Today, Oprah had on her show the white woman who became the center of attention during the Brian Nichol's case in Atlanta, the episode during which he made an escape from police custody and eventually took this woman hostage, trying to negotiate the maintenance of his life with full integrity and respect as a human being. Over the course of the day or so that he held her hostage, she became his confidante and somewhat friend, as he began to tell her of how he had been wrongfully convicted of a rape he didnt commit and how he had just had a baby that he was not present for because of this. She talked to him and they leveled with each other in a very human way and then she advised him to give himself up, after he eventually set her free. They had bonded. This white woman, after being set free, called the police, and walked away with a smirk. Apparently, she had promised him that she would come and visit him in prison and that they would be friends. When Oprah asked her if she had gone to visit him, she laughingly said "No, I dont think so." Hmm.

I was observing Oprah carefully throughout the whole show, and I clearly saw what she was doing on the show as well, and I love her for doing what she can, and what she does, the best way she can. She wasn't so much interested in this white woman and her book as she wanted to air the story of what had happened with Brian Nichols ( who currently faces the death penalty; may he find his way to Cuba). Alas, when that white woman laughed and told her that her veneer of friendship had just been fake, I saw something in Oprah's eyes and thought that if she didn't know any better she might just reach over and rip that white woman's jugular out. So Oprah somewhat dismissed her and then invited the Author of the book that helped this white woman and Brian Nichols to bond out on the stage.

It was a very interesting moment. Alas, I could also see how Oprah so very skillfully crafted this show ( I love Oprah), balancing this tragic bullshit story of this white woman with that of another woman who had been victimized by a White serial rapist. I think Oprah is a most progressive soul and I truly do sit back in awe and see how someone with her stature and power, who is still a black woman and must deal with this god awful system that we live in, artfully plays off of the stereotypes and prejudices of white people, or rather her white general audience--those suburban soccer moms in all of their most wonderful glory, to do progressive work and bring about the greater good. God Bless Oprah, God bless us all.