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Sunday night ended with the Baltimore Ravens earning a one-point victory against the Kansas Chiefs, but it began with the Ravens honoring The Wire star Michael K. Williams. As The Wire creator David Simon walked across Ostend Street Bridge toward M&T Bank stadium, he heard a faint whistle that reminded him of the song that Omar Little, played by Michael K. Williams, whistled throughout the HBO series. After arriving at the stadium, Simon realized that he did in fact hear fans whistling "Farmers In The Dell."
"Heard the sound of Omar whistling 'Farmer In The Dell' from the stadium while walking across the Ostend Street bridge to the Ravens opener and thought I’d lost my s---," Simon tweeted.
"It’s the little things that are gonna get me, I guess. But Michael gonna last."
On Sunday night, he was also honored by star actors and musicians at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Leon Bridges and Jon Batiste included him in the "In Memoriam" tribute. Kerry Washington also delivered a monologue honoring him prior to announcing the winner of the "Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" award.
"Michael was...a brilliantly talented actor and a generous human being who has left us far too soon. Michael, your excellence and artistry will endure. We love you," Washington said.
Beyond the world of entertainment, New York Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn has reportedly introduced a bill named in the actor's honor.
“The Michael K. Williams bill will serve to reduce mass incarceration, which disproportionately hurts people of color and costs taxpayers millions of dollars,” Hermelyn stated.
“We will keep our communities safe and reduce racist policies that have led to America’s for-profit criminal justice system.”
Williams' legacy will live on through his previous work as well as the bill named in his honor and the second season of Vice's Black Market.
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