Court Of Public Opinion
An opinion is like a “belly button.” Everybody has one.
As evidenced by recent news media coverage, the “Court Of Public Opinion” has spoken in regards to the “over the top” offensive, sexist, and insulting words Don Imus aired publicly. MSNBC and CBS have decided to fire Imus. It gives me no pleasure to watch Imus fall from grace, nor do I view the potential loss of this shock jock’s employment as an occasion to celebrate.
As a sign of respect, I do, however, need to tip my hat to all the self-respecting women of the Rutgers basketball team, sororities, and women’s organizations, who weathered this emotionally charged season of heated debates with dignity and class.
I also want to applaud each of the major corporate sponsors who empathized with all the women Imus insulted with his racial slur, shared the collective pain of all women, and decided to withdraw their financial support from the Imus In The Morning Show.
Before closing out this chapter of humanity’s history book, I would be remiss if I failed to address the continued use of offensive, sexist language that has given me cause for concern. The culturally diverse women who have joined my community need to know that they have a safe place to come when they need to be edified, encouraged, and inspired.
All the women who don’t feel appreciated, loved, or respected for all that they’ve done to make the world a better place need to know that real men do indeed exist. We love you. We need you. We will not hesitate to stand up and protect you. We will not rest until all women feel safe and secure in our presence.
Since our actions still speak louder than our words, I need to confront a male member of the MyBlogLog Community for offending a lot more women than just my wife, KWiz, with his posts, “Racism; Who Cares” and “Racism; Who Cares Part 2.”
I am posting “Court Of Public Opinion” in the spirit of love, not hate to let the men who still don’t get it know that any type of offensive behavior will be challenged and dealt with swiftly. It is no longer socially acceptable to disrespect any woman for any reason at any time. In response to the message, “Racism, Who Cares!!,” I submitted the following comment:
Manchild on April 10, 2007 8:45 am
Hello [*],Your comments disappoint and deeply sadden me. No man’s daughter deserves to be called a nappy headed ho.” The music executives who paid the “rappers” to produce nothing by misogynistic “commercial” songs are just as guilty as the corporations who paid Imus to be a “shock jock.”
Hatred and bigotry are ugly. I speak from personal experience. I grew up during the time in our country’s history when I wasn’t “good enough” to be treated as a human being, when the police didn’t protect our families from the KKK, when angry mobs of people hung Black men from trees like pieces of strange fruit.
Do you have any children? I do. As the father of a “pearl of a girl,” I will give up my life to protect her from what I saw Black people endure. I understand the public outrage that has erupted by a lot more people than just Rev. Al Sharpton.
My wife, Kwiz, and I have posted a poem by a young Black girl who was so hurt by the insensitive racist remarks that emotionally devastate Black women that she cried while reading it. I hope what you read will change the way you feel about Imus’ egregious behavior.
As far as the gangsta rappers and hip hoppers are concerned, we have privately and publicly chastised and criticized them from the very beginning. But right now, Imus must be held accountable for his inexcusable behavior.
Enough is enough! I hope we can agree that’s it’s okay to disagree. Peace.
All’s well that ends well, right? Not.
Since old habits die hard, “Racism; Who Cares Part 2″ was posted in response to my comment. In response, my wife, KWiz submitted the following comment.
KWiz on April 10, 2007 12:02 pm
[*], you and everyone else is certainly entitled to their opinion about a subject, and racism is no different. However, your lack of compassion is astounding. Yes, disagreement is allowed, even encouraged sometimes in order to have meaningful dialogue. However, you have never walked in the shoes of a Black man or woman at all, nor would you want to. And unfortunately, whether words spoken by Imus or rappers (who are not excused by any stretch of the imagination), or anyone else, the damage they cause for young people can be tremendous. I’m so sorry that you can’t empathize with that. But then again, not everybody can.
A real man will not tolerate racist, sexist, misogynistic, verbally abusive rhetoric directed towards any woman for any reason whatsoever is a lifetime mission of mine. Hence, my “intellectualized” response to any man who demeans, disrespects, diminishes, demoralizes, denigrates and harms the psyche of any woman, especially my wife are the words the In Living Color character Homey The Clown immortalized.
“Oh No! I Don’t Think So! Homey Don’t Play That!”
My antagonist’s subsequent decision to publicly post, “My New Ho,” for all the women of the MyBlogLog community and humanity’s global village to see speaks for itself. It is my heartfelt sincere prayer that the day will come when all the men we confront in the spirit of love will care enough about the women God has gifted to us to love, honor and respect “man’s most valuable resource.”
It would be arrogant of me to assume that I can speak for any woman other than my wife who’s letting me take the hit for her. So I won’t insult your intelligence by choosing to do so. Since the women of humanity’s global village can speak for themselves, I am, therefore, submitting this matter to the Court Of Public Opinion.
Posting your comments will let the men, who still don’t understand, know that it’s time to crucify an antiquated cultural lifestyle that has historically tolerated and condoned sexist, misogynistic, offensive, insulting, and degrading behavior.
Social injustice anywhere is still a threat to social justice everywhere.
If God’s love inspires you to do so, please let the men who don’t care know the reasons why no woman deserves to be called “nappy headed” or a “ho.” Doing so will challenge our blended, extended family members to engage ourselves in respectful, meaningful conversations so that the healing process to begin.
Thanks to all who choose to participate in the Court Of Public Opinion for sharing your comments and the gift of your time.
© Copyright 2007 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.
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4 comments April 11th, 2007
