By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Revered clergyman Bishop T.D. Jakes is joining the likes of Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton in denouncing the racist remarks that nationally syndicated radio talk show host Don Imus made about the Rutgers University basketball.
Jakes is the senior Pastor/Founder of The Potter's House of Dallas, Inc, -- the largest black church in the region -- a best-selling author, recording artist and television personality.
This afternoon, the holy man who 'Time' magazine dubbed 'America's Best Preacher' in 2001, released a thought-provoking statement, which in essence, asks for a form of protest to take place.
"Trying to be funny" is a justifiable excuse for calling a group of distinguished young African-American women "nappy-headed [whores]," or so says radio talk show host Don Imus about his racial slurs April 4 toward the young ladies of the Rutgers University women's basketball team. Given that Imus and his producer are still employed, one must assume that NBC, their employer, agrees. With this attitude, is it any surprise that racism continues to poison America?
Jesus taught that "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'" (Matthew 15:11 NIV) The fact remains that Imus' unprovoked racial slurs -- which sadly appear to be part of a personal pattern over the years -- clearly reveal a deeper malignancy of the heart. But it is the lack of immediate and meaningful response by his employer that reveals a deeper cancer in America.
Press statements and public appearances are mere bandages when someone's daughter is called a whore for fun. True healing will come only when individuals honestly address the root of their remarks, rather than making excuses for them, and only when employers and advertisers in our society respond immediately and decisively. Hall of Fame baseball player Cal Ripken immediately canceled his forthcoming appearance on Imus' show; others should do the same.
Imus is a broadcast industry professional, who I hold to a higher standard. Imus' employers are broadcast conglomerates that I also hold to a higher standard. And the advertisers that spend millions on Imus' show should also be held to a higher standard. Allison Gollust, senior vice president for news communications at NBC, has stated: "We take this matter very seriously." If so, Imus and Bernard McGuirk should be unemployed today and the excuses should stop, so that the healing can begin.
On behalf of decent moral people of all backgrounds, and specifically for women of color, we heard the so-called joke. But now the entire media, advertisers and industry executives should deliver the punch line.
Jakes (nee Thomas Dexter Jakes, Sr.) is a Charleston, West Virginia native founded the 10-member Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith in West Virginia.
Today, he helms The Potter's House, a multiracial, nondenominational church with more than 50 active outreach ministries.
BV Extras:
-- IMUS MUST GO: Black Voices Producers Ingrid Sturgis and Angela Bronner denounce Don Imus' racist and chauvinist statements.
-- TOO MANY THINGS: What went down when Rev. Al Sharpton and Don Imus went face-to-face live on air.
-- HOT BUTTON: The BV Community is all abuzz about Don Imus and his racial slur.
Comments: (48)
Add a comment
By: LaRhonda Bennett on 4/09/2007 10:57PM
I think that it is purely ridiculous the behavior that is allowed and upheld in our in society. It is unfortunately, but nevertheless a reality that almost everything that happen or is stated has to relate back to a racial issue. The fact is, that if this had have happen to any other race other than "African Americans," this would not be condoned as it has and have such a delayed reaction in repercussions in the matter that it has. NBC as his employer and General Electric Co. being the owner of NBC, as well as the advertisers should be held to a higher standard and held responible because they are the ones that allows these bigots to be on national television and to release their bigotry onto the public with no consequences. If you steady allow incidents of this nature to happen then those that feel the way Don Imus does will continue to do so and our world will increasingly decline. When will people learn to respect all as they want to be respected; and degrading anyone is not the answer to rating, success, self-fulliment or any thing else you may think it will led to. LIVE, LEARN AND LOVE!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Valerie on 4/09/2007 10:01PM
Don Imus and his cohorts must go! Two weeks suspension is unacceptable and is an additional slap in the face from MSNBC. This type of comment should not rest as just another comment in which "ANOTHER" white makes a negative racial comment, apoligizes, and think that it's o.k. It's not o.k. I am a black woman. I have a black daughter. And a black grandaughter. And I have black sisters. And black girlfriends and when i hear comments like this about a black women, it's talking me and all black women! As black women, we need to unite on this one and send a message to MSNBC and any other network that it is UNACCEPTABLE to allow an employee to make disparging remarks about us and remain employed. We are prepared to stand against you and hit you where it hurts, in your pocket $$$. Let's join in with our black leaders and show the industry that (by the way does not employ to many of our sons and daughters) what a real "SHOCK and AWE campaign is really about. When they see their "Stock Prices" fall then they will know that we are a force to be dealt with. It will send a message that "WE WILL" be treated with dignity and respect and that anything else will fall short of our standards and expectations. Brothers and Sisters, lets unite with our black leaders and stand against this injustice.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Cecil Jones on 4/09/2007 11:00PM
Are we the "Bad People" when evil makes us look the other way, or when somebody shocking or stupid offers something ugly to say? Is it bad to have them fired turning Blacks and the truth into perpetual victims, or is it worse making them racial martyrs or heroes as our prosperous Reverends go get them? Freedom of Speech is under attack, but what price will we all pay if we break it? Something must be wrong if Al Sharpton wins a debate. Blacks are supporting a King and silencing our true heroes. If we had a Rush, we could fight back instantly. Demand equal time!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Judge Earlyne McCalister Thomas on 4/10/2007 12:03AM
A lot has been said abut "influential" persons such as The Reverends Jackson and Sharpton criticizing Imus' hurtful remarks about our young Sisters at Rutgers, but remaining silent when it comes to the extremely derogatory and words used by some rappers when referring to women in general and Black women in particular.
I have heard both Jackson and Sharpton state that they have spoken out about the rappers, and I have to take their word. While it's true that Imus should be fired, it is also true that MSNBC, CNN, FOX and the like have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to allowing some Black folks to have access to the airwaves. I said BLACK folks--not minorities--BLACK PEOPLE. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE LIKES OF JACKSON, SHARPTON, JAKES AND OTHER "WELL-KNOWN" PERSONALITIES, LET'S GET SOME FRESH BLOOD IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS. PERHAPS A NATIONWIDE REALITY SEARCH TO FIND THREE OR FOUR BLACK MALE & FEMAL DUOS TO HOST CABLE AND NETWORK SHOWS SIMILAR TO THOSE HOSTED O'REILLY, BECK, GRACE, VAN SUSTREN, HANNITY, ETC.
In addition, we as Black people need to start a major, on-going campaign against Black "entertainers" and the Black and/or White behind the scene power structure know that "We are as mad as hell, and we're not going to take it any more." This means:
1. Boycotting the the rappers and singers, comedians and actors who continue to use foul language, sexist and racially offensive language in their music, videos, and movies and also sending emails and letters to them and/or their production companies letting them know of our displeasure.
2. Letting the sisters, who eagerlly appear in movies and videos shaking their butts and competing to see who can act the nastiest, know that their behavior is unacceptable. While I never saw the video featuring Nelly sliding a card down a Black woman's butt crack, come on, people, that was somebody's daughter, sister, girlfriend, maybe even wife or mother. Were they proud of that? Was she? {Speaking of my young homeboy, Nelly, I'm still pissed off at his Pimp Juice and the fact that he is too stupid to understand that this name is offensive, and too stupid to know that the white people behind the product don't give a damn.}
3. Let's all pledge here and now to stop using the words that are so offensive to us when used by others. Words such as "nigger," "nappy" hair, "bad" hair, "bitches," and "hoes." We must also protest the use of the words "black" or "dark" to define something bad. For example, "The darkest period of her life. . ." and how about the new show "The Black Donnely's." No, it's not about a Black family, but an Irish family with some less than upstanding members. I wrote a long memo to NBC protesting the name, and I have substantially reduced my NBC viewing.
This doesn't mean that we can't use satire and even comedy situations that makes use of what may otherwise be offensive.
We Black women deserve LOVE and RESPECT--from everyone. We won't tolerate hate and disrespect--from anyone.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Truth on 4/10/2007 3:51AM
When the "rev" demands the firing of rap artists by their record label producers...then I'll consider his remarks. When he also elevates black sisters to positions of authority within his organization (not just pianists, singers, and dancers), then he'll have the right to comment...not until.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Yusuf on 4/10/2007 9:49AM
I was thinking the other day, with all of the wars and deaths going on, 10 dead US soldiers this past weekend, don’t we have much more to protest. How come Martin Luther King was able to join the anti-Vietnam movement, but our leaders have been silent on Iraq. When there are large marches against the war, were are we? I always see a lot of whites, and a few blacks, but not enough of our “leaders”. Also, we have Darfur (I might have misspelled it), shouldn't we be ramping up the largest protest ever for America ’s silence on that war? If we continue to throw a tantrum every time a white man says something that upsets us, we are going to continue to look like the small time nickel and dime race that we are becoming.
Major black issues we should be addressing:
1. High crime in the black community
2. Growing single parent black homes
3. The Iraq war
4. Sudanese aggression on the blacks of North Africa
5. Black educational disparity
6. AIDS in the black community
Those things above challenge blacks at home and abroad, and not if a radio host had called some girls an offensive name. At least not enough to waste more than a few hours and paper for picket signs. To me, this really doesn’t warrant a rehashing of the freedom movement. Living in Cleveland, as I leave the house, I am less worried about what Imus said than if I am going to get robbed by some young black brotha who isn't being taught anything by his single 30 year old mom at home. That is the real tragedy!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Georgia on 4/10/2007 12:24PM
Don Imus needs to be FIRED. He has been saying and making racial comments against Blacks for years and has gotten away with it. Enough is enough. If nothing is done except for a mear two week suspension, wait and see, he will do it again.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Marc on 4/10/2007 3:40PM
I like to concider myself to be a very open-minded person but there is no way to be open minded to this situation. Yeah, I can see the joke that he was attempting to make but when you hold the positions that Imus and Sharpton hold, there should be far more professionalism shown publicly.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Yusuf on 4/10/2007 1:10PM
Georgia, I hear what you are saying, but is this something that black America needs to focus all of our attention on? Like Malcom said, we are being "led astray!" There are more important things in black America to worry about that directly impacts us as black people. Does this hurt blacks more than the young blacks killing folks in East Cleveland every week? Unfortunately, we are becoming the biggest cause of our own embarrassment at this point in our history. I say let’s fight the real thing that hurts us. This is just a distraction. The longer time we commit to this, the more whites shake their heads as the speed through our violent communities.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Don Rodgers on 4/10/2007 4:06PM
This should NOT be forgotten, it should not go away.
Was Mel Gibson treated like this for his remarks?
Michael Ray Richardson?
Jesse Jackson?
Everyone who was a guest on this mans show after he made the remarks should be looked at also. And what happened to the producer who was engaged in conversation with him?
I would like to see a list of all sponsers of the network which employes him. I will make sure I support none who support them. This has to stop being one-sided!!!!!
This makes me remember Jimmy The Greek, Howard Cossell! When they made their racist remarks, the networks acted immediately. NBC is just as much to blame. They've taken this long to see if it would have died down. Is this supension without pay?
Now this tells us that if you make a remark like that against Black Americans, the penalty has been set. But if it were against any other, you're scarred for life!
Reply to this Comment | Report This