S. Epatha Merkerson is 70

Isaac Hawkins Hall

Epatha MerkersonThe actor S. Epatha Merkerson played Lieutenant Anita Van Buren in 390 episodes of the long-running procedural Law and Order, from 1993 to 2010. I thought she was very credible in playing someone who had to deal with some added burdens in the workplace. She talked about the wigs she wore for the show.

I got the sense that Alex Trebek was a big fan of hers when she appeared on Celebrity JEOPARDY in 1999.

But she’s done a lot more. Epatha was nominated for two Tony Awards. She was up for Best Actress In A Play in 2008 for Come Back, Little Sheba, and Best Featured Actress In A Play in 1990 for The Piano Lesson.

I did not know that she was Reba in 16 episodes of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, primarily because I never watched the show. Currently, she plays Sharon Goodwin on Chicago Med, a program I’ve watched exactly once.

Georgetown

What I did see her in was the Freedom Tales episode of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., which first aired on February 5, 2019. It reran early in 2022.

One of the most significant findings was that an ancestor of Epatha, Patrick Hawkins, was one of 272 people enslaved by the Jesuit priests of what is now Georgetown University who were sold to two planters in Louisiana in 1838. Money was tight for the educational institution. There’s a pretty good Wikipedia page on the subject.

WETA, the PBS station in DC hosted a screening and discussion of the episode. here’s a five-minute clip. Also, read Sister Melannie Svoboda’s blog.

“Despite her success, Merkerson recounted how she had ‘always wanted to know’ where her family came from. When she asked her grandmother to tell her about their ancestors, her grandmother responded, ‘It’s painful. You don’t need to hear any of this.'” This is not an unusual response.

“The ‘inventory’ compiled by the Jesuits for the sale listed the name of every slave. On the list were five of Patrick Hawkins’ relatives, his wife Letty, his son Peter, and his father Isaac. Georgetown recently renamed the Former Jesuit Residence after Isaac Hawkins following student protests over its original name that honored one of the Jesuits involved in the sale.

“Brought to tears, Merkerson responded, ‘They have names…they have names. They’re not just faceless people.'”

Reunion

At the end of the episode, S. Epatha Merkerson attended a reunion of the GU272 Descendants Association. “GU272 is dedicated to preserving the memory, commemorating the lives, and restoring the honor of the GU272 enslaved people sold by the Maryland Province Jesuits in 1838 and those who were enslaved before, during, and after the sale by the Society of Jesus. As Descendants, we commit to reconciling our ancestors’ enslavement, reconnecting families, and renewing ties lost.”

Epatha said on the Finding Your Roots episode that maybe she’ll be able to take courses at Georgetown. Implicit was that she should be able to take them for free.

The Apollo Party I’m Missing

The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a star-studded red carpet, followed by the Benefit concert and awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and culminating with a grand tented after-party, the Apollo Supper Club.


I’ve never been to the legendary Apollo Theater in New York City, although it’s only about 160 miles from where I live. “Legendary” gets thrown around too often, but the Harlem venue with a somewhat muddled history prior to 1934, when it became “Where Stars are Born and Legends are Made” from Ella Fitzgerald to Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Lauryn Hill.

So somehow I get this printed invitation in the mail to go to this event honoring The Queen of Soul, and the late King of Pop. Seems like a once-in-a-lifetime thing. And I haven’t been to Manhattan in quite a while.

Wait: what’s that? $1000 a head! Guess I WON’T be going after all. But what would I have gotten for my money?

Marc Anthony and JLo getting some award named for the great acting couple? Chase bank getting an award? Jamie Foxx hosting? Meh.

The invitation was a great piece of information for me.

The Chairman of the Board for the Apollo is Richard Parsons, former head of Time Warner, since mid-2009 head of Citigroup.
The board includes familiar names such as music producer Quincy Jones and historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the latter probably better known by most of America for getting arrested at his own home last year. Then there’s business tycoon Ron Perelman, honorary co-chair with Quincy of the benefit committee, who seems to court controversy wherever he goes; I know him best as the guy who almost destroyed Marvel Comics.

Some acting couples on the benefit committee, such as Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance and Kyra Sedgwick & Kevin Bacon; Baconologists, please note. Also, Bill Cosby and his wife Camille; director Spike Lee, and his wife Tonya Lewis; Denzel Washington, and his wife Pauletta; Marcia Gay Harden; and a musician who’s played at the Apollo, Smokey Robinson.

But what if I had MORE money to spend? What would be my options?

$15,000 Tier

2010 Spring Event Benefits

4 tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Recognition on the Apollo marquee during June
Recognition on the Concert Program
Year-round Benefits

10 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$25,000 Tier

2010 Spring Event Benefits

8 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June
Recognition during the Concert and in the Supper Club
Recognition on the Concert Program
Recognition on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Year-round Benefits

Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
10 tickets to host one company night at the Apollo
20 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature
10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$50,000 Tier

Annual Spring Benefits

12 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Preferred recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June
Preferred recognition on the Red Carpet and during the event
Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program
Preferred recognition on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Year-round Benefits

Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
20 tickets to host two company nights at the Apollo
20 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature
10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$75,000 Tier – Diamond Salute Partner

2010 Spring Event Benefits

16 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Preferred recognition on the Apollo marquee during June
Preferred recognition on the Red Carpet and at the event
Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program
Preferred recognition on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Diamond Salute Partner Benefits

Opportunity for senior executive to join the Apollo National Committee
Concierge purchasing service for 2010 Spring Benefit Events
Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
20 tickets to host two company nights at the Apollo
20 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Use of the Apollo Theater brand in corporate literature
10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$100,000 Tier

2010 Spring Event Benefits

20 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Industry-exclusive title sponsorship
Prime recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June
Prime recognition on the Red Carpet and during the event
Branding opportunities during the Concert and Supper Club
Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program
Dedicated content on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Year-round Benefits

Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
40 tickets to host four company nights at the Apollo
30 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Complimentary curator-led Apollo historic tour
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$150,000 Tier

2010 Spring Event Benefits

28 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Industry-exclusive title sponsorship
Prime recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June
Prime recognition on the Red Carpet and during the event
Branding opportunities during the Concert and Supper Club
Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program
Dedicated content on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Year-round Benefits

Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
40 tickets to host four company nights at the Apollo
30 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Complimentary curator-led Apollo historic tour
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

APOLLO THEATER TO REMEMBER A KING AND CELEBRATE A QUEEN
2010 Annual Spring Benefit Concert and Awards Ceremony
Monday, June 14, 2010

Hosted by comedian, multi-platinum recording artist and Oscar-award winning actor Jamie Foxx, this year’s Concert & Awards Ceremony will feature the induction of two royal new honorees into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame: the undisputed King of Pop Michael Jackson, and the one and only Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.

The awards ceremony will continue with the Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis Arts and Humanitarian Award presented to superstar couple Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. The Theater’s annual corporate award will be presented to JP Morgan Chase for its ongoing commitment to the Apollo and the Harlem community.

The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a star-studded red carpet, followed by the Benefit concert and awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and culminating with a grand tented after-party, the Apollo Supper Club.

For more details, please click here to view the press release for the Apollo’s 2010 Gala.

To purchase tickets, please click here or call Nicole Judd at 212.531.5330.

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