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Ernest L. Thomas . . .
A personal conversation with Eliza, Part 2
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Ernest 2007
Welcome back for Part 2 of our interview with Ernest L. Thomas, famously known by his many sitcom and movie roles such as; 'Everybody Hates Chris', 'What's Happening!', Malcolm X to name a few. Ernest has many more TV and movie credits that you can view at the end of this interview.
Please, take some time and enjoy Part 2 of our interview where we get real serious and find out what's closest to his heart. Please Click here to read Part 1
IOR: Ernest you have been involved in so many functions with all kinds of people like children groups, unwed mothers, various charities and so forth. What I’d like to know is, out of them all, which would you say is closest to your heart?
Ernest: Definitely the women and children. Women and children all over the world. How many children are being abused every day; how many children are abandoned, molested; how many children are affected by the battered wife or mother that they see? Many of those children may become suicidal, depressed or stressed out. With the women being treated like second class citizens, of every nation; even nations who don’t like each other, culturally or otherwise, the one thing they agree upon is the demeaning of women. That’s all across the board even here in America it took forever for women just to get the right to vote. They don’t get the same salary, even with the same experience she’ll get a lesser salary than her male counterpart.
Just the fact that ten women are killed every day by men who say they love women, that really breaks my heart. And seeing my mother hit as a child, being 3 or 4 years old and not being able to do anything about it is horrific. No one will know how that feels unless they've really dealt with it as a child. It affects you for the rest of your life. So the abuse of children and women, not that you want a man abused either, because there's abuse in those cases also. Ten women are killed everyday by men, not counting the ones who has
been abused or beaten every second or minute. This is by a man who claims he loves women, it happens in front of his children, as they watch. Sometimes he will even kill the wife as this guy just did. He killed the pregnant woman in front of the other children. That breaks my heart and I've cried many tears.
IOR: That is heart breaking.
Ernest: I was asked to go to D.C. to speak at a press conference about the murder rate among the black youth, the 'black on black crime'. They have no idea of the price of the blood shed, the heart ache that was felt by our ancestors. We still, now, chose to kill each other, we don’t need the KKK to hunt us down and hang us on the trees. As they call the strange fruit, we will shoot each other.
In D.C. there was a guy who hit on a girl, he didn’t know that the girls boyfriend was in the car. He just said, "Hi baby", just trying to make her his girlfriend and she says "no, I have a boyfriend. You would think that’s the end of it; well the boyfriend comes in and the girls says he hit on me. The guy waits until the boy comes out and all his friends beat the boy to death and put him in the street so he could get run over by other cars. I don’t get it!
I went up there to talk to this gentleman who has an organization to help counsel the youth, to stop the killings because his son was killed, by a friend. He is a policeman who hunted the friend down and he did not hurt him. That took a lot of restraint. He asked me to come up to be a part of the 'Stop the Violence for Father’s Day' weekend and I did. But Vera, to be there and talk to the mothers who have lost their daughters and sons in cold blood, they know that their children were shot to death for nothing, by black men, black youth, just because, and that’s it.
For that weekend there was no violence. 
IOR: So how do we keep that up? What is it, more awareness, what is it going to take?
Ernest: I’m asking God for that revelation, spiritually. I know we also need the practical application of it. I mentioned this at the press conference and this is what I said, "I've got the answer for you all". "I have the answer, what if all the ministers in town of all the different denominations who are not necessarily in agreement with each other theologically, but will come together in the name of Jesus, as one? All of you are going to gather and forget about your denominations’ and each week you are going to pray together. Pray for a turn around, for a spiritual revolution in the hearts of these young people. You invite them, any and all who wants to come, the mothers and grandparents.
I know and I believe then, because God is not a liar, things will turn around." Now the policeman who invited me, said, "Ernest, I appreciate what you say and that sounds beautiful, but that will never happen, because the ministers in this town do not like each other, some don’t even speak to each other." I said, "you mean to tell me that they won't stop this even for the children, and they are called by Christ". He said, "yes, they will not do it". And you know what, no one came.
So that’s why the children don’t respect the ministers. Now, I’m not saying all because there are some good ministers out there. To name a few, Bishop Jakes, Bishop Almer, Bishop Jones, of course, Billy Graham I’ve always loved. For the ones in those troubled areas, if you’re not being a part of the unity, the oneness that you are professing to be, then you are part of the problem. So, how can a kid even gravitate towards the church when he sees you are one that’s all about your ego. You have your own gang, so your gang is not going to speak to the other gang and you’re (ministers) doing the same thing. What is the difference, you’re not speaking to the other ministers, you are both supposedly called being an example of Jesus Christ, then you are in a gang, you are doing according to your own understanding and your ego. That is why the kids are suffering in the inner city.
They have not crucified their egos, laid down their weapons and embraced themselves and they say "we are going to come together not for our sake, but for the sake of who we say we serve". That itself; if that happens in New Orleans; Little Rock; Los Angeles; all the major cities; on Martin Luther King Blvd., and you've invited the mothers and all the people who are interested in the young kids, you can’t tell me there would not be a Spiritual Revolution. Whatever strategies we would need, would come to us, the ideas and ways to handle it from there, would string from that firm foundation.
Like they say 'the redwood tree in Mississippi is so deeply rooted into ground that when the winds come, it sways but it does not fall down'. We need a firm foundation like that, a spiritual foundation like that.
IOR: Spiritual Revolution, I totally agree. Mountains will move.
Ernest: You know I love rap and the kids respect rappers and drug dealers more than they respect ministers. That’s why they can quote those lyrics and dance with it because there is boldness in it that we don’t have. God said don’t lose your boldness in him. And we have lost the boldness and the ministers are afraid to confront the enemy.
IOR: What's the fear, why do you think that is?
Ernest: Well, for many it’s sad to say, but the money is too good. They don’t want the risk of losing the $250,000 Rolls Royce, the private home with the private road that no one can get into.
IOR: You know what; they keep forgetting that those things are only temporal.
Ernest: Yes!
IOR: They are even teaching that it's only temporary, but they live their lives, it seems, on the temporal things in life.
Ernest: Look at Dr. King, who was not wealthy and his concern was no greater love than to give one’s life, and he did it gladly. After he won the Nobel Peace Prize, he could have hidden or left, for some African Nation and left the rest of the work to is protégé’s to handle. No he decided to handle it himself. He was a leader by example and now no one is willing to die for the cause. No one has the love that it takes. The irony is that they teach crucifixion, no greater love than Christ dying on the cross, but they are not willing.
Do you think the kids who are smarter than we ever were, you think they don’t know. This is the dilemma, God will give us the strategy that's why I speak to the kids and tell them that it might not be the minister, it might be you, God might be calling you, young David. Remember David was only 12 years old, so start looking within. Stop looking at the pulpit, the best teacher is God and he might be calling on you. I’m not knocking any religion.
IOR: Oh, I did read somewhere that you were a Scientologist.
Ernest: (With his famous laugh) Honey, they have me as... (continuing with his laugh) Well, I think that scientology can definitely help because we have all been damaged as children. People are afraid of scientology, but you don’t have to be afraid and you don’t have to go way into it. There are courses they have that can help you no matter what religion you are in. Just as there are brain specialists and heart specialist, to me the scientologist are mind specialist. They don’t believe in giving you medicine.
Like many that give medicine to take care of the symptoms but not the root cause. The best thing about scientology is they are really trying to get you to really show the Godliness, to let that rise above the flesh, mind over matter. It’s deeper than that, but I’m just saying don’t be afraid of it, just take what you need out of it.
Like any group they're very ferment about what they believe and a lot of people are thrown by that. Well like I was when I was a child in the Church of God In Christ. I was a zealous person, I got on peoples last nerve. I thought, 'this is it, this is the only truth'. But at the same time someone could take bits and pieces of me that made sense, ‘well he’s right about that, we could all get along’; ‘we could say, yes ma’am to your parents'; just certain things that make sense.
IOR: Wow, I haven't done much research on them. I just know I've heard a lot of negative things about them.
Ernest: Well I’ve been it all from Muslim; I’ve gone to the synagogue with my Jewish agent; and of course my foundation has always been the Church of God in Christ teaching, that was my first teaching. I can’t escape that. I don’t claim any denomination because I think mine is one of the purest forms of it because I’m not seeing it, as far as examples of what John 14:12 says "the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do" (KJV) okay, that's what is it? I accept all, Buddhist, Jews, Muslim, etc, I don’t believe no one religion is it. I’m not with my friends on that. Even my mother, will say no one knows, but in her heart she believes that her teaching is the only way.
Well that divides us too, even within Christianity. Religion has killed more people than any ideology. So here we are, at a time now and can someone 'Please' step up to the plate and not be so dogmatic and so one-way saying ‘my black race is the only way'; 'the Jews is the only way'; 'or my religion is the only way' etc. We are not that, we are one human family, the only gang there ever was is the human race. The human race is a multicolored & eclectic group, but all one, from the same one breathe of God, and once we get that, we can have peace on earth. Until then, it won’t be. I believe we will have pockets of that though.
I definitely surround myself with like-minded people. If you want to accomplish anything, have people around you who feel like you do. Not that they are exactly like you, but on the major issues of love and acceptance, they are on the same wave length. Make sure they know more than you, that they are more intelligent than you, someone you are intimidated by.
IOR: I believe that also.
Ernest: Back when I said if we could get those ministers to come together, like-minded Christian, like spirited, the spirit of Christ, you can’t tell me we won’t have a spiritual revolution not in 10 years, I’m talking overnight. "Whoo"! Just them, since God is not a liar.
IOR: Well, this is something we all should be praying for and it will happen. Let me ask you, of course, you will always be remembered as Raj, (he gives me the famous Raj laugh, which is actually his natural laugh),
What else would you like for people to know or remember you by?
Ernest: Well, I love what Madea said in her newspaper article. I'm sure everyone knows and if they don’t know that your, grandmother, Madea, is 100 years old and they celebrated her birthday and gave her all kinds of accolades which she should get. In the article that you sent me, they asked her thought on why she has lived so long and she said because "I’m a nice person".
IOR: Right, right! It’s so simple.
Ernest: You know Vera, that’s it. I’d like to be remembered with “you know what, He was a nice person”. I think that is the highest thing that you can have. That’s a wide umbrella you can live under. If you’re a nice person, at the funeral people will come and say he was a good friend, good son, so being a nice person that would definitely be amazing.
I do believe in leaving those good deeds behind, because once we leave this zone, and have gone home to meet God, then on the earth those deeds, are like heaven on earth, if you’ve done good deeds, by serving people.
When I go to these autograph sessions, it is 80 to 90% causasian, rocker, wild hair; people who we thought were no way interested in the ‘What’s Happening’ show. These people were happy, crying, excited about a show that was 31 years ago, August 1976. We were totally unprepared for such a huge event. People were chanting. People said they watched the show while going through cancer and could laugh. Some said it helped them make their time during college, a grandmother told her grandchildren to watch that show, because Raj is intelligent and I want you to be like that. Not just me, but the whole cast affected people, Mabel King was an intelligent and articulate woman. That team was fantastic, it crossed all racial lines. Remember, there were no Nielson boxes in black homes. I ran into a young lady from the Philippines who said she watched the show when she was 4 years old, in the Philippines. This to me, I know is God.
IOR: You are so right about how the show crossed racial lines. Just the other day I took my son to the doctor and there was a young intern from India in the office with the older doctor. Because of my last name, I am always associated with a few famous singers. So people alway ask that question about being related. In that conversation, I went on to tell them that I was also related to a movie star. I really didn’t think they had watched the show, but when I mentioned it, the young lady from India was so excited and said, “Oh Yeah”. She was smiling and grinning while she talked about you and the other characters. I was so shocked and thought to myself, "you have got to be kidding". So, I just had this discussion with someone else about how ‘What’s Happening’ crossed all racial lines and reached all types of people.
Ernest: Oh my God, that is so beautiful, see that’s just God. Think about it, Gary, Indiana; welfare relief; little boy growing up; definitely never saw a daddy; but that face transcended all those obstacles, because having that minister, all my uncles; uncle Bly (your grandfather); uncle buddy; uncle Wiley; uncle Riley, they would always say, “boy, you’re going to be something”. Me listening to them, they were impressionable and they taught me about Faith. So I’m walking around with that, 'divine destiny'. That’s what I hope and pray for others. If you have those cheerleaders from day one, you are not thinking about the fact you have the government cheese and you’re standing in the line receiving these handouts. You're not thinking about the fact that your mother is being beaten, the kids are calling you poor and you get the special lunches. We’re black and that time is a separate, but unequal situation.
I remember at about the age of eight going to Arkansas and having to eat in the back, on the floor, while we saw the white people eating behind the silk, a white silk curtain. I’ll never forget it, I was broken. I couldn’t understand. Now I can tell these kids that because of that faith, and can always go back to that with My Father, My God, all things are possible.
IOR: Right and it does take these people, family, like you said all those that were surrounding you, to know that really, God is Within You, He lives within, if you allow him to.
Ernest: Yes, Darling, that is so powerful, that you know that God is Within You and bigger than anything that is outside of you!
IOR: As the scripture say, "We can do all things through Him".
Ernest: Yes, Yes, All things!
I hope you have enjoyed our interview with Ernest Thomas. "Its Our Reality!" Magazine thanks him for spending time with us and opening himself up to allow us to see what he is truly about. We wish him much continued success and blessings in all he does.
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