Continued from Part 1...
But back to the point at hand. Mr. Imus and McGuirk insulted more than just a basketball team. They defamed women all world wide. They called your family and women of importance nothing better than prostitutes. That is a ho. That’s what he said without a moment of hesitation. That was his deep thought brought out in a moment of casual flippancy. At least it seems as such to me. And the mega-corporation that allows him to be on air believed that was harsh enough to give him a vacation. Wow.
I do not doubt that this could be the thoughts of many people around the world. I’m not foolish enough to believe that if Mr. Imus is fired this will end comments like this being uttered. I equally understand that not every person feels this way. These comments do not reflect everyone, but they do reflect some. But there are consequences for the actions we take. Mr. Imus has mentioned he recognizes this, even as he refuses to take responsibility.
While I feel Mr. Imus should take responsibility for his comments, I must also consider another part of this that is just as critical. Mr. Imus did not make calling women, particularly African American women, hos a common occurrence. The degradation of Black women has been promoted for decades by rappers in a manner that never existed before. This continuous insult, promoted by corporations, has helped to usher in moments like this I feel.
But where does this all end? How many times must people feel like they can say anything and be unpunished, no matter how offensive they are? In recent months we have heard of the actions by Mr. Mel Gibson, Mr. Michael Richards and Kenneth Eng. We have seen a Presidential hopeful make comments that are specifically targeted to lessen the accomplishments and importance of success in African Americans. Blatant attacks against Black men have occurred, with barely a comment from the news media, while felonies are made by white teen girls and the charges are reduced without cause. Yet while this all happens the fight over an apology to African Americans is heatedly rejected.
Don Imus and his comments are only a symptom of a bigger issue. I don’t agree with the thought that we need incidents like this to address the underlying issues. The issues are apparent, prolonged and ingrained in this nation. The number of incidents that any Black person (or any minority for that fact) in America can name in their life to date proves that. Perhaps it’s time that we address this at its root. Perhaps we need to take responsibility for the music lyrics, music videos, ebonics, lack of education, unjust legal system, economic disparity, addictions, and failure to apologize for the actions that helped to build the nation we all share.
Part of that acceptance of responsibility can start with Mr. Imus being fired. But whether he is or not, it should not be our only action.
This is what I think, what do you think?
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