Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Don Imus

Now, I don't really think that aspect needs much discussion. I think most reasonable people will see his comments as absolutely stupid and inappropriate.

But what I've been wondering is why, whenever there is a racial incident, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson always seem to end up as the lead spokesmen for the Black community and why the person who committed to the racially insensitive offense goes to THEM begging for forgiveness. Don Imus certainly should have apologized for what he said. But his first apology should have been to the women he personally insulted, not to Al Sharpton.

And I'm wondering how exactly Sharpton has ANY credibility when criticizing other people for inappropriate remarks. This is a guy who publicly and repeatedly accused an innocent man of raping a 15 year old woman. He was convicted in court of this. I don't know know about others, but I'd certainly rather be called a "nappy headed ho" than "a man who rapes 15 year olds". What Imus said was offensive. What Sharpton said was criminal. And yet he acts like he has such moral authority in taking Imus to task.

Jesse Jackson has led protests outside of the studio that boradcasts Imus. He's outraged by his offensive comments. Maybe he should picket himself, since this is the guy who referred to New York as "Hymie-town" and said that it was controlled by Jews and their money. This is the guy who used money that people had generously given to his tax-exempt charity foundation to pay hush-money to his mistress and mother of his illegitimate child. And this guy is gonna be so self-righteous because some radio DJ made offensive comments? Give me a break.

I'm not gonna defend waht Imus said. But I'm not gonna defend hypocrisy either and it seems like these guys are really out there trying to get publicity for themselves and exploiting this incident where accomplished young women were publicly insulted in order to further their own agendas.

quote:Originally posted by Dr. Whom:
I'm not gonna defend waht Imus said. But I'm not gonna defend hypocrisy either and it seems like these guys are really out there trying to get publicity for themselves and exploiting this incident where accomplished young women were publicly insulted in order to further their own agendas.

quote:America was Disneyland long before Disney, who got the idea of overblown, simplified images from the country itself.

quote:As for the MLK and Sharpton bashing, let's cut that out, 'kay?

BTW, that quote about Imus forced to be an asshole was funny.

I think Imus owed an appology to his audience, and to the girls on the basketball team. From there, he needs to retire and enjoy his millions, fading into obscurity.

quote:Originally posted by Tommy_Paine:
Why this pilgramage to Sharpton and Jackson whenever someone says something racist?

quote:"These comments are indicative of greater ills in our culture," Stringer said. "It is not just Mr. Imus, and we hope that this will be and serve as a catalyst for change. Let us continue to work hard together to make this world a better place."

[ 13 April 2007: Message edited by: Makwa ]

quote:
When I first read the news, "What the hell…?" was all I could muster. Blood rushed. My heart ached and I lamented for Black women. Then I went back to doing what I was doing. It was surreal to not be surprised or outraged by his comments, but I wasn't. From what I know about Imus, which is not much, he's a veteran offender of everybody (except White men, I suppose). That men, be they Black or White, see women through idealized or dehumanized lenses, is not new. That Imus, in particular, would make ignorant comments, is status quo. So "shock jocks" are not shocking any longer.

(snip)

No doubt my hardening is also cemented by the current all-time high sexist state of affairs of today's hip hop. Grown Black men, aided by white affluent male financiers, over-saturate our multi-media landscapes with sex, sex, and more mega sex fantasies - which do an excellent job of animalizing women or only presenting them, as Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall so eloquently states in Byron Hurt's groundbreaking documentary Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, as "objects to be fucked."

But Black sexiest men, whether they care to admit it or not, take their cues from White sexist men. They reinforce each other and form unspoken alliances - all at our expense. But oppressed anybodies take their cues from dominating forces. It's universal, scientific, and is part of the reason why women accommodate injustices from men.

(snip)

The exclusion of Black women weighing in on this controversy is thunderous. In the immediate aftermath of the comment, I never got the impression that "the media" was even remotely interested in feedback from the young Black women hit, or from any other Black woman for that matter. The respondent faces of this controversy have been predominately male. In fact, the one woman who was given a national platform this night on CNN's Paula Zahn was a white woman - an enlightened, well-spoken, and progressive one - but a white woman nonetheless. The by-passing of Black women is the kind of obnoxious, oppressive exclusion that "the media," and the white affluent men who own it, have embraced for decades. Black women don't immediately come to mind in the search for analysts or independent thinkers, even when the subject is them. Black woman organizations are not who Imus sat down with when he offered a so-called apology. He bowed toward men first. Rev. Sharpton is the logical go-to person in a national controversy such as this, for he has consistently stood up for the disenfranchised.

(snip)

Amongst Black women, perhaps even we assume that White men just have too much power for our own good. Perhaps we also assume that if our transgressors are Black men, then well…maybe there's no dignity or progress to be made if we dare challenge them. That's just too disloyal. I disagree. There is a time, a place, and the power of reason to stand up for ourselves, even amongst family.

(snip)

I strongly believe that we should partner with Black men, especially, but with anyone else who stands in principle support. But the battle for the respect of Black women, however, is ours to lead.

[ 23 April 2007: Message edited by: bigcitygal ]