Can you say Imus put his foot in his mouth? Maybe he should have kept it there. He called the Rutger’s Womens Basketball team “nappy headed hos”. According to Imus, he is not a racist and it was said as a joke that went too far.
As an African American Woman, Rutgers University alumni and supporter of Vivian Stringer and the Rutgers Unversity Womens Basketball Team, I feel obligated to address the matter because I have received phone calls and emails from very irate African American Women about the blatant disrespect Imus displayed on the radio airwaves.
I have had a chance, over the last 4 days, to marinate over his comments, public opinion and how the African American community feels about the matter. My assessment about Imus is an assessment of the larger society depiction of African American Women.
First, I say to African American Women, it is very important that you define yourself. That is why I call Black women and all women Dynamic Divas. I am clear that if you do not define who and what you are other people will and you will be easily influenced to follow what they dictate. So, I was not angered by what Imus stated because I do not identity with it nor do I give it any of my precious power and neither should you. I can remember what Iyanla Vanzant stated,”If a man calls you a dog that doesn’t mean you have to bark”.
As a Dynamic Diva, I understand that it is not about Imus but it has everything to do with Imus. What I mean is this. The chickens have come home to roost and we women have an opportunity to deal with the real issue at hand-we are responsible in an indirect way for this countries tendency to be very anti-women and anti-black. The best way to heal our society of these major afflictions is to do it with a display of tough love;because Divas do everything in the name of love.
So, here is how we can successfully remedy the Imus debacle: an American debacle. Like I mentioned previously, I do not give any of my power or energy to anything or anyone that does not honor the diva within me. As a conscious capitalist living in a capitalist society and understanding that money is only an expression of love. I will not give my money (love) to support the radio station that gives Imus his paycheck which is a stamp of approval. I will not patronage the major companies that advertise during his air time nor will I support the guest that appear on his show to promote their product, service or cause.
If his show does not get the financial support he will no longer be on the radio. And, we women will have taken a stand that we nor our family will honor those who do not honor us and have our best interest at heart. So, Divas of all race, creed and colors put your money where your month is. And tell every male in your life your sons, dads, uncle and granddads and male friends that you will hold them responsible for the continued anti-women onslaught if they sit idly by while such misogynistic conduct remains on the airwaves.
I reinterate, Imus does not have a voice unless it is supported by the radio stations and the advertisers during his air time. We have to address them with our letters, votes and divesting of financial support. If the presidential candidate McCain will go on his show after knowing where this man stand about women,we will take our vote and our dollars to support the candidate or businessmen that honors us like, Cal Ripken Jr. He decided that he did not want to be associated with anyone who represented anti-women retoric. Good Job, Cal Ripken!
If you do not stand up for something, you will fall for anything-Martin Luther King,Jr.
You have to talk to them in the language that they understand the almighty green dollar. Should Imus be forgiven? Of course, but he should be dismissed from his job. And, I recommend some spiritual counseling. This action will send a clear message that Divas will “just say no” in a very loving way to anything that does not honor us as women and the divine spirit within each and everyone of us.
Let’s send Imus off the airwaves with love and send a message to the major corporations that they can no longer do business as usual.
Have a Dynamic Diva Day,
Elon