I responded directly to Ridley and to Esquire, so I’ll be brief here.

I’m a fan of Ridley’s work when he sticks to solely fiction. He’s proved himself in the past a talented Renaissance man, an acclaimed novelist (A phenomenal writer, think Jim Thompson, but more hardboiled), screenwriter, director, sitcom producer, and comic book writer.

Ridley is arguably one of the most gifted men on the planet, however it’s quite obvious with his Esquire article… he’s also quite wrong.

I go into depth about why Ridley’s article was not just misinformed, but really a failure on so many levels. Not the least of showing heretofore unknown cracks, in Ridley the Renaissance man.

I covered this directly to Ridley and Esquire, and will not rehash it here, except to say, Ridley’s odd lapdog political stance to the contrary… (Honest to god Ridley, take your medication) I think he meant to do good.

But attacking and ranting rarely changes the world for the better. You want to change people, the sad truth is you have to get off your high horse roll up your sleeves, and help… not hinder.

And the people he would put on pedestals, have in the half dozen years since then and now, have made the world infinitely worse, and infinitely more dangerous, and infinitely harder… for all people.

Particularly people of color.

Ridley if you stumble across this:

You’re a brilliant man, but brilliance must always be tempered with some, some compassion, and some humanity. Failing that, all your brilliance can not keep you from being that N word, you would so quickly label others with.

You’re a brilliant man Ridley, but your article makes me doubt if you’re a good one.

And Ridley has all my contact info, for those of you who think I’m doing unfair potshots. I have more respect for Ridlley than his article has shown for anyone else.

And I write this for those fans like me who will stumble across his… rant… and be flabbergasted.

I like John Ford’s films but his politics, his world outlook applied, I found… abhorent. John Ridley falls into the same camp.

But he’s a young man… perhaps he’ll grow out of it. Or take his medication. : )

First, it’s pretty clear that Colin Powell was was being edged out of the inner circle even as early as 9/11. That said, Ridley was right on the mark about much of these topics. We’ll glorify every ignorant bling thug, but Colin and Condi, we igg.