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Tuesday, 24 April 2007 16:18 |
CHICAGO ó No one would have thought that when Rosa Parks opted not to give up her seat to a white man in 1956, a dozen years later blacks would have the full right to vote and the ability to eat in hotels and restaurants, and see Jim Crow destroyed.
We might look back in a few years and realize that the removal of Don Imus from the public airwaves put America on a course that changed the dialogue as to what is acceptable to say in public forums.
The downfall of a long, successful and controversial career, on the surface, took eight days. But for Imus, this has actually been 30 years in the making. He has used his sexual and racial schtick to pad his pocketbook. Only this time, he ran up against a group of women who presented such a compelling story, his bosses couldnít ignore the reality of his sexist and racist rant.
Although the National Association of Black Journalists led the fight to
oust Imus, there is no doubt that it was that moving news conference by
the Rutgers University womenís basketball team that cemented Imusís
demise. Vivian Stringer was poised and strong in demanding that America
look at the 10 women and see them as the real face of Imusís slurs.
And that is really the issue we must focus on. So many people tried to
make this a race issue. But for me, that wasnít the primary point. I
never wavered from characterizing the attack as one of a sexist. It
didnít matter that Imus was trying to be funny. He insulted a group of
women who are already accomplished.
Then again, that happens to women every day.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is smart and talented, but to many, sheís
nothing but an opportunist. Sheís called too aggressive and not cute,
and is slammed regularly. But she should be praised for being a woman
who has achieved a lot in her career.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is portrayed as a bumbling idiot,
but her academic credentials are impeccable. You can disagree with her
ideology, but to question her womanhood is silly.
Women all across this country have to play by a different standard.
They often make less than men, even when doing the same job; are
accused of being too tough when they are the boss; and are treated as
sexual objects.
America, we have a problem with sexism. Donít try to make this whole
matter about the ridiculous rants made by rappers. I deplore whatís in
a lot of their music and videos, but hip-hop is only 30 years old. So
you mean to tell me that sexism in America only started in 1977?
Now is the time for this nation to undergo a direct examination of the
depths of sexism. My media colleagues shouldnít go just for the easy
target ó rap lyrics. That is no doubt a logical next step, but sexism
is so much deeper. It is embedded in our churches, synagogues, mosques,
schools, Fortune 500 companies and the political arena. We should
target our resources to this issue and raise the consciousness of
people, and expose the reality.
Don Imus should not be the period. He can be the comma. Civil rights
organizations, media entities, womenís groups and others have an
opportunity that they canít pass up. We have the chance to seize the
moment to begin a conversation ó an in-depth one ó that could redefine
America along the lines of race and sex.
I hope and pray that we have the courage to do so.
ï
Roland S. Martin, editor of The Chicago Defender newspaper, is author of ìSpeak, Brother! A Black Manís View of America.î
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