Jason Whitlock, Sharpton and Jackson not the issue

Thank you. I’ve been arguing this point–albeit from the Sharpton perspective–from the time I heard the comments reported.

Commentators and entertainers of that ilk represent the worst in communication and entertainment, and our public airwaves deserve better. More importantly though, this latest accomplishment is a long-overdue strike on an industry where bigotry, misogyny, sexism, racism, homophobia, and all other manner of degrading and objectively offensive conduct are tools of the trade. To focus solely on Revs. Sharpton or Jackson is to willingly allow ourselves to be distracted from what we need to see most: that an industry dependent upon the above-stated dysfunction needs every supporter it can find. And taking the bait on Sharpton is exactly the support that industry needs.

No congressmen, senators, or lobbyists. Right now, we just a well-timed grass roots collection of people in the right places who are courageous enought to say “enough”. Beyond Imus, Sharpton; beyond the personalities, this presents an opportunity for a national dialogue on just what forms of degredation and indecency are acceptable.

I am angry with the media for not speaking to other organizations. I’m tired of Sharpton and Jackson being shown to the world as Black America’s representatives. I’m a 36 year old Black male and they do not represent me. I can’t stand them and their “ambulance chasing” ways.

Some crap gets started, Jesse and Al come running to the pile to jump in it and get them some.

They are opportunists, and like it or not, they have offended a segment of Black America that includes myself and Jason Whitlock.

The reason Don Imus felt “comfortable” saying those words is because we, as in Black America, let them be blurted out daily on radio. And we love those who do it, ie: Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, etc. We let R. Kelly win awards and perform on our shows celebrating the best of Black America after he’s caught on tape urinating on an underaged girl.

White kids today are comfortable using the N-word because we do it. We demonstrate that it’s “cool” to use it by our actions.

Where was Al and Jesse on the front end of this? Where were the picket lines in front of BET? Yes they may have said a small something about lyrics, but where was the passion then? They certainly didn’t have the same passion then as when they were going after Imus. I guess there weren’t any ambulances around at the time.

Next the fat bootlicker is going to blame Jesse and Al for the injuries to Gov. Corzine. I see him going to visit him in the hospital and when he sees him he’s going to wail, “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

It is all about respect.

If we, as the black community, will not respect ourselves, then, we have no business demanding other’s to respect us.

Jesus Christ once said, ‘Why do you say to a person, let me get that mote out of your eye, when you have a beam, in your own eye?? Hypocrite!! Get the beam out of your eye first, then, you can see clearly, to get the mote out of the other person’s eye!! [Matt. 7:1-5].

I don’t care what anyone says, these rappers, should choose to stay poor, if it means selling out our race, just to make a buck.

Roland, did you here what Larry Elder said on Good Morning America this morning in response to the CBS firing of Imus? If not, here’s the link to it. What a brown-noser!!!

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3037206

Sharpton is a hippocrit and a Liar and can’t be taken at his word.. He lied to me and all that listin to his radio show.. He cut me off the line after waitin 2 hours on hold because he is afraid of the real truth. He can’t hear nor accept common sence. He used this oppertunity to flog his carreer more and once again get his face in the media.. It seems to me the last time I seen his face denouncing and spamming his idiotic views is when he was so adement in accusing and speaking out against the Duke players.. Where is his apoligy now?.. where is his “im wrong and made a boo boo?”.. The man is not a leader and untill others wake up and see that his and Jacksons’ rants produce more hate and racism in our country there will always be racsim / sexism issues.. I have news for everybody.. men can be called and named as ho’s to.. not just women. But because it involved women.. its now a sexism issue..Don Imus didnt deserve all this.. Why must racism / sexism be an issue when a joke is made?.. I will be watching and so will millions others now at everybody in entertainment, tv, and radio and I bet it will be forgotton when a female or black person says anything close to bad like Don Imus supposably did.. Somebody needs to send Sharpton a copy of the video of R. Kelly urinating on a young girl and see if anything else is said about it.. How come its good for others but no good for a slip of the tongue by Don Imus?.. Hippocrits.. I hope MSNBC drowns in money loss because I have no doubt they lost millions of viewers…derek40@roadrunner.com –
Keepin it Really Real~

You are a racist and a hipocrite. When was the last time that you called for the removal of a hip-hop artist for their demeaning lyrics against women? Is the hip-hop entertainment industry anyhow exempt from the same standards as talk radio? I’ve found people of African heritage like yourself to have become the most racist demographic in America today. Every chance you can to attack a white person will be capitalized upon for your own fame and glory, yet you brethren continue to wish to hold a double-standard. You sir should be fired, just as Don Imus was.

Hypocrite that is.

Hey Mr. Martin. Saw ya on CNN, keep up on them.

My comments are not just about Al, Jesse, and the Imus Issue. There about the future of this hole “You can’t do that on Television!” premise brought up.

1) Who dictates what is or what is not a slure? If you have seen stand up comics over the last 2 – 3 years, they have all but cursed at audiences for there “Ohhh!” or other dissapproving “sighs” to varies jokes be it ethnic or political. An everytime many of them have call them “Children” for there inability to take withstand such statements. (Even in the contest of a joke)

2) Lets be real! Lets be real! After the Imus thing is over, and he’s on XM with Howard Stern…(because lets face it, he will) you are still gonna have issue of what is or what is not “Kosher” to say to others. My problem with your arguement had nothing to do with the main statements. What Imus said was unnessessary and cruel. My issue is not being able to say things about biggots like “Bill O’Rilley”, “Ann Coulter”, “Rush Limbaugh” and other of there ilk who say as they will without threat or feeling of retribution from anyone. In my world Mr. Martin, if someone hits you, you hit back. Because there ain’t no promise someone’s gonna take you cause on afterwards.

3) At the end of the day, “Hip-Hop” won’t be touched or bothered by the likes of Sharpton or Jackson, because Hip-Hop arts like Ludicious and 50 cent don’t even care about the folks like Sharpton, Jackson, Smiley, or Winfrey. Ludicious after his “Spat” with Oprah on her show went right back on “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” and trashed Oprah. (A black man goes on a white mans show to trash a black women) An people think “Hoes! Bitches! Tricks! & other terms will go away.

You have to understand one thing about these black men. They grew up in a world were the black women was called “The African Queen” and the black women ate it up and expected men to give them anything to everything. An many got involved with very “Sorry” men and had kids 2-3-4 at at time. Then many of these women totally threw away responcibility; “Going clubin”, Hanging with the “Sistaz”, and chasing down men for they money. All awhile they left there kids with there mommas or other family. Many didn’t work, living off they men who were brought up to take care of there women, but never to decern with these women as user. Then when the moneys gone. Or the man don’t do as the women wants like a child would, they go and leave to find another man who’ll do just that. If anything comes from Hip-Hop, it a deep resentment to Black Women. Just listen to the song by Mike Jones titled “Back then they didn’t wan’t me…Now days, they all up on me.” Thats song doesn’t call women “Bitches & Hoes” but it does point out that Black Women are just as flawed and as quick to scheme and take advantage of a mans kindness and anyone else.

You can E-mail me what you think.

To blame all this on Sharpton and Jackson is denying the fact that the media and Imus friends really got a kick out of the coment that was made. and they really felt deep within that he made the coment of a lifetime. Therefore he should be Admired not reprimand, but too the ones that felt he should not have lost his job let’s reverse this situation and Imus will be black and the young ladies will be white, let’s think for a minute what would happen then.

When are we going to stop playin’ the fool? National Action Network and Rainbow Push don’t own media networks! The media plays the game from both sides. They put them on camera and then spin it as if they speak for everybody. If they don’t put the camera on them, you won’t hear what they have to say. This is the same media system that green lights all of the derogatory images that our children are watching. My prediction is that the media giants are going to try to turn the black artist against the community by telling them that Al and Jesse are going to take your money and start a “civil” war. I agree with you Roland about finding your area and working from there. When you take young men and women who have grown up in poverty, and you throw money at them and promise them fame and fortune, what do you think they are going to do? These same media companies won’t put more black journalist on tv or as guest on talk shows. Since Imus has been fired, I have seen more black folks on tv in 3 days than all year! Bottom line, they can find us when they want us!

From: ddonovan@kcstar.com Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert

To: imtreyy@yahoo.com

CC: letters@kcstar.com

Subject: RE: Are You Party To Slander / Libel?

Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:21:26 -0500

Dear Qwick,

Thanks very much for taking the time to write with
your thoughts. I
appreciate your input, and I will share your comments
with the appropriate
folks on The Star’s staff, including Jason’s editors.

Best wishes,
Derek Donovan
Readers’ representative
The Kansas City Star

—–Original Message—–
From: TREYY [mailto:imtreyy@yahoo.com]

Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 12:18 PM

To: letters@kcstar.com; readerrep@kcstar.com; kcsfeedback@kansascity.com

Cc: show@sharptontalk.net; roland@rolandsmartin.com

Subject: Are You Party To Slander / Libel?

To The Supervisors Of Jason Whitlock,

Jason Whitlock has got to go. He should be fired.
For him to make statements for which he has no proof
about the motives of Revs Jackson and Sharpton and the
Rutgers Coach crosses the line from true journalism
and freedom of speech to slander and libel because he
has communicated this garbage to third parties.
Do the right thing and hand him his pink slip
please. Your response is welcome.
Qwick
East Point, Ga

As a former national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr, I totally resent the comments directed at Rev. Jackson and Sharpton by this person named Jason Whitlock. Mr. Whitlock says that Imus, Jackson and Sharpton don’t affect him and yet withouth them, Whitlock would not have been called to the Today Show and the many other national media invitations that he is going to get, NOT because he is calling for the Chicago Bulls tro retire the number of Norm Vanlier, but solely because of his attack on Rev. Jackson and Sharpton.

And by what authority does Mr. Whitlock speak? Has he put his life on the line for the empowerment of Black people. Does he currently put his life on the line on behalf of our people, or is he an ungrateful benefactor of the many life threatening experiences in this civilrightsand human rights movement of Jackson and Sharpton.

I have had disagreements with both Jacksonand Sgharpton, but NEVER to the point of being able to say with a straight face, that they have done NOTHING of significance for our people and the world. I have traveled with Rev. Jackson and have been through a number life threatening experiences, from being on charter planes in storms where we worndered if wecwere going to land safely, to Police officials catching peopl with guns following our tour bus and others. So Mr. Whitlocks attack on Rev. Jackson and Sharpton isan attack on me as well as one who Jackson and Sharpton help motivate me to have over 30 “straight” years in public service on local, state, and national levels.

Mr. Whitlock is just a 20th Century version of slaves who were set free, even though they were NEVER a Kunta Kinte; benefactors of a movement that they were not an active and systematic part of. Where was Mr. Whitlock when Rev. Jackson was holding national discussions with media owners across the country abou their need to jobs available for Black people like Whitlock, and to think that this is what Rev.gets for making an opportunity available for this ungrateful, BUT opportunistic Jason Whitlock.

Mark S. Allen
Associate Editor
The South Street Journal Newspaper
Chicago, Illinois

Mark S. Allen

While Mr. Allen makes a poignant argument, he did not mention anything about the hypocrisy of Sharpton and Jackson going after Imus with more passion than they go after the entertainment industry.

And for the record, I agree with Mr. Whitlock.

I did not see anything in his columns to suggest that Jackson and Sharpton have never done a decent thing in their lives, but rather that their time has passed. And that Black America needs to get out of the “we’re the victims” mentality.

What you did yesterday does not excuse you from inappropriate behavior today. That’s part of our problem. R. Kelly has been a brilliant entertainer, so we excuse his inappropriate behavior. Snoop Dogg made a classic hip-hop album, so we excuse his bad behavior.

It has to stop, and that includes our “so-called” Black leaders.

Not going after the entertainment industry, and I’m talking the record company CEO’s moreso than the artists themselves, the same way they went after Imus is wrong.

And they should have been doing that a long time ago if they want to stand on some sort of moral higher ground when it comes to Imus.

I am a black female and everytime I hear someone say that if Imus was a black man this wouldn’t be an issue.

That is not true!!!!

I suggest that any man who takes this position, is probably guilty of demeaning women on a regular basis. If these men have daughters, they deserve to hear their daughter called a “Ho”. If that doesn’t bother him, then, what kind of father are they?

Gail McDowell

Hello Mr. Martin, You may remember me from a call in on your WVON morning show on Wednesday 4/11. I am the one that asked you why you didn’t defend Mr. Jackson and Mr. Sharpton when the CNN reporter was questioning you about the Imus case. You gave a very good response as to why you didn’t want to go there. However, I caught you on CNN that night, and in response to talking head, Dennis Prather you must have felt some of the frustration I’m feeling when you responded that you were sick and tired of conservatives trying to make it appear if Mr. Sharpton and Mr. Jackson were the issue. I got a real kick out of that moment, because you seemed pretty pissed off. I can’t recall the other conservatives name, it was Steve something or other and you did a great job of handling him also. I plan on writing to Mr. Whitlock when I finish this letter I just wanted to thank you for all you do. Even though I don’t always agree with you, especially when it comes to religion, but I realize I’m in the minority on that issue so I can deal with that. I just hope that someday you can do a show about the history of organized religion, and how it relates to people of color throughout the diaspora. Dannie Lee Dolton Il. AKA, Dan from Dolton

I do not agree with your assumption that the current tide of media hysteria is due to a large scale attack on sexism. Yes, there was a violation towards what should be mankinds most valued asset, (women). However, this violation was directed at a particular group of women! Sadly, they are young and still naive to alot of life’s hardships and difficulties, but most importantly THEY ARE BLACK. The degradation that was uttered from that man’s lips, were beyond the boundaries of mere women are an inferior species. His lips resounded the old chorus of Anglo Saxon men that there was no value or quality of those YOUNG BLACK WOMEN!
I’m not going to fall into the old familiar trap, widely and still very successfully used by another part of Americans for generations [DIVIDE AND CONQUER].
I will take this current state of events to unite bind with my people. Together overcoming these hurdles which are before us , as was our ancestors. UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL. Not trying to gain anything for than justice and unity.
I applaud ALL who are doing there part to put an end to injustices and inequalities, wether their role may be large or small, long or short,public or private. I cannot agree with you. The issue is Race.
And the coverup is fight with each other, especially in a public forum, most importantly their public forum and not succeed for a larger good.

Its very simple, you fight the battle you can win. Al and Jesse would and could win this battle because its just Don Imus. Al & Jesse ain’t fighting the record industry because they believe in the lyrics (Not Lyrical Expression) of Hip-Hop just as much as any other black male in america.

The sad thing is, Now the “Pandora’s Box” has opened. The next thing you know… Conservatives will begin boycots of Tavis Smiley, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Rosie O’donnole, Micheal Moore, and other other left leaning figures just to say. (Well those niggers & Liberals think they can take one of our guy’s out, well watch this) An before ya know it, its about nothing more than being offended to take out enemies over political, social, and other issues. Isaiah Washington from “Grey’s Anatomy”…Gone! Bill Maher…Gone!! Even Comedian, Katt Williams…Gone!!!

All because other took up for those who didn’t ask because they wanted the spotlight for themselves and when this get worse, Al & Jesse will be on vacation doing nothing but slamming jews!!!!

Just a reminder to everyone refering to the rutgers team as a group of black women. There are two white females on the team. I wonder what their feelings are? Is this a case of only racism or sexism? Are the white females on this team significant? They are completely being ignored. Will this send a message to white parents that encourage their daughters not to be the minority on a basketball team, for fear of being called “hoes”, “nappy headed hoes”.

If we all strive for improved race relations, then why not atleast acknowledged that this team consists of black and white players.

Hello Roland and fellow bloggers:

Just a couple of points/observations:

First, I’m not sure that I entirely agree with the point that this is more about sexism than racism. It’s been my observation that a number of white women (Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton, Britney, and others) have demonstrated some extraordinarily tacky and low class behavior. In the case of Anna Nicole Smith, no less than 3 men were tested to determine the true paternity of her baby. In each of these cases, this bad behavior was explained or justified as crazy antics or stress. I can’t recall anyone ever referring to these women as whores or their behavior as whorish. Instead they were coddled by the media and the tone in discussing their bad behavior has always been sympathetic. When America was exposed to J Jackson’s naked breast for a nanosecond the public reaction was nearly hysterical. Yet, when Britney (a young mother of two children) was photographed with no underwear and a micro mini skirt it was reported on all the major networks like a joke. Why is she NOT a ‘ho? To me it’s all about race. Even if white men think these things about their women..they certainly don’t call them out of their names on national radio/tv.

Second, although I wish Jason Whitlock had been more diplomatic about his comments re: Revs. Jackson/Sharpton I must admit that I’m a bit tired of these two gentlemen. I really don’t feel that they represent me either. I can remember many moons ago Rev. Jackson led a protest about “Gangsta Rap” and the kind of pathology that it promulgates on our community. If my memory serves me correctly it was right in front of the NBC Studios (30 Rockefeller Center) and he and his supporters ran over thousands of rap CD’s with a truck right in the middle of the street. (crushed the things to bits) It was a powerful statement back then and I feel that had he kept up that kind of pressure at the time we might not be where we are today. I think accusing them of “ambulance chasing” is a bit harsh. I think it’s something more akin to attention-deficit disorder. They flit about from issue to issue and crisis to crisis. Unfortunately this kind of strategy has failed us miserably in terms of reaping long term results. Real change takes time and neither of these two men seem interested in applying the necessary pressure for a long enough duration to accomplish lasting change.

Third, (and last) I have a layperson’s understanding of the way in which corporate consolidation in the media and telecommunications industry makes the issues we’ve been discussing complicated. I was aware that CBS and Infinity Broadcasting were connected, but I was not aware that Viacom (which controls MTV, VH1, Lifetime, Nickelodian, etc.) was also linked up with CBS/Infinity.

This is a direct appeal to you Roland. It would be really helpful if you could dedicate some webspace to mapping out how 3 or 4 companies have come to control like 90% of what’s on TV, 85% of the print media, probably close to 100% of the motion picture business, etc. 1) It’s important for people to understand how this system really works, and 2) We need to know where to target our attacks. From my perspective the rappers are not the real problem, it’s the money that fuels this system. If Snoop or Luda were offered $50 million to rap about unicorns and rainbows – then that’s what they’d be talking about. These are business men first! Appealing to their sense of civic duty, black pride, etc. is only going to get us so far. They like everyone else want to get paid.

Don Imus said a terrible thing, is he a racist? I don’t think so. I have listened to him since he came to NY. On the anneversery of Martin Luther King’s death he played the I have a dream speach. He backed Harold Ford Jr. in his run for the senate. Who by the way never offered any sympathy to Imus in his troubles. What else could you expect from a politician. This support continued even after Harold Ford Sr. was taped during his sons campaign calling white reporters honkeys. He did not discriminate against the children who came to his ranch. Should he be fired, NO. The Revs. Sharpton and Jackson are ministers and they should know that passage in the bible that says let he who is without sin cast the first stone. With their collective backgrounds they couldn’t pick up a grain of sand. So if they have been forgiven and allowed to continue in their chosen professions why not Imus?

Thanks for holding it down so well on this topic, and for citing our “Tsunami Song” work on CNN tonight..

I posted some thoughts on my video blog here, speaking as a veteran of movements to get radio hosts fired:
http://blip.tv/file/198704

As a teacher of both Women’s Studies and Black Studies, it is clear that this issue is much larger than Don Imus as evidenced by the attacks by both black and white Americans who support and subscribe to male supremacy , white supremacy, black discrimination and misogyny. Imus should have been fired the day he made those statements along with his cohorts on the show. Whitlock and Elder both remind me of what would have been called during slavery, meritoriously manumitted blacks who earn their place in the media via expressing the views and serving the needs and objectives of historical oppressors of black people and all women in general and black women in particular. I was extremely disgusted listening to Elder bash those who stand up for equality and justice. Again and as usual, he carries the water for the oppressor and is willing to whip black freedom fighters on behalf of the interests of those who do not want justice and equality for all! I applaud Sharpton, Jackson and you, Roland Martin for all your efforts to make our society a better place for all.

Below are Ann Coulter’s comments, which can be found at http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/printer_friendly.cgi?article=178 :

HO HO HO, MERRY IMUS!
by Ann Coulter
April 11, 2007

The only person happier than Larry Birkhead about the big announcement that he is the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby is Don Imus. By the way, what’s the word for a woman who gives birth to a child of uncertain paternity?

English speakers in America need a rule book to tell us what people can say what words when, and under which set of circumstances. The rule book will be longer than the Patriot Act and will require weekly updates as new words and circumstances are added. Perhaps a Nasdaq-style ticker would be more efficient.

Depending on which TV show you tune into, what Imus said was wrong because: (1) His show goes out on FCC-regulated airwaves; (2) he regularly interviews people like Sens. John Kerry, John McCain and Joe Biden; (3) he spoke at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner a few years ago; or (4) he’s not black.

Perhaps sensing that such constantly scrolling rules have a whiff of fascism about them, the scowling Miss Grundys of the world think they have hit on the perfect omnibus rule. They instruct us to “be nice.” (There’s a word for the grim Miss Grundys, but apparently I’m not allowed to use it. Sarah Silverman is. This will be all in the rule book.)

The requirement to always “be nice” would be the end of Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, two of the funniest comedians in America. Let me rephrase that: It would be the end of all humor. Even Bob Hope cruelly implied that Democrats didn’t support the troops when he joked to the troops in Vietnam: “The country is behind you 50 percent.”

At least we’ll still be able to watch the “Charlie Rose” show! Actually, for all anyone knows, Rose is calling women “nappy-headed hos” on TV every night since no one has ever seen his show.

In addition to ending all humor, we’ll lose all political debate. For Americans over 4 years old, people in the public sphere are engaged in serious arguments — over abortion, illegal immigration, how much money the government takes from you, and the pre-eminent battle of our time against Islamic fascists. The “be nice” admonition is the sort of thing stupid girls say when they can’t think of anything substantive to say.

I, for one, promise to implement the “be nice” policy just as soon as the other side surrenders.

Say, does anyone remember if Winston Churchill was “nice” in his public pronouncements about Hitler? Was he even nice to his fellow countrymen with whom he disagreed?

No, I don’t think he was! This is what Winston Churchill said about the Labor Party’s Ramsay MacDonald:

“I remember when I was a child, being taken to the celebrated Barnum’s Circus, which contained an exhibition of freaks and monstrosities, but the exhibit on the program which I most desired to see was the one described as ‘The Boneless Wonder.’ My parents judged that the spectacle would be too demoralizing and revolting for my youthful eye, and I have waited 50 years to see The Boneless Wonder sitting on the Treasury Bench.”

And guess what public figure was constantly accused of making “outrageous” remarks, trading in “insults, trashings and character assassinations”? Of what public figure was it asked: “Who can examine this record of insults and say that here is a man of class?”

That’s right: Ronald Reagan. Those particular quotes are from Washington Post columnists Richard Cohen and Colman McCarthy.

Was Reagan “nice” to the Soviets? They certainly didn’t think so. The Soviets constantly denounced Reagan as “rude,” and our dear friends at the BBC upbraided Reagan for his “rude attacks” on Fidel Castro, Nicaragua and the Soviet Union. Post columnist McCarthy indignantly charged that Reagan had “put down an entire nation — the Soviet Union — by calling it ‘the focus of evil in the nuclear world.’”

Oh dear! Reagan wasn’t “nice.” No wonder he never accomplished anything.

One more item for the delusional Miss Grundys still obtusely citing Reagan as their model of “niceness”: As governor of California, Reagan gave student protesters at Berkeley the finger. Remember that next time you ask yourself: “What would Reagan do?”

People who are afraid of ideas whitewash Reagan like they whitewash Jesus. Sorry to break it to you, but the Reagan era did not consist of eight years of Reagan joking about his naps.

The reason people don’t like what Imus said was because the women on the Rutgers basketball team aren’t engaged in public discourse. They’re not public figures, they don’t have a forum, they aren’t trying to influence public policy.

They play basketball — quite well, apparently — and did nothing to bring on an attack on their looks or character. It’s not the words Imus used: It would be just as bad if he had simply said the Rutgers women were ugly and loose.

People claim to object to the words alone, but that’s because everyone is trying to fit this incident into a PC worldview. It’s like girls who say, “It’s not that you cheated on me; it’s that you lied about it.” No — it’s that you cheated.

If Imus had called me a “towheaded ho” or Al Sharpton a “nappy-headed ho,” it would be what’s known as “funny.” (And if he called Anna Nicole Smith a “flaxen-headed ho,” it would be “absolutely accurate.”) But he attacked the looks and morals of utterly innocent women, who had done nothing to inject themselves into public debate.

Imus should apologize to the Rutgers women — and those women alone — send them flowers, and stop kissing Al Sharpton’s ring.

This wasn’t an insult to all mankind, and certainly not an insult to Al Sharpton. Now, if Imus had called the basketball players “fat, race-baiting black men with clownish hairstyles,” well, then perhaps Sharpton would be owed an apology.

COPYRIGHT 2007 ANN COULTER
DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111

Mr. Martin,

Thank you for all you’ve been doing. I appreciate you doing your best to keep things on point.

Here is an essay that I think you should read. This author has a lot of terrific points.

HIP HOP HIPOCRAZY AND ITS ACADEMIC APOLOGISTS

http://assaultonblacksanity.blogspot.com/2007/02/hip-hop-hipocracy-and-its-academic.html

Whitlock is quite correct….thank goodness someone has stepped forward to reflect what a growing number of black folks have been saying in quiet circles for years…that Sharpton and Jesse are tired. And for brother Whitlock…I know you have been hit with ‘Uncle Tom’ and ‘Sellout’…these are words used by people who dwell in fear and cannot stand to be apart from the crowd. Blacks like to tell white folks we are not all alike, yet as soon as one of us steps apart to give a contrasting view, now they are a race traitor….this bs is tired. Jesse and Sharpton have done zero but get on TV with ‘no justice, no peace’ and ‘keep hope alive’…they go about the country making a mess and have no solutions to anything keeping the races at each other’s throats. Imus, Jesse and Sharpton are ringleaders in the same damn circus, and it cannot be over soon enough.

I can’t stand how this has become about Jesse and Al. I’m not surprised though.

Let’s have a serious discussion about racism and sexism in America. Let’s deal with the issues. I never see so many black people on national television until something like this happens. If that’s the case, Thank God for Jesse and Al making noise because otherwise I wouldn’t know that there were intelligent black people in America. I am so pleased that you, Roland Martin, have been given access to the national media. There are so many others out there, but we don’t get to see them unless them media gives them access.

Why isn’t the media giving the president of NOW, Kim Gandy, the media attention she deserves? The media plays a large role in shaping America’s perception of EVERYTHING! The media has to check itself in ALL of this.

In the wake of Don Imus, I’ll offer an apology to the Duke lacrosse team
By Gregory Moore, Blackathlete.net columnist

SAN ANTONIO – Paging Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, please pick up a red courtesy phone. Attention all media pundits, columnist, blowhards, schizophrenic penners and dedicated scribes, we are all needed in Durham, North Carolina to atone for an egregious wrong on three young men and turn our attention to a very guilty young woman who has put a nation into the cross hairs of racial discourse. My fellow journalists and somewhat astute talking heads, we owe Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann and David Evans an apology for professing them guilty when they were indeed innocent. But since I don’t think any of my colleagues will do this action, and I know that Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton won’t even do what is right in this situation, let me be one of the first and few to say, “Gentlemen, I’m sorry. I apologize for not giving you the benefit of the doubt in this case.”

Over the past thirteen months or so this case has been pushed to the back burner and others have stepped forward. In its heyday I wrote a few scathing articles, filled with the natural anger of seeing a society that allowed privileged White men take advantage of a poor Black girl. Yeah I’m admitting it. My articles were as prejudicial as they came but then again (and this is not necessarily an excuse or admission) with the way African Americans have been treated in such instances over the past few centuries, it was sort of a relief to see the other side of the tracks feel the heat, the embarrassment and shame that Black America faced during slavery, after slavery and what still goes on to this day. Did I feel good about these three young men getting a first hand history lesson on what it feels like to be railroaded by a ‘racist’ system? As embarrassing as this may be and as repentant as I am in falling for the okie doke, yeah it felt damn good. For probably the first time in a long time, White America now felt the pain that my community has been dealing with for years.

Maybe Finnerty, Seligmann and Evans have a good understanding why many in the Black community are having a hard time giving them an apology. This community gets angry any time one of its own is falsely accused, wrongfully incarcerated or brutally taken from us. When it comes to certain segments of this country, racism and images of the Ku Klux Klan and abductions ring loud and clear even to my generation and beyond. For the most part, these young men will never understand the pain, the humiliation or other feelings that countless Black families have felt when their young men have been accused of raping a white girl and everyone knows it is a lie. A relentless prosecution of a lie is something that happens every day for many Black men in this country and unlike these three Duke players, these young men cannot afford the best counsel available to defend them on these charges.

Does this make it right? Of course not. And it isn’t right that a website would go so far as to publish the name of “Jane Doe” along with all of her personal information. Whether she is wrong for falsely accusing these three young men or she genuinely believed the incident happened, it is just wrong to publish such information. I am a big proponent on protecting the names of such victims, whether they lied or not. I’ve said so years ago in an article entitled, “The Sports World Has An Ethical Issue About the Coverage of the Kobe Bryant Trial” (refer to this web link: http://www.blackathlete.com/Basketball/nba072303.html). In that story I wrote: “The media circus has officially started and already a trial of the victim has begun. Let’s be perfectly honest on one point about this trial. Nobody can remain anonymous in this day and age. If the Eagle County DA thought they could hide the alleged accuser’s identity he is sadly mistaken. This information is already out in the public arena and there is so much information about the alleged victim that includes pictures, a phone number, an e-mail address from the college she attended and even tax information on her parent’s home in the area. In other words, D.A. Mark Hurlbert is going to face the daunting task of not only trying Bryant in the court of law but now the court of public opinion is primed and ready to start weighing in on what it thinks. Already a website that calls itself “Binary Report” is out to discredit the young lady. You can bet your last dollar that defense attorneys will use whatever information they can to discredit her”. Written on July 23, 2003, those words were as pertinent then as they are today. In the Duke story, there are individuals and dare I say, even media professionals, who want to give some sort of vigilante justice by publishing the Duke accuser’s name, address and anything else. If I wrote it was wrong in 2003 to have the BinaryReport.com post the Colorado victim’s name, address and show ‘aerial’ footage of where she lived in Eagle, Colorado, it is 100 times as worse in this day and time for a website such as dilby.com to do the same. This website has done no good whatsoever and has only hurt Ms. Doe, the players and even Michael Nifong (yes they published all of his information as well).

Whatever my feelings are about how this case went down or the feelings countless others, the mere fact that an individual or company would do no one any good. As much as I think it is important now for Ms. Doe to realize that she has become a part of the American social fabric of racial injustice and reverse discrimination, that is simply not my call and nor should it be for that of any other person who may wield a slight bit of power in influencing the thoughts of other citizens. And all of those thoughts come from the mere fact that personally I think that these young men and their families needed to have become a part of American history as well so that they can now tell others just how wrong being falsely accused can be and work towards making sure that the justice system is for everyone. Yes even with everything I wrote above, a small piece of me did get a little it of satisfaction seeing these young men suffer very familiar fate that countless Black men have done before and after them.

However that does not make it right and that is why I am willing to write an ‘open’ letter of apology to these three men. If no other writer in this country has the guts to pen something of a heartfelt apology, I want these three young men, their families and their friends to know that at least this African American sports writer is willing to give a heart felt apology. Now I cannot do like Don Imus and have a face to face meeting with these young men and their families maybe if they read this op/ed on the web or hear about this op/ed on the various radio shows I appear on a local, regional or national stage, at least they know that there is someone in America who can admit their mistakes, ask for forgiveness for their actions and then move on to try and make the world a better place.

Gregory Moore is the Managing Editor of the San Antonio Informer, a weekly African American newspaper located in San Antonio, Texas and is a former NBA analyst for Fox Sports Radio and has appeared ESPN’s “Outside the Lines Nightly”, “Hot List” and “4 Quarters” programming. He currently is a contributing writer for Basketball News Service’s ‘Hoopsworld.com” website covering the San Antonio Spurs and is a show contributor on a national scope to Fox Sports Radio, Sporting News Radio, The Big Mo Show as well as several local talk radio shows in San Antonio, Texas and Richmond, Virginia.

Don Imus was always mean-spirited, offensive and vitriolic. He truly “reaped what he sowed.” Imus was an easy target for Al and Jessie, et al because the sacrifice of his career was an easy move for the “powers-that-be” at CBS and NBC. I feel badly for the Rutgers Team, not because of what this washed-up, culturally irrelevant man said when almost no one was listening, and NOT because he “victimized them,” but because they are now part of an ORCHESTRATED story line and MEDIA MOMENT that overshadows their season and true accomplisment. I believe these women were EXPLOITED by friend and enemy alike. As a very old woman, who was doing a “man’s” job, in a “mans” world long ago, I surely know sexism when I hear it. As a person who actually marched, and rode the bus, I know racism when I hear it. But as a Libertarian, I worry about the prospect of the thought, action and deed “politically-correct” dictators creating real, or manufactured “MAJORITY
OPINIONS” that have no legislative or legal standing. We need open discussion, we need dissent, and we need tolerance. I say thank you Roland, for pointing out that there is a silver lining and an opportunity that we now all have at hand. Thank you.

I can remember many moons ago Rev. Jackson led a protest about “Gangsta Rap” and the kind of pathology that it promulgates on our community. If my memory serves me correctly it was right in front of the NBC Studios (30 Rockefeller Center) and he and his supporters ran over thousands of rap CD’s with a truck right in the middle of the street. (crushed the things to bits) It was a powerful statement back then and I feel that had he kept up that kind of pressure at the time we might not be where we are today.

Meredith, that was not Rev. Jackson. It was Rev. Calvin Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.

BLACK AMERICA IS A DIVIDED HOUSE; A DIVIDED HOUSE CANNOT STAND. LETS STOP ATTACKING EACH OTHER, OR WORRYING ABOUT WHO GETS THE CREDIT OR MEDIA PUBLICITY. ITS EMBARRASSING TO SEE OUR BLACK ACTIVISTS GET SET UP OR BAITED INTO CRITICIZING AL OR JESSES. THESE WHITE NEWS PEOPLE THROW OUT A QUESTION OF AL OR JESSES’ CHARACTERS THEN WE FORGET THE TOPIC AND START ATTACKING THEM. THEN THESE WHITE REPORTERS ARE PROBABLY THINKING TO THEMSELVES, WHAT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS. BLACK LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS SHOULD ATTACK RAPPERS WHO WON’T CHANGE BECAUSE THEY ARE MONEY HUNGRY CRIMINALS. WE HAVE TO GO TO WHITE CORPORATIONS WHO ARE FINANCING CRIMINAL AND PORN RAP. LET SAVE OUR YOUTH, I WORK IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD WITH YOUTH OFFENDERS WHO ARE DEEPLY EFFECTED BY CRIMINAL HIP HOP .

Hey Derek…

Go back to school and learn how to spell. that’s just for starters!

As for Jason Whitlock, he was completely out of line and more self-serving than anything else. Whitlock was merely creating an annoying sideshow act in this latest ’3 ring circus’.

However, it should also not go unnoticed that Whitlock HAS scored some points for himself by virtue of his appearance on Oprah. He’s right where he wanted to be, front and center and in ‘yo face’….Black America.

And from what I saw, I can’t say that I was very impressed ….which further confounds me as to how such shrill can make it onto the national landscape of opinion, much like the curious oddity in the name of Jesse Lee Peterson.

Here’s the rub, however, Whitlock HAS garnered a piece of the action and the fact of the matter is IF YOU FOLKS have similar opinion and are equally passionate, how is that he’s on national TV and you ain’t?

Again, to reiterate, Whitlock WAS quite out of line in his timing. & what he had to say. While I’m not alway in lock-step with Jackson and Sharpton, this issue was not about their own self-interests.

Derek…me laddie….back to school!

Mr. Roland S. Martin:

I’m contacting you because I just saw a word in my recent submission that doesn’t fit as well as another word. The first paragraph of the submission entitled, “Imus vs. Hip-Hop”, I used the word “self-effacing” when “self-defacing” or self-deprecating” would be more appropriate. Should you choose to post my thoughts, I would appreciate you changing the word. I have also included the entire article with the word change.

Once and for all: DO NOT equate the disparaging words of fallen radio/TV host Don Imus with the disparaging words emanating from SOME of the lyrics in Hip-Hop music. They are NOT the same animal. As Russell Simmons recently indicated on Oprah Winfrey’s show, the rappers in the Hip-Hop community are poets who depict the world that THEY come from and their censorship ought not even be discussed. I DO have issues with the misogynistic and race-deprecating lyrics prevalent in Hip-Hop songs, but I will address that in a different discourse that I can hopefully share with you shortly.
Parallels have been drawn between the comments of other “shock jocks” and Imus’ comments. They have been drawn between Imus’ comments about Rutgers’ women’s basketball team and other comments made by Imus. There was even an example given of some journalist calling Barbara Walters a “mind slut”. None of these comparisons hold water. They don’t compare because none of these other comments open up the speaker or their employer to slander and defamation of character lawsuits. The comments Don Imus uttered about the Rutgers basketball team DO expose Imus, MSNBC, and CBS to such a lawsuit — one the plaintiffs could easily win.
Journalists and radio/TV talk show hosts/commentators are allowed to give their opinions about public figures/celebrities rather freely — even when such remarks are somewhat disparaging. The legal rationale is that these public figures/celebrities depend on media exposure for their livelihood and thus have to take the bitter with the sweet. The media helps them make money and so the media is also allowed to cost them money via the opinions of these media personalities. All exposure for them isn’t going to be good and they just have to grin and bear it. The additional rationale is that they have access to other media outlets by which they can and do give their side of the story — as with Barbara Walters, for example.
Don Imus uttered slanderous and defamatory remarks about non-celebrities/public figures. They may enjoy some notoriety because of their athletic accomplishments, but their livelihood does not depend on public exposure. They are not professional athletes. They are student-athletes. Therefore, MSNBC and CBS fired Don Imus because his comments opened them up to legal liability that could cost them — and Imus — millions of dollars. If they had let him stay on they would be showing tacit approval for his antics. Letting him go shows that such defamation is not condoned by them. And yet, they still could be held liable simply because Imus has a history of making similar racist statements on air. This means that it could be found by a court of law that they “knew or should have known” that he had the potential to expand his comments to specific non-celebrities — especially if there exist no written prohibitions in this area that Imus could be deemed well aware of at the time of his defamation.
There may even be absolute liability imposed on a media conglomerate for the uttering of its on-air employees regardless of their admonitions. I’m not sure of that. It’s been almost seventeen years since I graduated from law school and my career choices took a different turn. A licensed practicing attorney can give the specifics in that area but the fact remains that the Rutgers basketball team has a veritable “slam dunk” of a lawsuit at their disposal that can make them very rich, compliments of Don Imus.
By no means do I intend to devalue the efforts of those voices across America calling for Imus’ firing. Nor am I overlooking the withdrawal of sponsors from Don Imus’ show. I merely submit that the legal liability was the countervailing reason that MSNBC and CBS fired Imus. The voices of outrage probably scared the sponsors who feared boycotts. These same voices probably led MSNBC and CBS to conclude that the issue wouldn’t go away and that the constant rumblings would likely end in a lawsuit. I am certain that these media outlets, thus, consulted with in house counsel who advised them to distance themselves.
Granted, keeping Imus on the air also opened MSNBC and CBS to FCC fines as well. But, media conglomerates usually stand by their “shock jocks” despite FCC fines and lost sponsorship when they determine that the money made from their on air presence significantly outdistances the money lost. With Imus they lost sponsors, probably had no new sponsors waiting in the wings, and had to consider the looming threat of FCC fines and lawsuits. Keeping him was, therefore, not economically viable.
In contrast, Hip-Hop lyrics in some songs DO NOT expose the artists or their distributors to lawsuits nor FCC fines. The lyrics are not considered defamatory because they aren’t directed at specific non-celebrity personalities. They are generalized statements. For the most part they aren’t subject to FCC censorship because they are already censored. The abusive language is usually bleeped, and even the videos usually have the nudity and thonged behinds blurred beyond recognition.
So calling for Hip-Hop artists to be fired in not an option. Their music is considered protected artistic expression. Some of us may not like it, but they can’t be successfully sued for their expressions neither are they nor their distributors likely to incur FCC fines. Although there are some videos that skirt the line of decency, my sense is that they are probably still within the realm of FCC regulations. Thus, rather than dwelling on unfruitful strategies for purging Hip-Hop music, we need to concentrate on strategies likely to work.
Strategies likely to work are demanding the adherence to rating systems for the music, pressuring the FCC to change their decency standards, and boycotting companies associated with distribution — including the sponsors that enable said distribution. But we must keep in mind that we are not likely to force the eradication of sexually and racially disparaging music. America frowns on efforts at censoring artistic expression. That battle cannot be won absent a complete change in American philosophy. What we can do is force more parity within the Hip-Hop industry — something that many Hip-Hop artists themselves seek. We need to join their fight.
And getting back to the term “mind slut”, I can’t help but question whether or not the term applies to CNN. I offer that analysis because all I heard CNN report on relative to the Don Imus controversy (as well as MSNBC — I’m an avid viewer of both) was the blaming of Hip-Hop for his comments and the need for national healing. But I don’t recall any mention of the possibility that these accomplished student athletes at Rutgers might sue for damages. In contrast, April 18th — two days after the incident — Lisa Bloom stated on CNN that lawsuits at Virginia Tech University were probable in the aftermath of the brutal massacre there.
Ms. Bloom stated that if the university knew that Cho Seung-Hui was a threat to himself and others and failed to act it might be culpable. Others on CNN and MSNBC hinted that lawsuits might emanate from the Virginia Tech tragedy. So we have to question why no one gave even a passing thought to the possibility that the Rutgers ladies might sue. We have to question why the emphasis in the Imus debacle was on forgiveness and not retribution through the courts. Granted, the massacre was an infinitely more devastating occurrence. And yet money is much more likely to adequately compensate the loss suffered by the ladies of Rutgers than it would the losses incurred by the families at Virginia Tech. The loss of life is immeasurable. An assault on one’s dignity isn’t. The price is high, but it can be measured.
I contend that the media shied any from the subject of lawsuits against Imus because they are hesitant to even tacitly encourage anyone to sue one of their own. But Imus — and possibly CBS and MSNBC — should be sued to ensure that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. I am aware that Coach Vivian Stringer reported that the team accepted Imus’ apology and was in the process of forgiving him. But, I also recall the poignant testimony she related of her decision to become a cheerleader. She did so to empower the Black women who came behind her. The situation is the same here. [Coach Stringer, I met your nephew Vino last year. I have lost touch, but he expressed immense pride in your accomplishments.]
The Rutgers team needs to sue Imus in order to empower those who will come behind them. The dynamic of considering the next generation has always been a hallmark of the civil rights struggle and it always will be. Suing Imus is necessary because in a capitalistic society, financial pain is the only LASTING deterrent to these kinds of egregious acts. If MSNBC and CBS aren’t sued, there will likely be another Don Imus on their airways in the future. If they are sued, it’s not as likely to happen.

Howard E. Barrett, Jr.

Hello Mr. Martin,
I’m catching up on my reading of comments posted on your blog in response to the Rutgers Women’s Basketball Team insult controversy. The volume of opinions will take me some time to get through. But there were some themes that emerged that have prompted me to add my own opinions.

I find it very interesting that so many people are concerned about who “represents” them. As a contemporary of Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton I feel that many of us do not need someone to represent us. I believe we all represent ourselves by what we do and not so much by what we say. We may associate with individuals and work with organizations that have common goals. And throughout a lifetime new goals may emerge, some out of need, some out of preference.

I believe that we certainly need to know more history and be more sensitive to what is both culturally unique and common to those of us in the human family. It seems to me that to say that Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson have done “nothing” may mean several things: it could be ignorance of some historical events, or it can be a rejection of the positions that they take and have taken politically, socially or morally. They are men. They are not gods and they do not claim to be gods. It is fine to agree or disagree with them. They have voices that have become prominent because of what they have done and not done.

While I may agree with actions others take and have taken in the areas of race, education, religion, politics, culture and art, I make my own choices and work in areas I consider important in my spiritual, family, social, political, creative and personal life. I teach and I continue to learn from others young and old, and I hope this will continue for the rest of my life. If I can use my own God given gifts to make a positive contribution to the world and gain some wisdom that I can pass on, then perhaps I will be doing my job.

I do believe that it is important to learn as much as we can about what is happening throughout the world, about history and culture, not only in our own families, or country, but about others in the world as well. The more we know, the more sound our decisions and actions will be. The more we respect, learn from, uplift and share with each other, the closer we will come to peace in the world.

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article Jason Whitlock, Sharpton and Jackson not the issue, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

I have to say, that I could not agree with you in 100% regarding Jason Whitlock, Sharpton and Jackson not the issue, but it’s just my opinion, which could be wrong

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