When Imus or anyone for that matter anyone insults us as an individual or as a group, the pain/shit that comes up is our pain/shit.
If we don't take it personally and consider the source, we can not only create sanctuary for ourselves but also a degree of healing for them.
We are all brothers and sisters. When our brothers and sisters are sick we can only help them if we have compassion. Also, we can thank God that we don't have their character for which to need forgiveness.
The girls on that team were women of the highest caliber.
They spoke of how hurt they were and also how hurt they are when they hear the rap words.
The Iman got caught being a jerk and is sorry for it. Probably he's sorry for being a jerk and also for getting caught at it.
To me he deserves the suspension and also should settle at least $50,000.00 on each of those women to put in trust and/or give to their favorite charity. Maybe they wont have as high a student loan when they're finished school.
I don't go as far as saying he should be fired.

Respectfully,

Betty

I totally disagree with Ms. Amusa point of view on this issue. It's ashamed that this article blames Black men for Don Imus' ignorance. He said those things because that's how he felt. It had nothing to do with problems we have in our own race.

Ms. Amusa, just take a look at the black people who've commented on this situation so far. Rev. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Barack Obama, Kevin Powell. There's a long list of BLACK MEN who have come to the aid of the sisters at Rutgers. And while everyone got something to say on the issue, the prominent sisters have remain mum. Where's Oprah Winfrey?

So far, the only black women who've stood up to Imus is the Rutgers Womens' Basketball Team. Other than, Black women have gone into hiding on this issue.

The bottom line is that black women are SCARED to anything about a white man who disrespects them. If a Black man made the same comments, every Black women on earth would have something to say.

You are no different than the white media, Ms. Amusa. White media stations (such as Fox News channel) are doing the same as you. They are blaming Black men and rap music for racist remarks that came from a 67 year old white man. The only reason NY Daily News published your story is because you took the blame off of Imus and placed it on Black males.

Your references to Flavor of Love & baby daddy drama on TV are very weak and null points. Black women on these type of programs have tore themselves down. The sisters who appear of these shows, auditioned for them. The Maury show has done paternity tests for at least 4 years now. You still have black women calling up the show so they can appear on TV to find out who their baby daddy is. If Flavor of Love 3 held casting calls tomorrow, Black women would lined up around the block to audition for the ghetto TV program.

Betty,

Asking for financial retribution from Imus seems fair especially considering the big pay back African Americans have awaited since slavery and due to the persistent de facto and de jure racism we experience.

But to say that Imus can swipe this problem away by investing dollars in these Black college women is just as compromising of our movement against his brand of racist sexism as rapper Nelly, who in his video tip-drill, swiped a credit card down the back crack of a booty-shakin lady.

In both cases, we’re putting a price tag on the humanity of black women.

So, as a step, I'd do away with the money talk altogether.

Though I do understand what you saying. Imus has taken away so much from the progress of our people he should in someway give back. The how, is debatable.

As for your response to Betty:

That young lady in the Nelly "Tip Drill" video auditioned for that role. She knew what she was doing. None of this has anything to do with Don Imus.

Not to be disrespectful but, Ms. Amusa, would you allow a rapper to slide a credit card down your butt crack on camera? I think not. I'm sure you're smarter than that. Right? Well, the young lady in the Nelly video wasn't as bright.

These young, lost sisters need to take some accountibility for THEIR own actions. That video would've never existed if black women declined to participate.

What IMUS said was wrong. The Rutgers team made it to the NCAA championships and should be congratulated for an outstanding performance. However, IMUS is not the only person to blame. The music, movie and TV industries have a part to play in this. "Pimp" rap is being beamed all around the world. This disgusting genre of hip-hop has portrayed black women as nothing but hyper-sexualized prostitutes and strippers. Ironic that this pimp rap is the one that brings in the mega-bucks to the corporations?! Some blacks have somehow rationalized that calling each other n!@#as is a term of endearment?! But when whites call us that, it's offensive?! See the double-standard? Then you have movies like Norbit, Big Momma's House and countless others portraying black women as greedy, loud-mouthed violent "mammies"! And these movies gain top-dollar! Unbelievable! No wonder many immigrants come to this country with a disdain for blacks already. Why??? Look at TV, radio and magazines. Even the magazines here on newsstands in NYC have black women posing like it's Hustler of Playboy and yet these other magazines are considered "mainstream"! It makes a black woman/black man want to scream. Malcolm X and MLK Jr. surely must be rolling in their graves!

Korey,
I really think you need to reread this article.

What part do I need to reread? Make some points here, Primrose!

Do white people blame Blacks for THEIR problems? We definitely have issues in our own race. I'm not saying our issues don't need to be addressed. They do!

The bottom line is that Don Imus targeted some of our young generation's best candidates. Sports experts didn't expect this Rutgers Women's team to advance to the national championship game. But they did it. These young ladies excelled on the court and in the classroom. And Imus made a mockery of them.

My problem is....the article's reference to rap videos and Flavor of Love. Women who participate in these videos/shows aren't the best women that our race has to offer. Those women aren't trying to better themselves. If they were, they wouldn't participate on demeaning shows. Ms. Amusa brings up a good point about how they are depicted on TV. But none of this has anything to do with Imus.

Let's handle our issues one at a time here. Don Imus is one issue. Music Videos/Flavor of Love/Baby Daddy TV is a another issue.

Remember Ladies: Racism existed way before Rap Music. We were brought into this country as slaves, and not as equals. Do you really think Don Imus thought this was O.K. because rappers berate women??
Racism hasn't gone anywhere. It's still here.

Norbit and Big Momma's House were made for comedic purposes only, Athena. If all movies were serious, they wouldn't make money. Nobody called them "mammies" except for you. Let's not forget that men portrayed the black women in these films. So anyone who thinks that a black woman acts this way in real life, is an idiot.

You see, it's OK for Jim Carrey to be a buffoon on camera. It's OK for Robin Williams to dress up like a woman in "Miss Doubtfire." It's also OK for white girls to act like "hyper-sexualized prostitutes" in the "Girls Gone Wild" videos. White people don't condemn their whole race for these mishaps.

But anything we do, in the name of entertainment, can't be done because we're making our race look bad. Gimme a break!

-Keep in mind that just as Norbit and Big Momma's House were comedies, so too were the minstrel man caricatures. Demeaning but supposedly funny. Unfortunately, these type of "comedies" are still common and worse, more forceful in their degradation of the Black community today. For anyone who doesn't feel this point to be accurate, consider how many Black films are uplifting as opposed to insulting. Malcolm X and Color Purple vs. How High, Soul Plane, White Chicks, Dead Presidents, I Got The Hook-Up and State Property just to show a sample of the horrible lack of balance for representing righteous Blacks in movies.
-Regarding Imus: yes; he is an idiot. BUT if the Black "leaders" don't challenge ALL who dis the Black community even when it comes from within their color lines, then they have failed. Maybe it's not fear but it IS a compromise of principles which is still failure to act correctly. How can anyone complain against a wrong committed against their people when it's also committed BY their people? Instead of headline-hunting, those same "leaders" need to clean house completely because the Black community needs REAL leaders to guide them into the future.

Paul,

What candidates do you have in mind to be REAL leaders for the Black Community?

Anyone who assumes the role will forever be under scrutiny. That's just how it is.

Take Al Sharpton, for example. Al isn't perfect but he has plenty of courage. He will do what most people only talk about doing. On a moment's notice, Al Sharpton will protest anywhere in this country for our Civil Rights. Yet, blacks and whites constantly portray Al Sharpton as someone who is craving media attention, when he's really fighting for equality. He's not respected as a real leader! To many, he's a joke.

Unfortunately the person whom I believe would be perfect for THE Black leader position feels the media is too intrusive and prefers to work somewhat lowkey and so I must respect her wish for relative privacy by not giving her name. At any rate; I know there are MANY 'candidates' that would excel but many questions remain as to how well would they handle incessant scrutiny. Regarding Rev. Sharpton, I don't see him as a GOOD leader but, like you say, he IS out there even though more is needed. And those young ladies on the Rutgers team showed themselves to be better human beings than Imus and his supporters will probably ever be.