: anybody can carry a picket sign, but I think you should be able to articulate what that sign means … Don’t get me wrong. I believe in the same things that all those people demonstrating believe in, but I just look for plays or movies that say the same thing and play characters in them.” – James Earl Jones
America lost two Black icons of the entertainment industry in recent days.
James Earl Jones was a generation older than Tito Jackson, but both hit the peak of their fame in the 1970s and played a major role in shifting perception of Black culture and history.
Jones’ distinctive bass voice, which brought him his greatest fame in roles where his face was not even seen, brought a remarkable gravitas and dignity to characters whose race was of pivotal importance.